Siemens — Vdesktop
In the early 2000s, Siemens, a global technology powerhouse, was facing challenges in managing its IT infrastructure across various departments and geographies. With a large and diverse workforce, Siemens needed a solution that could provide secure, reliable, and flexible access to applications and data. This is where Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) came into play.
In modern industrial environments, efficiency, security, and flexibility are paramount. As factories and critical infrastructure transition toward digital transformation, managing software across numerous engineering workstations has become a significant challenge. (often integrated within Siemens Virtualization Infrastructure or SIVaaS) addresses this complexity by bringing the power of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) directly to the automation world .
+-------------------------------------------------------------+ | Central Server Cluster | | [ VMware ESXi ] OR [ Microsoft Hyper-V ]| +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | | v v +----------------------+ +----------------------+ | Virtual Machine (VM) | | Virtual Machine (VM) | | WinCC / PCS 7 Server| | SIMATIC PC Station | +----------------------+ +----------------------+ | | +----------------+----------------+ | (RDP, VNC, or HTML5 over LAN) v +-------------------------------------------------------------+ | SIMATIC Industrial Thin Clients (ITC) | | (Ruggedized Factory Floor HMI) | +-------------------------------------------------------------+ Key Benefits of SiVaaS
| Operation | Physical (i7-11700) | vDesktop (4 vCPU + 16 GB) | |-----------|----------------------|----------------------------| | Open TIA Portal | 22 sec | 24 sec | | Compile OB1 | 3 sec | 3.8 sec | | Download to PLC (S7-1500) | 8 sec | 9 sec (via tunneled Profinet) | | WinCC Runtime startup | 12 sec | 15 sec | vdesktop siemens
Siemens utilizes these Microsoft-powered services to meet Zero Trust security requirements while providing low-latency access for global teams.
Siemens has transitioned from a legacy on-premises virtual workstation model to a more flexible, cloud-based approach. This service allows users to access a full Windows environment or specific high-performance applications from any device.
Transitioning to a virtualized engineering environment requires careful planning to prevent latency and connectivity issues. In the early 2000s, Siemens, a global technology
Virtualizing data-heavy systems that require high uptime. Implementing vDesktop: The Siemens Approach
NX using virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) - Siemens Community
Physical dongles can't be easily moved to a VM. Solutions: In modern industrial environments
Centralizing data means a server failure could halt engineering. Implement automated, high-frequency backups of the VM images and project repositories using tools like Veeam or Siemens-approved backup workflows. Conclusion: The Future of Factory Engineering
. These solutions allow users to access powerful workstations, including graphics-heavy engineering software like Siemens NX , from any device or location. Core Offerings & Internal Use
The benefits of VDI are numerous, and they can be broadly categorized into three main areas: operational efficiency, security, and cost savings.
: By centralizing data and applications on secure servers, vDesktop Siemens minimizes the risk of data breaches and loss. Users can access their virtual desktops without having to worry about data being stored on their local devices, enhancing security and compliance with data protection regulations.