Citrix Virtual Apps и Desktops (ранее XenApp и XenDesktop)

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp and XenDesktop) is a comprehensive solution for virtual applications and desktops that helps deliver Windows, Linux, web applications and applications SaaS or full virtual desktops from any cloud - public, local or hybrid.

2021: Avanpost FAM Compatibility

The Avanpost company reported on November 18, 2021 that it integrated sistemuavanpost FAM with corporate solutions of Citrix for ensuring the protected remote access: Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Citrix ADC. More details here.

2020: Compatibility with RUSTEK

The RUSTEC platform, provided by SBC, confirmed full compatibility with the Citrix Systems solution - Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and was the first among Russian virtualization platforms to receive Citrix Ready status. This was announced on February 14, 2020 by SBC. More details here.

2019

Compatibility with JaCarta and JaCarta Reader products

On November 26, 2019, Aladdin R.D. announced the completion of compatibility testing and obtaining official Citrix Ready status for the JaCarta and JCR product family. USB tokens of the smart card JaCarta, as well as smart cards reader JCR721 developed by Aladdin R.D. are now presented in the Citrix Ready Marketplace directory. More details here.

At the heart of the VDI service from DataLine

June 18, 2019 DataLine introduced the VDI service based on Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, which will allow you to quickly deploy and centrally manage any number of workstations. More information here.

2018: Citrix Virtual Apps и Desktops 7 1808 Current Release

Citrix has begun implementing a different naming strategy for products and their revisions: all components of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops are assigned a version based on the year (GG) and month (MM) of the corresponding release, for example, "Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 GMM."

On October 17, 2018, Citrix released Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 1808 Current Release and introduced the updated look of the popular Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops cloud service. The name and version of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops have changed, but this is still the most comprehensive application and desktop delivery solution on the market. It provides access from any device, allowing staff to work from anywhere. And this is a key component of the strategy for the implementation of the digital workplace.

Citrix Workspace combines all Citrix Receiver features and adds a built-in browser. This allows you to optimize user comfort and scalability, since web content is rendered on the client device.

Citrix has improved interaction with the solution: the updated interface combines all the digital workplace resources you have, including virtual applications and consumer-side desktops. The interface is delivered as a cloud service that works in conjunction with Citrix Workspace.

Citrix Virtual Agent 1808 optimizes the performance of the Microsoft Teams web application during a virtual session, includes an HDX optimization package for Google Chromebooks, improves user comfort through high-performance video coding (H.265) in virtualized applications, and prepares Virtual Apps and Desktops environments for working with Microsoft Server 2019.

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops now have power management support in application workloads and on Google Cloud Platform desktops, as well as useful information for administering licenses for cloud services.

The next version of Citrix Virtual App and Desktops Long Term Service Release is scheduled for the second half of 2019. Thanks to Long Term Service Release, customers will be able to use one version of the product with basic support up to 5 years and with the possibility of extended support up to 5 years Citrix^[1].

2017

2016

XenApp 7.9 и XenDesktop 7.9

Citrix's innovation in VDI and application virtualization continues with the release of XenApp and XenDesktop 7.9. XenApp and XenDesktop 7.9 extend the functionality of the solution and improve usability with optimized authentication, improved graphics support, and enhanced print capabilities, reducing the cost of delivering virtual applications and desktops. In addition, XenApp and XenDesktop 7.9 offer effective monitoring tools and tools for easy maintenance and configuration.

To enhance security, users who need XenApp and XenDesktop at work can use the same authentication method for their virtual and local applications, which reduces the number of passwords and support calls used. For IT administrators, XenApp and XenDesktop simplify the access control process for contractors, partners, and third-party customers who need B2B authentication.

Applications require graphics with increasing resolution, so XenApp and XenDesktop with HDX deliver high-quality 3D graphics for desktops running Windows 10. Citrix combined HDX 3D Pro performance with Intel Iris Pro graphics to provide high-quality visuals for all applications that require a virtual graphics processor.

XenApp and XenDesktop remain the only secure application and desktop delivery solutions based on a single architecture that can be deployed to any cloud, infrastructure, or hypervisor, including Nutanix Acropolis.

