Microsoft Med-V

When facing an upgrade to a new version of Windows, IT is required to map and test all its line of business applications on the new operating system. While Microsoft offers a variety of methods and tools to address applications that are not working properly, in every organization there will be a subset of applications that are not yet officially supported by their vendor, or might not work at all despite all efforts. This whole process—testing, fixing the application, upgrading to a new version that supports Windows 7, or finding an alternative application—is time-consuming. Meanwhile, users are unable to take advantage of the operating system’s new capabilities and enhancements, and IT departments have to delay their upgrade plans.

Microsoft Enterprise Desktop Virtualization (MED-V) removes the barriers to Windows upgrades by resolving application incompatibility with Windows Vista or Windows 7. MED-V delivers applications in a virtual PC that runs a previous version of the operating system (for example: Windows XP). And it does so in a way that is completely seamless and transparent to the user. Applications appear and operate as if they were installed on the desktop, so that users can even pin them to the task bar. For IT administrators, MED-V helps deploy, provision, control, and support the virtual environments.

MED-V overview

Enterprise Desktop Virtualization: advantages

Enable incompatible applications

  • Accelerate the upgrade path to Windows 7.
  • Incompatible or unsupported applications continue to run in a virtual environment with a previous operating system version, seamlessly integrated into the Windows 7 desktop.

Deploy and provision

  • Deploy IT-managed virtual XP environment to end users.
  • Enable customization in heterogeneous desktop environments.
    • Automate first-time Virtual PC setup (i.e., initial network setup, computer name, domain join).
    • Adjust Virtual PC memory allocation based on available RAM on host.
  • Application provisioning based on Microsoft Active Directory® users/groups.
    • Assign a virtual image and define which applications are available to the user.
  • Redirect web requests that require Internet Explorer 6 to the virtual XP environment.

Control and Monitor

  • Centrally define usage permissions, and Virtual PC settings.
  • Centrally monitor endpoint clients.
  • Provide helpdesk tools to diagnose and troubleshoot virtual PCs.