Protocol Partner Solutions for the Lync VDI Plugin

Out of the package, the downloadable Lync VDI plugin software supports only a native Windows environment, using Remote Desktop Protocol. However, Microsoft also has a goal of achieving platform independence with this new technology. To allow for this, the plugin was built to leverage Dynamic Virtual Channels (DVCs), which is a standard set of APIs that are platform independent. Other Remote Desktop Protocol vendors can then take advantage of DVCs to deliver their own solutions, which combine the Lync VDI plugin with their own software. VDI vendors that are developing solutions with Microsoft based on the Lync VDI plugin are referred to as protocol partners.

For the initial release of the VDI plugin, Microsoft has been working with two of the leading VDI vendors to develop third-party solutions based on the VDI plugin: Citrix and VMware. The following sections provide a description of the Lync VDI solutions that are planned for each of these partners. It should be noted that the information in this section is based on the prerelease versions of this technology, and is therefore subject to change before the partner solutions are officially released.