MokaFive
Encyclopedia
MokaFive, headquartered in Redwood City, California
, provides a desktop-as-a-service platform for managing desktop computers. MokaFive was founded in July 2005 as a spinoff of the Collective Project in Stanford University
's Computer Science Department. MokaFive's main product, MokaFive Suite, allows users to create, run, distribute and manage LivePC
s, which are complete, managed virtual computing environments.
MokaFive Suite is a virtual desktop management solution designed to be agnostic with respect to the virtual machine monitor. It is currently ported to VMware Player
, but includes additional features that are required for managing virtual desktops in an enterprise environment. These features include automatic updates of virtual machines, streaming and caching of virtual machine images, hardware-accelerated 3D graphics support, and zero-footprint install when running from a USB drive.
AVG Anti-Virus is now integrated into the MokaFive virtual desktop management suite to provide the industry’s first complete solution for a secure virtual desktop that can be deployed directly on the end user’s personal machines. The solution enables consumers that work for enterprises to use AVG’s free software to protect their personal workspace, while at the same time assuring that sensitive corporate information contained in the virtual desktop is always kept safe.
at Khosla Ventures
($1 million followed by $2.26 million).
-funded research project at Stanford University called "The Collective: A Virtual Appliance Computing Infrastructure". The Collective project was started by the Stanford SUIF group, headed by Prof. Monica Lam, Prof. Mendel Rosenblum
, and Prof. Dan Boneh
. The objective was "to develop a new computing system architecture that is secure, reliable, easy to administer, and provides ubiquitous access to users' computing environments."
The Collective project began in 1999 with the exploration of a stateless thin-client architecture, a la Sun Ray
, where computation would occur on a centralized server. A thin-client architecture had the advantage of centralized management and allowing a user's data to live in the network, but it had some serious flaws: namely, it was not possible to work while disconnected (e.g. on a disconnected laptop or an unreliable network connection), it required a substantial server infrastructure, and it required a high-bandwidth low-latency network, which was not always possible with distant remote offices.
To address the flaws of the thin-client model, the Collective group developed a new system where a centrally-managed virtual machine would run locally on the user's computer. In this way, they were able to get the benefits of the thin-client model (easy management and administration) without many of the downsides (reliance on server infrastructure and fast network connection, no disconnected operation). The Collective architecture was presented in a paper at the HotOS conference in May 2003. This paper first coined the term Virtual Appliance
, later picked up by VMware
. Later publications in LISA 2003 and NSDI 2005 expanded upon this idea.
As of roughly 19:12 pm (GMT) on 5 April 2008 the MokaFive website changed dramatically. The new website is http://www.mokafive.com.
MokaFive Suite is an installable Desktop-as-a-Service platform, a software solution that enterprises or service providers could use to provide and manage virtual desktops to their customers. MokaFive Service is a subscription-based, hosted service, provided by MokaFive itself, that allows customers to manage virtual desktops without having to install and maintain the server components.
images on their local computers. Running images locally allows users to run images offline as well as online.
Players check in periodically with the MokaFive Enterprise Server for any updates. IT administrators can efficiently update a single image and centrally control policies, and the Enterprise Server takes care of the distribution.
MokaFive Enterprise Server compresses image files and sends the differences in the image, which reduces update time and bandwidth utilization. LivePC images are virtual desktop images in a MokaFive format. Existing VMware images can be converted into LivePC images using the Creator. The same image can be run on either Windows or Macintosh
computers.
Unlike standard virtual machine images, LivePC images have features that make it particularly adapted for desktop management:
MokaFive Players are used to control and run LivePC images. Players can be installed through AD GPOs, distributed on pre-installed USB devices, or users can download the Player installer and perform a self-installation.
Players provide many features designed for improved end-user experience and enterprise IT desktop management:
MokaFive Enterprise Server is a lightweight, secure management platform. It can be horizontally scaled, and images can be stored locally for remote offices, to reduce WAN
utilization. MokaFive Enterprise Server integrates with a corporate AD server, for authentication and targeting.
as its virtualization platform. It adds several additional features to the standard VMware Player:
As is the case with any desktop virtualization solution, MokaFive LivePCs include the operating system. Thus it requires an operating system license for each LivePC, which is a consideration when the operating system is not free. Including the entire operating system also makes LivePCs larger and require more memory than using, for example, application virtualization
.
On June 29, 2009, MokaFive released version 2.0, which replaced "user disks" with layering of virtual PCs. This innovation allows users to easily install software on their virtual machine copy. But users who created machines under version 1.x will need to start over. MokaFive's manual migration procedure does not support current users who used the standard configuration for their live pc. Concurrently, MokaFive removed user forums from their website.
