Leostream Corporation, a leading developer of virtual hosted desktop software, today announced that Leostream Connect 2.5 for Windows operating systems has achieved the "Compatible with Windows 7" logo from Microsoft Corp. Leostream Connect enables thin clients, and repurposes conventional "fat" desktops and laptops, to work with the Leostream Connection Broker as end-point devices in a hosted virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Windows 7 compatibility for Leostream Connect 2.5 is another development in Leostream's long-standing support for Microsoft technologies. It certifies that the feature set of the Windows 7 operating system is fully supported for organizations seeking the security, management, and cost-savings benefits of a hosted VDI based on the Leostream solution.
Leostream Connect 2.5 is a component of the Leostream Connection Broker: the software management layer that ties desktop images in the data center to appropriate end-user devices -- fat/thin clients, laptops, workstations or Web pages - delivering a user experience as good as or superior to that of a conventional desktop. The Leostream Connection Broker is vendor-independent, providing support for Microsoft, VMware, Citrix and Xen.org hypervisors, as well as for hosted applications and sessions, physical desktops, dedicated blades and other systems.
Leostream Connect 2.5 provides client-side single sign-on and run-as-shell modes for Windows 7 and all other supported Windows versions, locking down and hiding a physical machine's operating system from the end user. It can be installed on any thin client, fat desktop or laptop running a Windows operating system. For Windows 7, Leostream Connect provides a rich user experience in a hosted VDI environment that includes:
- RDP 7 support that includes high-performance enhancements such as bi-directional audio and rich graphics.
- Multimonitor support
- USB management
- Location-based printing
- Single-sign-on
- User profile support
- Extensive flexibility in assigning users to resources, including desktops, applications and sessions.
"The arrival of Windows 7 has been anticipated as the moment when many IT organizations will make the move to a VDI for their end-users," said Mike Palin, CEO of Leostream. "With this compatibility for Leostream Connect, the Leostream solution is well-positioned to provide enterprise-class VDI integration and management for Windows 7 in addition to the range of earlier Windows operating systems."