Some desktop virtualization and application delivery capabilities include:

• Supports Single Sign-on for virtual PCs and applications by the Federated Authentication Service, which can use third-party authentication providers.
• Intel Iris Pro graphics support for 3D-demanding workloads.
• Support for the deployment of virtual machines on the Nutanix Acropolis platform within the framework of the concept of hyperconvergent infrastructure.
• Reduce IOPS to 95% by using caching options in the latest version of Machine Creation Services.
• Load balancing and fault tolerance features for Universal Print Server.
• Citrix Receiver versions for iOS, Android, Chrome and HTML platforms with additional features in each of the clients.

XenApp 7.8 и XenDesktop 7.8

XenApp and XenDesktop versions 7.8 (scheduled for Q1 2016)

All features implemented in version 7.7 will be supported by version 7.8, which will make the upcoming version XenApp and XenDesktop 7.8 the most functional version of XenApp and XenDesktop based on the FlexCast Management Architecture. This release is focused on optimizing delivery and application management processes, improving user comfort while increasing server scalability and increasing architecture flexibility based on the needs of users and vertical market segments.

Version 7.8 of XenApp and XenDesktop offers the following benefits:

• Simplify the application management process by separating applications at the level of the main OS image using AppDisk. The new AppDisk technology allows system administrators to package and manage applications independent of their OS image wizard, which eliminates the excessive complexity associated with managing multiple OS images that belong to different departments of the company. AppDisk allows you to easily install and update applications without affecting the desktop or server reference image.
• Integrated into the AppDNA compatibility check for applications at the AppDisk level. AppDNA Extends the benefits of using layers implemented in AppDisk by providing instant application compatibility reports and layer reassignment for installed AppDisk. The system administrator will now be able to assess and resolve compatibility issues before transferring applications to AppDisk employees.
• Easily manage Microsoft App-V software packages using the Studio Administrator Console. XenApp and XenDesktop administrators can now use Citrix Studio to control the distribution of App-V applications to virtual desktops or servers XenApp without the need for a separate server infrastructure and App-V database.
• Improved application publishing capabilities. Large companies manage hundreds of applications hosted on thousands of servers. The updated Studio application has an improved interface for publishing applications and new features that allow system administrators to publish applications to multiple groups.
• Improved graphics performance for virtual desktops. Optimizing graphics performance for virtual desktops is very important, and the new version contains a number of improvements, including combining innovative Framehawk technology with HDX 3D Pro graphics acceleration for Windows 7 and 8 systems.
• High scalability of innovative Framehawk technology. The new Framehawk technology provides extensive functionality even in complex network environments and provides real-time interactivity in networks where loss of data packets results in reduced speed. The new version includes optimizations that reduce memory requirements by more than 40%, increase CPU performance by up to 20%, and improve bandwidth efficiency by more than 50%.

XenApp 7.7 и XenDesktop 7.7

XenApp 7.7 and XenDesktop 7.7 enhance the relationship and value of Citrix and Microsoft product integration with new cloud deployment and collaboration optimization capabilities, increase the flexibility of FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA) for use in geographically distributed regions, and simplify application management with the following key features:

• Full functionality of Skype for Business when used as a virtual application or desktop. Thanks to the close cooperation of Citrix and Microsoft, this version of RealTime Optimization Pack provides full-fledged functionality of Skype for Business, launched in the form of a virtual application or desktop, including support for high-quality audio and video playback.
• Advanced integration with the Microsoft platform. Now, you can quickly deploy virtual desktops in Microsoft Azure by using Machine Creation Services (MCS), implemented in XenApp and XenDesktop. In addition, Citrix Provisioning now supports local deployment of virtual desktops running Windows 10.
• Improved imaging technology. Quickly deploy desktop or server images to simplify patch management, conserve storage resources, and protect basic image configurations. This release contains a number of optimizations for Provisioning Services technology, including support for performance improvements in NVIDIA GRID GPUs on the vSphere, configuration of the infrastructure to meet FIPS requirements, local software updates to target devices, support for modern pre-boot environments, extended system life in case of license server problems, improved APIs, etc.
• Simplified management of geographically distributed infrastructures based on zoning. The new management functionality in multiple zones allows you to deploy XenApp sites that extend to multiple sites or zones, simplifying the process of managing multiple sites, for example, publishing applications in all zones using a single console.
• Improvements in application management and monitoring. You are now more able to monitor and manage your applications. You can limit the number of demanding applications on a single server to maintain enough scalability and performance. You will be able to get information about error conditions or overuse in proactive mode in order to make decisions before major problems arise.