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a California charter city located on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California, approximately 27 miles south of San Francisco, and 24 miles north of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans from its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people, to its tradition as a port for...
, provides a desktop-as-a-service platform for managing desktop computers. MokaFive was founded in July 2005 as a spinoff of the Collective Project in Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
's Computer Science Department. MokaFive's main product, MokaFive Suite, allows users to create, run, distribute and manage LivePC
LivePC
LivePC encompasses an operating system and a complete set of software determined by the publisher of the LivePC. Currently, many LivePCs are available that deliver bundles of open-source software to home PC users. A LivePC has two segregated components, the system environment and the user...
s, which are complete, managed virtual computing environments.
MokaFive Suite is a virtual desktop management solution designed to be agnostic with respect to the virtual machine monitor. It is currently ported to VMware Player
VMware Player
VMware Player is a freeware virtualization software package from VMware, Inc. . VMware Player can run virtual appliances. VMware Player can also create virtual machines since version 3.0...
, but includes additional features that are required for managing virtual desktops in an enterprise environment. These features include automatic updates of virtual machines, streaming and caching of virtual machine images, hardware-accelerated 3D graphics support, and zero-footprint install when running from a USB drive.
AVG Anti-Virus is now integrated into the MokaFive virtual desktop management suite to provide the industry’s first complete solution for a secure virtual desktop that can be deployed directly on the end user’s personal machines. The solution enables consumers that work for enterprises to use AVG’s free software to protect their personal workspace, while at the same time assuring that sensitive corporate information contained in the virtual desktop is always kept safe.
History
MokaFive was founded in July 2005 by Stanford Professor Monica Lam with her students Ramesh Chandra, Constantine Sapuntzakis, and John Whaley under the name SkyBlue Technologies. They received their first round of funding from Vinod KhoslaVinod Khosla
Vinod Khosla is an Indian-born American venture capitalist and an influential personality in Silicon Valley....
at Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures
Khosla Ventures is a venture capital firm focused on early stage companies in the Internet, computing, mobile, silicon technology and clean technology sectors....
($1 million followed by $2.26 million).
The Stanford Collective Project
MokaFive had its beginnings as a four-year NSFNational Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
-funded research project at Stanford University called "The Collective: A Virtual Appliance Computing Infrastructure". The Collective project was started by the Stanford SUIF group, headed by Prof. Monica Lam, Prof. Mendel Rosenblum
Mendel Rosenblum
Mendel Rosenblum is an associate professor of Computer Science at Stanford University, and one of the co-founders of VMware. Since 2008 he is a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery "for contributions to reinventing virtual machines", and had previously received the ACM SIGOPS Mark...
, and Prof. Dan Boneh
Dan Boneh
Dan Boneh is a Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering atStanford University. He is a well-known researcher in the areas of applied cryptographyand computer security.-Education:...
. The objective was "to develop a new computing system architecture that is secure, reliable, easy to administer, and provides ubiquitous access to users' computing environments."
The Collective project began in 1999 with the exploration of a stateless thin-client architecture, a la Sun Ray
Sun Ray
The Sun Ray from Oracle is a stateless thin client solution aimed at corporate environments, originally introduced by Sun Microsystems in September 1999...
, where computation would occur on a centralized server. A thin-client architecture had the advantage of centralized management and allowing a user's data to live in the network, but it had some serious flaws: namely, it was not possible to work while disconnected (e.g. on a disconnected laptop or an unreliable network connection), it required a substantial server infrastructure, and it required a high-bandwidth low-latency network, which was not always possible with distant remote offices.
To address the flaws of the thin-client model, the Collective group developed a new system where a centrally-managed virtual machine would run locally on the user's computer. In this way, they were able to get the benefits of the thin-client model (easy management and administration) without many of the downsides (reliance on server infrastructure and fast network connection, no disconnected operation). The Collective architecture was presented in a paper at the HotOS conference in May 2003. This paper first coined the term Virtual Appliance
Virtual appliance
A virtual appliance is a virtual machine image designed to run on a virtualization platform ....
, later picked up by VMware
VMware
VMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software founded in 1998 and based in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2004, and operates as a separate software subsidiary ....
. Later publications in LISA 2003 and NSDI 2005 expanded upon this idea.
As of roughly 19:12 pm (GMT) on 5 April 2008 the MokaFive website changed dramatically. The new website is http://www.mokafive.com.
Products
, there are two MokaFive products:- MokaFive Suite
- MokaFive Service
MokaFive Suite is an installable Desktop-as-a-Service platform, a software solution that enterprises or service providers could use to provide and manage virtual desktops to their customers. MokaFive Service is a subscription-based, hosted service, provided by MokaFive itself, that allows customers to manage virtual desktops without having to install and maintain the server components.
