In a “static” implementation of Windows Vista Enterprise Centralized Desktop (described in more detail later), each end user is assigned his or her own virtual machine image, into which that user's specific set of applications is installed. These unique VM images typically are stored on a storage area network. When a user logs on to the system, the user's unique VM is delivered, through RDP, to the user's local PC or thin client device.
When SoftGrid is utilized, only a single, lightweight VM image containing the guest operating system image and the SoftGrid client is needed. When a user logs on, a desktop session based on the generic VM is delivered to the user, while the applications authorized for that user are streamed on demand via the SoftGrid server into the running VM session.
