This week the IGEL Disrupt 2024 event took place in lovely Munich where several vendors and partners announced their latest news about their solutions.
Several announcements (fifteen to be precise) have been done by IGEL to confirm the evolution of the product focusing most of the effort in the security, a hot topic these days.
IGEL Disrupt 2024
The IGEL Disrupt 2024 event was, of course, primarily focused on IGEL solutions, but partner companies showcased and demonstrated how their solutions integrate with IGEL OS.
IGEL is valid OS solution for thin clients especially where the hardware resources are limited since the IGEL OS can really run on very limited resources. This is a good option for those companies with budget constraints.
One of the partner present at the event was Omnissa, the new company that acquired the former VMware EUC division.
Omnissa
Omnissa was present at the event (IGEL partner with Omnissa), leading several breakout sessions showcasing what Horizon and App Volumes can offer as part of a VDI solution.
The concept of VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) is now outdated and has been replaced by the acronym VADI (Virtual Application & Desktop Infrastructure) to reflect the evolution of VDI into application-centric solutions.
This is the concept embraced by Omnissa, where application distribution is the key focus for the modern EUC sector.
With its separation from VMware, Omnissa is seizing the opportunity to expand its support to additional platforms beyond vSphere, such as AWS, Azure, and Citrix, among others. This is definitely a positive development, as Omnissa can now offer integration with other platforms without being limited by vSphere restrictions.
Applications anywhere
Leveraging App Volumes capabilities, the Virtual Desktop OS can now be separated from applications, allowing for more efficient application management.
Throughout the year, updates are generally released for software installed on the Master Image using by Horizon to distribute Instant Clones. However, these updates are not always applied because recreating the image is a time-consuming process that sometimes conflicts with business requirements.
For this reason, not all patches are applied to the installed software, leaving potential vulnerabilities that could pose a risk to your environment.
When applications are distributed separately from the Master Image, individual applications can be updated in minutes, making them available to users quickly while maintaining the highest levels of security and efficiency.
Photon OS (used for example by UAGs) will be discontinued in favor of another Linux distribution, which has not yet been announced.
The capability to upgrade the Horizon UAG component with an in-place operation is not on the roadmap, as maintaining the highest level of security is a priority. This approach avoids installing potential tools or functions that could compromise the hardening of the UAG itself.
At the moment, there are no plans to move the App Volumes Manager to a Linux OS and it will remain on Windows platform.
The IGEL Disrupt 2025 event will take place in Miami Beach, March 25-27. The European date for the event has yet to be announced.
