Cisco Desktop Virtualization Solution

Cisco and Citrix Systems companies brought in September, 2010 to the market the solution for virtualization of the desktop systems. It helps corporate customers to increase efficiency of virtual applications and the desktop systems with high resolution for all users working at the enterprise. The new solution of Cisco® Desktop Virtualization Solution combines technologies of unified communications Cisco and virtualizations of the desktop Citrix FlexCastTM and HDXTM systems with the Citrix XenDesktop component. It allowed to develop the most economic, scalable and productive solution for a hosting, protection and optimization of work of the virtual desktop systems and applications. The solution Cisco Desktop Virtualization Solution with the Citrix XenDesktop component can be ordered through partners of both companies already today.

The popularity of virtualization of the desktop systems quickly grows. This technology creates safer and flexible method of support of the desktop Windows systems and applications for any corporate users, irrespective of their location and access devices. The companies of any size implementing virtualization of the desktop systems need the simple and scalable solutions including the software, hardware devices and services of support. The new solution for virtualization of the desktop systems from Cisco and Citrix represents the first joint solution of this type conforming to the specified requirements. It provides to IT departments an easy and convenient way of acceleration of virtualization of the desktop systems for ensuring the highest performance and quality of the user services and for expense reduction.

From Cisco and Citrix enter into structure of the solution for virtualization of the desktop systems the unified environment of calculations Cisco Unified Computing SystemTM (UCS) and Citrix XenDesktop technology. It provides to users the following advantages:

The accelerated distribution of virtualization of the desktop systems

In advance configured service profiles for a hosting of the shared desktop systems and the separated infrastructure of VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) significantly simplify implementation and reduce terms of installation and setup of the XenDesktop systems in the environment of Cisco UCS.

In advance configured tools for installation simplification, the including different scenarios of use of Citrix XenDesktop technology, considerably simplify and accelerate implementation processes. The basic Starter Kit set gives the chance easily and just to create the first 300 virtual machines. The expanded set of Expansion Kit allows to increase infrastructure to several thousand virtual machines and users using simple modular "Plug and Play" transactions.

To simplify and accelerate even more processes of implementation at the customer, the standard architecture which passed tough joint tests in Cisco, Citrix and Netapp companies is developed. The standard architecture provides use of Netapp as the checked platform of data storage. This architecture appeared during strategy implementation of the open ecosystem giving to the customer freedom of choice. This strategy is supported by both companies - Cisco and Citrix.

Through uniform access point the joint services of support are offered customers. Besides, the service Cisco and Citrix groups closely cooperate and provide cross training of specialists to guarantee the highest quality of service of users.

This solution was initially developed as the open system allowing the customer easy and just to use the existing means of storage and hypervisors. This solution is already tested on compatibility with Citrix XenServer and VMware vSphereTM technologies. Besides, the compatibility with Microsoft Hyper-V technology will be provided in the near future.

Cost reduction at the expense of perfectly scalable environment of the unified Cisco UCS calculations

In traditional server platforms memory it becomes frequent "bottleneck", especially, in a situation when virtual machines become more and more powerful to meet the growing requirements of business. The Cisco UCS environment offers customers technology of expansion of memory which without prejudice to performance of applications supports for 60 percent more high density of servers in comparison with other server platforms having a standard configuration of memory.

The high density of users on each system in combination with close integration of network, computing and virtual resources in the environment of Cisco UCS allows to reduce by 20 percent infrastructure cost counting on one virtual desktop machine.

Support of any device in any place

The joint solution Cisco and Citrix simplifies the user access to corporate systems and applications using any combination of desktop IBM compatible computers and MAC computers, mobile computers, "thin clients", smartphones and tablet computers to the set universal Citrix ReceiverTM software client.

Services of access to global networks from Cisco and Citrix expand borders of the enterprise and provide secure access to virtual machines and applications to the corporate user working at office, at home or on the way.

Support of all corporate users using Citrix FlexCast technology

Different types of virtual machines and applications are required for different types of corporate employees. The Citrix FlexCast technology which is built in the XenDesktop systems simplifies the choice of the best virtual machines and applications conforming to requirements of each user in the field of performance, information security, mobility and personalisation.

The integrated solution maintains all functionality of Citrix XenApp, including integration with Microsoft App-V technology that simplifies processes of delivery of Windows applications on demand on any device, both physical, and virtual.

Increase in information security and compliance to the legislation

Centralization of infrastructure of desktop machines helps customers to strengthen security and to improve access control. Besides, such technologies as Cisco VN-Link, expand transparency of networks and the virtual systems and allow to manage them better.

The integrated Citrix SmartAuditorTM technology maintains integrity of data and helps to meet statutory and regulatory requirements in all virtual sessions supported by the joint solution Cisco and Citrix.