Open Source Client for VMware View

VMware View, formerly known as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), serves desktop virtualization whereby instances of desktop OSs run on a server and clients (typically with thin client hardware) essentially do the input and output. The benefit is among other things that virtualized desktops can be centrally managed.

VMware View Open Client, the open source adjunct to the proprietary desktop solution, is a client for Linux machines wanting to connect with traditional Windows desktops. The open client is optimized for thin client hardware, with Hewlett-Packard involved in its development, partly so that its Linux thin clients can be certified with VMware View. The open client is also planned to be part of Wyse Technology's thin computing solutions.

Features of the Linux client include SSL tunneling, two-factor authentication through RSA SecurID, and a full command line interface. Not included are multiple desktop sessions and USB or multimedia redirection.

VMware View Open Client is under an LGPL 2.1 license. The company hopes by these industry-friendly conditions to port the product to further operating systems and hardware platforms. Sources and binaries are available from the Google Code website.