This topic describes features and benefits of Elastic Desktop Service.
Comprehensiveness
Multiple types of cloud computers
Elastic Desktop Service provides individuals and enterprises with cloud computers of the Enterprise Office and General Office types to meet your business requirements in different scenarios.
Diverse Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals
Elastic Desktop Service provides a proprietary protocol named Adaptive Streaming Protocol (ASP) and SDKs that are compatible with common platforms. The protocol has the capabilities to build a general library across platforms at the underlying layer. The general library covers modules in network packet parsing, session management, I/O event upstream, image stream decoding, audio and video stream decoding. The SDKs are available for Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals, including software clients. Elastic Desktop Service provides multiple types of Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients such as the clients for Windows, macOS, and web. End users can connect to cloud computers from Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals and use cloud computers, anytime and anywhere.
Complete account system
Elastic Desktop Service provides the following account systems for end users: convenience accounts and enterprise Active Directory (AD) accounts. The latter account system can allow end users to connect to their existing AD systems.
Ease of use
Efficient delivery of cloud computers
You can deploy services in the Elastic Desktop Service console with a few clicks. In the console, you can create, assign, and release cloud computers. You can also create cloud computer pools that house multiple cloud computers with identical configurations. This greatly improves the delivery of cloud computers.
Centralized O&M
To facilitate centralized O&M of cloud computers, you can use the Elastic Desktop Service API and console. In addition, you can use other Alibaba Cloud services to integrate with Alibaba Cloud infrastructure to build an efficient desktop office system. Then, you can manage cloud computers, images, cloud computer templates, and enterprise applications in a centralized manner.
Convenient access method
End users can access cloud computers over the Internet, internal networks, and virtual private clouds (VPCs). You can use custom IPv4 CIDR blocks or gateways to isolate networks, which helps ensure secure access.
Flexibility and scalability
Flexible payment methods
Elastic Desktop Service supports flexible billing methods. The subscription and pay-as-you go billing methods are available. For example, you can use cloud computers on a pay-as-you-go basis. You can create cloud computers that have different specifications, such as vCPUs and GPUs.
Convenient access
End users can access cloud computers from various Alibaba Cloud Workspace terminals on devices, anytime and anywhere. In addition, large-sized enterprises can access cloud computers across networks and regions to remotely manage cloud computers without geographical limits.
Scalable cloud computers
The Elastic Desktop Service system automatically creates or releases cloud computers based on the connection status of end users and the scaling policies configured by the administrator.
Security and reliability
Stable protocol
The ASP protocol delivers high performance, reliability, and security. The letter "S" indicates streaming. That is, the ASP protocol can help handle streams, such as graphics command streams, image streams, and audio and video streams. The ASP protocol also integrates multiple key technologies, such as image analysis, encoding, live streaming media, and network quality of service (QoS) optimization into protocol design and supports multi-platform SDKs.
High-quality network transmission
The virtual multi-channel mechanism is introduced for a single connection by using multiplexing to send packets based on a priority. You can use Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) or User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to configure Quality of Service (QoS) policies, predict bandwidth, and control congestion in different scenarios. The caching mechanism is also introduced to deeply optimize effects of upstream and downstream audio channels for better audio experience. This can prevent the impact of network jitter and unstable network conditions when end users use audio and video on cloud computers.
Secure and reliable data storage
Elastic Desktop Service provides cloud computers that are running on highly reliable Alibaba Cloud infrastructure. Data is stored on the cloud to ensure data security.
Diverse security policies
You can customize security policies that control features of cloud computers. A policy includes the following features: visible watermarks, invisible watermarks, anti-screenshot, screen recording, permissions on clipboard read/write, permissions on peripherals, access rules for domain names, and security group rules. Aside from these features, the operations logs of administrators and end users are traceable and auditable, which helps reduce data leaks and manage cloud computers in a fine-grained manner.
Comparison
The following table describes the comparison between DaaS offerings, VDI offerings, and conventional PCs. Elastic Desktop Service is a DaaS offering.
Item | DaaS | VDI | Conventional PC |
Deployment | Desktops are deployed on the cloud and can be accessed anytime and anywhere. | Desktops are deployed in self-managed clusters and can be maintained in a centralized manner. | Desktops are individually installed, configured, and managed. |
Data security | Data is stored on the cloud for high reliability and security. | Data is stored on servers to ensure data security. | Data is stored on clients, which may have high security risks due to uncontrollable user behavior. |
Cost | Elastic Desktop Service is flexible, scalable, and out-of-the-box. You do not need to invest in hardware infrastructure. | You must make a one-time purchase of the required infrastructure. | You must make a one-time purchase of the required infrastructure. |
O&M | You can manage cloud computers in a centralized manner for simple and efficient O&M. | O&M becomes complex as the number of VDI systems increases. | The resource procurement and delivery are time-consuming. This causes difficulties in upgrades and configuration changes. |