Pano Logic wants to make desktop virtualization easier for SMBs.
Pano Logic on May 26 rolled out Pano Express, an
all-in-one VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) solution that includes
the company’s zero-client platform, VMware vSphere Essentials
virtualization technology, Microsoft Windows 7 licenses, and server and
storage hardware, all for $489 per seat.
Pano Express is designed to remove two of the key
hurdles to desktop virtualization adoption—upfront capital expenses and
complexity, according to Parmeet Chaddha, executive vice president of
engineering at Pano Logic.
“[Capital expenses] for VDI is a significant barrier
that needs to be overcome,” Chaddha said in an interview. With Pano
Express, “nothing is left out. They get all this for less than $500 a
seat.”
He estimated that capital costs for Pano Express are
about half of those for other desktop virtualization offerings. With
everything preloaded into a single package, the complexity issue is
reduced. Currently so much discussion among virtualization technology
vendors is around protocols, Chaddha said.
“This will help shift focus of discussion in this industry from protocols to price,” he said.
Pano Logic is aiming this offering particularly at
SMBs, which lack the same monetary and IT staffing resources that
enterprises have. However, enterprises that are in the assessment stage
with VDI could also benefit from Pano Express, though as they grow
their use of virtualization, their scale begins to reduce capital
expense concerns, Chaddha said.
The government and education also will be attracted
to Pano Express, Chaddha said. The first customer to put Pano Express
in production is the Blue Ridge High School District in Pennsylvania,
he said.
Pano Logic is looking to differentiate itself from
other vendors in the highly competitive desktop virtualization space
with its zero-client offering, in which users connect to a centrally
stored virtual machine through a device that has no processor,
operating system, memory, drivers, applications or moving parts. All of
that is housed in a server running VMware virtualization technology.
The desktop is streamed from the server to the zero-client device.
The company in April upgraded its offering, rolling out Pano System 3.0, which includes tighter integration with VMware View, support for Windows 7, and other performance and security features.
With Pano Express, customers get 50 zero client Pano
Systems, VMware vSphere Essentials, 50 Windows XP or Windows 7 virtual
desktop licenses, and a custom-configured dual-quad-core server with
RAID5 internal storage, all pre-loaded. Pano Systems include the
zero-client Pano Device, Pano Direct service and Pano Manager.
Pano Express will be available in early June.
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