Citrix XenDesktop received the FSTEC certificate of Russia

In the spring of 2016, Citrix received a certificate of compliance with the FSTEC of Russia for the Citrix XenDesktop solution for compliance with technical requirements. Citrix XenDesktop 7.7 certification took several months, and after passing inspection control, customers will be available with up-to-date certified XenDesktop updates to versions 7.8 and 7.9. The certified version of the solution can be used to protect restricted access information that does not contain information constituting state secrets in state information systems of 3 and 4 security classes, as well as for 3 and 4 levels of security of personal data in information systems for which type 3 threats are relevant.

2015

Citrix атакует VMware: Why Choose Citrix XenApp Over VMware Horizon?

According to Citrix, unlike VMware Horizon Citrix XenApp - a proven solution that has been implemented over the years. It improves security, optimizes management, and increases user flexibility. In addition, XenApp is the only solution that is certified both on the basis of FIPS and on the basis of general criteria.

• Ten areas where XenApp outperforms VMware Horizon apps

Released Feature Pack 3 for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6

On October 2, 2015, Citrix announced the release of Feature Pack 3 for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6^[2].

Feature Pack 3 for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6:

• Windows Workstation Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) - simplifies the deployment of new PCs (including on the Windows 10 platform), their migration to Windows 10.
• Citrix Receiver for Windows 10 is an upgraded version of software for accessing published XenApp/XenDesktop applications.
• Citrix AppDNA 7.6.5 - Simplifies migration to Windows 10 by virtualizing applications that are physically installed in users.
• improved performance, including Thinwire technology, which is responsible for displaying the user environment on thin clients.
• Enhanced HDX Policy Templates for application and desktop interface delivery settings. Pre-configured template sets are available.
• improved Universal Print Server, it is also available for Windows Server 2012 R2, and also supports Windows 10 clients.
• Smart card authentication works 25% faster.
• The Restriction Access from Jailbroken Devices policy has appeared to prevent access from hacked devices.
• HDX technology can MediaStream verify that Flash versions on the client and server match to avoid compatibility issues.
• improved support for drawing tablets (Wacom), including tools for digitally signing content using smart cards.

Feature Pack 3 for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6

On October 2, 2015, Citrix announced the release of Feature Pack 3 for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6^[2].

Feature Pack 3 for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 includes changes:

• Windows Workstation Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) simplifies the deployment of new PCs (including on the Windows 10 platform), their migration to Windows 10.
• Citrix Receiver for Windows 10 is an upgraded version of software for accessing published XenApp/XenDesktop applications.
• Citrix AppDNA 7.6.5 - Simplifies migration to Windows 10 by virtualizing applications that are physically installed in users.
• improved performance, including Thinwire technology, which is responsible for displaying the user environment on thin clients.
• Enhanced HDX Policy Templates for application and desktop interface delivery settings. Pre-configured template sets are available.
• improved Universal Print Server, it is also available for Windows Server 2012 R2, and also supports Windows 10 clients.
• Smart card authentication works 25% faster.
• The Restriction Access from Jailbroken Devices policy has appeared to prevent access from hacked devices.
• HDX technology can MediaStream verify that Flash versions on the client and server match to avoid compatibility issues.
• improved support for drawing tablets (Wacom), including tools for digitally signing content using smart cards.

2014

Citrix XenApp 7.5

On January 28, 2014, Citrix announced the release of the next generation Citrix XenApp, an application virtualization solution.

Citrix XenApp 7.5 is based on the FlexCast Management Architecture used in the Citrix XenDesktop solution, which provides a single console from which to deliver both virtual applications and desktops. Applications used can belong to five generations of Windows, all will be hosted and managed using a single infrastructure.

Solution Capabilities:

• Integration with XenDesktop means of FlexCast for management from the uniform console. The technology is called Flex Management Architecture (FMA).
• Hybrid Cloud Provisioning - supports hybrid infrastructures created from your data center and public "cloud" (about supported clouds written above) on a temporary or permanent basis.
• Enhanced App DNA with the ability to P2V-migrate physical PCs to a virtual environment (now migration time and resources are reduced to 90%).
• Many improvements in performance monitoring and solution components.
• Simplified interoperability with the Director component with built-in EdgeSight technology.
• Citrix HDX Mobile Technology Support - High-performance graphics delivery to mobile devices.
• Improved support for the web interface (it's back), which allows you to manage applications and PCs.
• Citrix Ready program - to verify that IaaS providers meet Citrix requirements.
• Users of Platinum (with an active subscription) will receive Mobile device management (MDM) and Enterprise mobile management (EMM) solutions for free, and significant discounts are set for users of other publications.

