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Citrix XenDesktop 4 - Has VDI come of age?
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With XenDesktop 4 Citrix is keen to show that their product set is truly enterprise ready. Rather than a simple VDI broker, the product is now able to deliver any mix of applications and desktops - physical, virtual and streamed.
Crucially for Citrix it takes advantage of all the benefits of the ICA protocol to deliver high definition media plus improved support for all manner of peripherals.
XenDesktop 4 also offers a range of editions and licensing options to help make both new product purchases and cross-grades attractive. A quick summary of licensing is presented below, but if you want the detail, you really need to contact us and we'll talk you through it.
Key Features of Citrix XenDesktop 4
HDX™ user experience – Delivering a high definition experience on any device, even over WAN connections, HDX optimises Multimedia, USB peripherals and 3D graphics, even delivering webcam support for the first time for real-time collaboration.
Citrix Receiver - Citrix XenDesktop takes advantage of the Citrix Receiver as a lightweight universal client, allowing users to access desktops and corporate applications from PCs, laptops, Netbooks, Macs, thin clients or smartphones.
WAN Optimised - XenDesktop uses 90% less bandwidth compared to alternative VDI solutions. VoIP support, improved audio, 3D graphics support and branch office WAN optimisation ensure users can access their full range of applications and services regardless of their location.
New "FlexCast" – Not really new technology, but a recognition that the product now contains the licensing and technology support for a whole host of different ways of working.
Integration with XenApp – XenDesktop now includes full XenApp capability and licensing to support application virtualisation
Open architecture – XenDesktop works with a range of hypervisors, including XenServer, Microsoft Hyper-V or VMware ESX or vSphere
Storage Integration - XenDesktop simplifies management of networked storage using StorageLink™ technology.
Microsoft Integration - XenDesktop is closely integrated with Microsoft App-V and System Center for application and desktop management.
Find more information contact us.
Citrix XenDesktop 4 Licensing Options
To get detailed information on licensing requires a conversation, so please contact us to find out the "real deal".
However as an initial guide:
Versions - Citrix XenDesktop 4.0 is available in three versions - VDI, Enterprise and Platinum. All three versions can be licensed on a per user or per device basis. VDI is also available on a per concurrent user basis (referred to as the VDI edition).
VDI Edition excludes some of the HDX features, XenApp integration, provisioning and management options. Platinum adds Edgesight, password manager, advanced access control, session recording and single sign-on.
Details of versions and features are available here: Citrix XenDesktop Features.asp
Trade Up - For a limited period customers can trade up licenses to XenDesktop from XenApp on a 2 for 1 basis.
Subscription - If you are out of subscription, this is a great opportunity to get back in with attractive trade up options.
Citrix Provisioning Server
Citrix Provisioning Server is included with XenDesktop 4.0 to help deliver "gold build" operating systems on-demand, creating a new model for dynamic, cost-effective deployment. Using Provisioning Server Windows desktops (and servers) can be deployed to virtual machines (or physical ones) in seconds.
Provisioning Server can store a number of operating system builds, e.g. to support various business uses or functions such as Middle Management, Point-of-Care/Sale, Engineering, Marketing, and Accounting. When a user connects to the VDI infrastructure via the broker, Provisioning Server delivers the assigned operating system and configuration the virtual desktop. The virtual computer starts running the assigned configuration immediately - there is no waiting to download the entire OS.
Provision Server has the following key benefits for VDI environments:
- Greatly reduces costs by minimising the SAN storage needed for VDI
- Simplifies management by reducing the number of desktops to configure and support
- Enables and automates central update of "gold" builds
Find more information contact us
XenDesktop Blogs, Links and Useful Sites
Brian Madden: http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/default.aspx
Citrix Community: http://community.citrix.com/x/GAChBQ
Doug Brown: http://www.dabcc.com/channel.aspx?id=192
ZDNet: http://blogs.zdnet.com/virtualization/?p=1357
AppSense: http://appsense.wordpress.com/category/citrix/xendesktop/
Virtualization info: http://www.virtualization.info/
Centralis in the News on Citrix XenDesktop 4
A number of on-line publications featured comments from Centralis on the XenDesktop announcements in recent days.
Here's a selection:
http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn/news/2251716/resellers-welcome-citrix