Providing virtual desktops using resources accessed on public computer networks
A computer system supports hosting of virtual desktops using resources available in the cloud. Connections to various resources used by a desktop configuration are made dynamically using authentication information associated with the user assigned to the desktop configuration. In addition to using file storage, directory services and user management information on private resources on a private network, these resources may also be accessed through a public network.
1. A system comprising:
one or more computers having one or more processors and one of more memory devices, the one or more computers hosting a management system for managing a plurality of virtual desktops hosted on one or more host machines on a first computer network, wherein the management system provisions the plurality of virtual desktops and manages access to the respective virtual desktops by corresponding users of client devices, wherein the management system derives the virtual desktops from a common template that defines the virtual desktop including one or more of an operating system, applications, indications of the additional resources for the virtual desktop, or configuration information;
wherein the virtual desktops are allocated one or more additional resources located on a second computer network and accessed by the virtual desktops over a public computer network, each virtual desktop using authentication information for authentication with and connection to the additional resources, wherein the authentication information used by each virtual desktop is associated with a particular user assigned to the virtual desktop; and
wherein the additional resources on the second computer network allocated to the virtual desktops are accessed by the corresponding client devices through the virtual desktops on the host machines on the first computer network using the authentication information.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the template is copied to particular host machines and provisioned to form virtual desktops.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the management system allows a service provider to allocate resources for multiple tenants using the host machines on the first computer network.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a particular user is prompted for authentication information when accessing one or more of the additional resources using the virtual desktop assigned to the particular user.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein virtual desktops are allocated based in part on projected performance.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the additional resources accessed over the public computer network include one or more of an email account, a remote storage, one or more applications, or director services.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the management system further manages a plurality of additional virtual desktops hosted on one or more additional host machines on a second computer network.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the additional resources correspond to resources maintained by an enterprise associated with the users of the client devices.
9. A method comprising:
provisioning a plurality of virtual desktops hosted by one or more host machines on a first computer network, wherein each virtual desktop is associated with a particular user assigned to the virtual desktop, and wherein each virtual desktop is derived from a common template that defines the virtual desktop including one or more of an operating system, applications, indications of the additional resources for the virtual desktop, or configuration information;
allocating one or more additional resources to the plurality of virtual desktops, wherein the one or more additional resources are located on a second computer network and accessed by the plurality of virtual desktops over a public computer network; and
providing access to the one or more additional resources allocated to the virtual desktops by corresponding client devices through particular virtual desktops associated with users of the client devices, wherein each virtual desktop uses authentication information associated with an associated user assigned to the virtual desktop for access to the one or more additional resources.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein deriving the virtual desktops comprise copying the template to particular host machines and provisioning the desktop copied from the template to form virtual desktops.
11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising allocating resources for multiple tenants using the host machines on the first computer network.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a particular user is prompted for authentication information when accessing one or more of the additional resources using the virtual desktop assigned to the particular user.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein virtual desktops are allocated based in part on projected performance.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the additional resources accessed over the public computer network include one or more of an email account, a remote storage, one or more applications, or director services.
15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising managing a plurality of additional virtual desktops hosted on one or more additional host machines on a second computer network.