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CHAPTER 4 Deploying Operating Systems and Applications in VDI and DaaS Environments 43 These materials are © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Any dissemination, distribution, or unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Xi Frame guest agent installed. From there, you'll use sysprep to revert the new VM to a deployable state. It becomes the master image for any new desktops that you create. Understanding the Role of Agent Software What exactly does agent software do in a VDI architecture? Begin with a look at VMware Horizon. In that environment, the Horizon Agent must be installed inside each of your virtual desktops to allow that desktop to communicate with vCenter Server and the Horizon Connection server. In VMware, the agent installs a number of services, including communications protocols such as VMware Blast, VMware Tools, Snapshot Provider (for cloning), and USB redirection services. In Citrix, the agent is known as a Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) and is installed on each physical or virtual machine that delivers desktops or applications. VDAs manage connections between that machine and user devices and ensure that policies are also deployed. Agent software is a critical part of your VDI environment. Without it, your environment won't be complete. In a Xi Frame cloud-based DaaS environment, agents are already installed inside the available templates. For on-premises/hybrid Xi Frame DaaS scenarios, you need to install the Xi Frame agent inside the virtual machine that is to become your golden master. Discovering Application Catalogs and Delivery Mechanisms Application catalogs and automated self-service delivery aren't unique to VDI and DaaS environments. These kinds of mechanisms have been around forever in tools such as Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM). The purpose of these capabilities is to streamline the delivery of applications and reduce calls to the IT help desk requesting installation of a specialized piece of software. As the world becomes much more oriented to on-demand self- service, expect users to demand these services in your organization.