VMware has released version 2 of ACE, its tool that lets firms deploy controlled desktop environments as virtual machines with applied policy settings. The update adds a central server to manage policies and better support for USB devices, among other features.
Available immediately, VMware ACE 2 Enterprise Edition is designed to provide a managed offline environment for external contract workers or employees working at home. It gives secure access to enterprise applications and data even from unmanaged PCs.
While ACE 2 now supports Windows Vista, the chief new feature is a Management Server through which administrators can centrally update policies and enforce expiry dates for deployed virtual machines. To ensure policies are up to date, companies can set the ACE client to check in with the server over the internet at regular intervals.
“You can enforce that the client must call in every so often. For example, you might specify once a week, and set ACE to temporarily disable itself after this period until it is able to connect again,” said Richard Garsthagen, VMware marketing manager for enterprise desktops in Europe. The central server can also provide information about client activity.
Also new is Pocket ACE, a feature supporting virtual machines on a USB drive.
“It’s optimised to run efficiently, even from a memory stick. You can go to any PC, plug in your stick and run your desktop,” said Garsthagen. If the target PC does not have VMware, ACE automatically installs VMware player.
The original ACE had its own tool for creating virtual desktops, but version 2 uses VMware’s Workstation 6 with an ACE Option Pack. As a result, firms have more granular security control over USB devices used with the client, restricting users to Flash disks owned by the organisation, for example.
VMware ACE 2 Enterprise Edition costs from $1,000 (£505) for a Starter Kit, up to $16,000 (£8,100) for the Enterprise Kit that includes Workstation 6, Management Server and up to 500 ACE client licences.