How MokaFive Works
MokaFive consists of four main components: Player, Creator, Enterprise Server and Console. Users use the Player to run LivePCLivePC
LivePC encompasses an operating system and a complete set of software determined by the publisher of the LivePC. Currently, many LivePCs are available that deliver bundles of open-source software to home PC users. A LivePC has two segregated components, the system environment and the user...
images on their local computers. Running images locally allows users to run images offline as well as online.
Players check in periodically with the MokaFive Enterprise Server for any updates. IT administrators can efficiently update a single image and centrally control policies, and the Enterprise Server takes care of the distribution.
MokaFive Enterprise Server compresses image files and sends the differences in the image, which reduces update time and bandwidth utilization. LivePC images are virtual desktop images in a MokaFive format. Existing VMware images can be converted into LivePC images using the Creator. The same image can be run on either Windows or Macintosh
Macintosh
The Macintosh , or Mac, is a series of several lines of personal computers designed, developed, and marketed by Apple Inc. The first Macintosh was introduced by Apple's then-chairman Steve Jobs on January 24, 1984; it was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a...
computers.
Unlike standard virtual machine images, LivePC images have features that make it particularly adapted for desktop management:
- LivePC images allow users to install personal applications and maintain their user data and settings, and allow for IT to update their OS and corporate applications.
- LivePC images can be joined to an AD domain without requiring a reboot, and they remain joined through image updates.
MokaFive Players are used to control and run LivePC images. Players can be installed through AD GPOs, distributed on pre-installed USB devices, or users can download the Player installer and perform a self-installation.
Players provide many features designed for improved end-user experience and enterprise IT desktop management:
- Differential updates which load in the background
- Granular security policies
- Single-sign-on to images
- Encryption
- AD-based authentication
- Revoke and kill of images
- Similar Windows and Macintosh experience
- Printing to the host's printers
- Performance enhancements for USB deployments
MokaFive Enterprise Server is a lightweight, secure management platform. It can be horizontally scaled, and images can be stored locally for remote offices, to reduce WAN
WAN
WAN may refer to:* Wide area network * World Association of Newspapers* Wanborough railway station in England, which has the station code WAN...
utilization. MokaFive Enterprise Server integrates with a corporate AD server, for authentication and targeting.
Differences between LivePC Engine and VMplayer
MokaFive Player embeds the free VMware PlayerVMware Player
VMware Player is a freeware virtualization software package from VMware, Inc. . VMware Player can run virtual appliances. VMware Player can also create virtual machines since version 3.0...
as its virtualization platform. It adds several additional features to the standard VMware Player:
- Seamless updates of virtual machines. In MokaFive Player, users are subscribed to a LivePC so they automatically receive all updates. Updates are sent through an RSS feed that the LivePC subscribes to.
- Streaming and caching of virtual machine images. MokaFive Player will stream virtual machine images over the network so you don't need to download the entire image before starting. It will also cache the image locally so you can work disconnected.
- Hardware-accelerated 3D graphics support. MokaFive Player includes support for DirectX 8 and 9 3D programs. The host graphics adapter is exposed to the guest operating system as a mokzzile 3D accelerator so DirectX applications can run at nearly full speed. Many games exhibit strange behaviour such as slow timing in Call of Duty 4.
- Zero-footprint install (needs administrative rights) when running from a USB drive. When plugging into a host that does not have MokaFive installed, MokaFive Player will dynamically install itself, and then uninstall itself after unplugging.
Known issues
MokaFive inherits many of the limitations of VMware Player, including no support for IEEE-1394/FireWire and certain other hardware devices. However, MokaFive claims that its software is technically independent of the embedded virtual machine platform and that they will support other VMs.As is the case with any desktop virtualization solution, MokaFive LivePCs include the operating system. Thus it requires an operating system license for each LivePC, which is a consideration when the operating system is not free. Including the entire operating system also makes LivePCs larger and require more memory than using, for example, application virtualization
Application Virtualization
Application virtualization is an umbrella term that describes software technologies that improve portability, manageability and compatibility of applications by encapsulating them from the underlying operating system on which they are executed. A fully virtualized application is not installed in...
.
On June 29, 2009, MokaFive released version 2.0, which replaced "user disks" with layering of virtual PCs. This innovation allows users to easily install software on their virtual machine copy. But users who created machines under version 1.x will need to start over. MokaFive's manual migration procedure does not support current users who used the standard configuration for their live pc. Concurrently, MokaFive removed user forums from their website.