Liquidware Labs and NetApp Announce the VDI PULSE Program

The VDI PULSE go-to-market initiative enables NetApp partners and consultants to leverage data-driven analysis from Stratusphere UX to accelerate adoption of next-generation flash storage arrays

CHICAGO, IL., March 15, 2016 – Liquidware Labs, the leader in desktop transformation software solutions, and NetApp today announced the launch and availability of the VDI PULSE program, an alliance partner enablement program. VDI PULSE enables NetApp consultants and partners to deliver comprehensive audits of their customers’ environments in order to quantify the benefits of implementing a next-generation flash storage solution. The program and analysis is based on Liquidware Labs award-winning solution Stratusphere UX, and includes a custom-generated report designed in collaboration between NetApp and Liquidware Labs engineering teams.

"We could not be more excited about this program and the opportunity to work closely with our NetApp partners in the field," said J. Tyler ‘T. Rex’ Rohrer, co-founder and head of strategic alliances, Liquidware Labs. "From the beginning, Liquidware Labs has focused on technologies that have driven the adoption of next-generation workspaces. Our partnership with NetApp and its new All Flash FAS (AFF) array series embodies the innovation and platform requirements to deliver true and comprehensive desktop transformation."

The high performance and enterprise-grade management capabilities of NetApp All Flash FAS arrays make it easier and faster for enterprises to adapt to new opportunities while delivery consistent customer experiences,” said Maria Olson, vice president, Global & Strategic Alliances at NetApp. “This custom-developed offer from Liquidware Labs and NetApp will further help customers deploying VDI solutions maximize the performance for their mission critical applications."

The objective of the VDI PULSE program is to deliver a simple, fast and comprehensive audit to support NetApp partners and field consultants. The detailed analysis is segmented into three main areas:

  1. Assessment – a detailed analysis of all users, machines, applications, resource usage, logon habits, etc., which contribute to the workload the storage platform must deliver
  2. Capacity Planning – a data-driven look at the storage resources that are needed today, as well as assistance with planning future need
  3. Health Check – an identification of existing bottlenecks, user experience and possible optimization opportunities within existing next-generation workspace architectures

"As VDI deployments are being planned and rolled out, a fine line must be navigated between costs and performance as users, end-points, and applications are, or will be, scaled up,”"commented David Laing Research Manager, IT Service Management and Client Virtualization Software at IDC. "Any analysis provided by programs like VDI PULSE will be welcomed by the market ecosystem because they can provide intelligence to channel partners and end customers that ensures storage infrastructure for VDI deployments can be optimally sized and configured."

Centered on desktop and application virtualization, VDI PULSE is designed to deliver a single report that will apply to many different relevant scenarios. With just one week of data capture, it can help mitigate any current and future storage constraints, minimize risk and ensure user experience goals are met. As such it can be leveraged for both physical and virtual environments under the following use cases:

  • Customers who are planning to implement a desktop virtualization solution
  • Customers who have already deployed a VDI solution and wish to expand
  • Customers who have already deployed a VDI solution and experience performance issues

Liquidware Labs provides access to the software, license and report required to deliver the VDI PULSE deliverables at no cost to NetApp consultants or partners. For more information or to take advantage of the Liquidware Labs and NetApp VDI PULSE program, go to alliance.liquidwarelabs.com/Acceler8/partner/netapp-pulse.asp.

About Liquidware Labs

Liquidware Labs™ provides industry leading platform-agnostic desktop solutions for hybrid Windows desktop environments including Citrix® XenApp/XenDesktop, VMware Horizon View®, and physical Microsoft® Windows PCs. Stratusphere™ FIT and Stratusphere™ UX products deliver visibility into desktop environments and support assessment, design, monitoring and diagnostics (Health Checks). ProfileUnity provides just in time delivery of User Profiles, application and user rights management and context-aware policies. ProfileUnity’s FlexApp feature delivers advanced Application Layering. Flex-IO supports IOPS acceleration in virtual desktop environments. The solutions are available in an extremely cost-effectively priced bundle called Liquidware Labs Essentials. Liquidware Labs products are Citrix Ready, VMware-certified, and are available through a global network of partners. Visit www.liquidwarelabs.com for further information.

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