IBM is taking aim at enterprise desktops with a Linux-based desktop virtualisation bundle designed to cut costs — and displace corporate Windows installations.
IBM's Virtual Desktop, which uses Canonical's Ubuntu Linux, Virtual Bridges's desktop virtualisation software and IBM's own Lotus productivity software, is a follow-up to a similar Linux desktop collaboration announced earlier this year. In August, IBM joined with Canonical, Novell and Red Hat, three of the top Linux distributors, to promote Linux-based desktops around the world.
Virtual Desktop uses the KVM-based Verde desktop virtualisation software from Virtual Bridges, the Ubuntu Linux operating system and IBM's Open Collaboration Client Solution Software, a suite including OpenOffice.org-based Lotus Symphony, the Lotus Notes email client and other Lotus applications.
Desktop virtualisation allows complete user desktops, including all applications, to be hosted on a centralised server, which is intended to simplify maintenance processes such as software updates.
Verde allows users to access their desktop from a variety of network-connected devices, including Linux, Windows and Mac OS X clients, IBM said.
In addition to this, IBM said its bundle is designed to cut the licensing costs associated with Windows and commercial productivity applications. The system could also mean significant savings on hardware upgrades, IT support and even power consumption, IBM argued.
The system is available from IBM Global Services or Virtual Bridges, with Verde carrying a fee of $49 (£33) per seat for a 1,000-seat deployment. The three partners are collaborating on technical support, IBM said.
IBM has tried various tactics over the years to compete with Windows in the enterprise, but said it believes the financial crisis will make its current effort look especially attractive.
"When we look back several years from now, I think we'll see this time as an inflection point when the economic climate pushed the virtual Linux desktop from theory to practice," said IBM Linux strategy director Inna Kuznetsova, in a statement.
