Methods and systems for searching and indexing virtual environments

A computer-implemented method of managing search engine indexing with respect to a virtual desktop architecture, the method comprising:

• receiving at a virtual resource management system comprising at least a processor device, indexing parameters for one or more users, the indexing parameters identifying data types, or data sources, or both data types and data sources to be indexed;
• generating, by the virtual resource management system, for each user in a first plurality of users, initial respective iterations of search indexes, the first plurality of users associated with respective virtual desktops executing on a virtual desktop farm and the first plurality of users utilizing a shared data storage system, wherein the virtual desktops are accessible by users via corresponding user terminals in communication with the virtual resource management system that generates initial respective iterations of search indexes;
• storing the initial iterations of search indexes, generated by the virtual resource management system, on the shared data storage system;
• generating, by the virtual resource management system, updated iterations of the search indexes on the shared data storage system for at least a portion of the first plurality of users associated with respective virtual desktops, including search indexes of users logged off their respective virtual desktops;
• and
• receiving, by the virtual resource management system, a search query from a first user in the first plurality of users, while the first user is logged into a first virtual desktop executing on the virtual desktop farm;
• identifying, utilizing an iteration of the search index associated with the first user and stored on the shared data storage system, documents associated with the search query;
• and
• causing search results corresponding to the identified documents to be presented via the first virtual desktop.

A system configured to generate search indexes, comprising:

• at least one computing device;
• an interface configured to communicate with a virtual desktop farm;
• a non-transitory computer storage medium having stored thereon executable instructions that direct the at least one computing device to perform operations comprising:
• generate initial respective iterations of search indexes for respective users in a first plurality of users, the first plurality of users associated with respective virtual desktops executing on the virtual desktop farm, wherein the virtual desktops are accessible by users via corresponding user terminals in communication with the system configured to generate search indexes;
• store the generated initial iterations of search indexes, generated by the system, on a shared data store;
• update at least some of existing respective iterations of search indexes associated with respective users in the first plurality of users associated with respective virtual desktops;
• receive a search query from a first user while the first user is logged into a first virtual desktop executing on the virtual desktop farm;
• identify, utilizing an iteration of the search index associated with the first user and stored on the server storing search indexes for the plurality of users associated with respective virtual desktops, corresponding documents;
• and
• cause search results corresponding to the identified documents to be presented via the first virtual desktop executed using the virtual desktop farm.