Prices for products are unchanged: XenApp from $350 for simultaneous connection, the price for XenDesktop starts from $95 for a user or device, VDI edition - $195 for simultaneous connection.

Citrix XenDesktop 7.5

On January 28, 2014, Citrix announced the release of a new version of Citrix XenDesktop 7.5.

Citrix XenDesktop 7.5 addresses the technology of transferring application or desktop workloads to open and private cloud infrastructures along with traditional virtual infrastructure implementations.

Unlike other companies that force customers to use different solutions for traditional and cloud environments, XenDesktop 7.5 uses the same management consoles and methodologies, supporting a "any cloud" strategy.

List of innovations:

• Integration with XenDesktop means of FlexCast for management from the uniform console. The technology is called Flex Management Architecture (FMA).
• Hybrid Cloud Provisioning - supports hybrid infrastructures created from your own datacenter and public cloud (the supported clouds are described above) on a temporary or permanent basis.
• Enhanced App DNA with the ability to P2V-migrate physical PCs to a virtual environment (now migration time and resources are reduced to 90%).
• Many improvements in performance monitoring and solution components.
• Simplified interoperability with the Director component with built-in EdgeSight technology.
• Citrix HDX Mobile Technology Support - High-performance graphics delivery to mobile devices.
• Improved support for the web interface (it's back), which allows you to manage applications and PCs.
• Citrix Ready program - to verify that IaaS providers meet Citrix requirements.
• Users of Platinum (with an active subscription) will receive Mobile device management (MDM) and Enterprise mobile management (EMM) solutions for free, and significant discounts are set for users of other publications.

Prices will remain unchanged: XenApp from $350 for simultaneous connection, the price for XenDesktop starts from $95 for a user or device, VDI edition - $195 for simultaneous connection.

The products are expected to be released in March 2014.

2013

XenDesktop 7.1

October 1, 2013 it became known about the release by Citrix of the technical release Citrix XenDesktop 7.1.

The main goal of release XenDesktop 7.1, which is already available for download, is to support new versions of the operating systems MicrosoftWindows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2, which will soon become available (traditionally in October), and enterprise customers now want to try them in the VDI environment.

XenDesktop 7.1 will help you try new features of these operating systems:

• Use Hyper-V 3 hypervisor with local storage support for Machine Creation Services (MCS).
• Redirect Flash graphics for Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2, and 2012.

Release XenDesktop 7.1 can use Windows 8.1 as a guest OS for virtual PCs and Windows Server 2012 R2 to deploy solution controls. It is available only for XenDesktop users with an active subscription.

XenDesktop 7

Firstly, a group of technicians appeared, united by the common name HDX Mobile. Here's what they can do with^[3]:

• The ability to use multi-touch gestures and finger movements (swipe) for various navigation and scrolling commands.
• Menu controls that allow mobile devices to easily process pop-up menus on guest OS and navigate with the mouse.
• Compression and redirect technologies for processing tasks on end devices, which allows you to work efficiently with the desktop in WAN networks. HDX technologies now use H.264 compression. In addition, it is now possible to optimize the bitrate of the transmitted HD video in such a way that it becomes possible to view it in 3G networks. That is, the bit rate is automatically selected for the speed of the existing connection.
• The new Citrix StoreFront interface harmonizes access to applications and virtual PCs with enhanced security on the corporate network or from external sources through Citrix NetScaler Gateway.
• New hardware acceleration tools have also appeared OpenGL through the direct-shared hardware acceleration mechanism (the technology is called HDX 3DPro).

Second, Citrix XenDesktop 7 offers new capabilities to simplify deployment and use of the solution:

• Simplified workflows and Automated Configuration Validation (Studio) tools reduce the time it takes to deploy new services by 80%.
• Installation with the wizard now allows you to deploy the solution in 20 minutes.
• Cloud management capabilities provide a helpdesk console and performance monitoring capabilities (specifically user metrics) and problem solving through Citrix EdgeSight. In addition, Citrix Director, which implements technical support functions, has been significantly improved.
• Thirdly, in XenDesktop 7, new features appeared, sharpened for the current fashionable cloud model. Now the FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA), a single architecture for VDI services and application virtualization XenApp, allows you to get the following things:

Simplified architecture for delivering Windows Server applications (RDS) or Citrix desktops from a single console.

• Automated migration of physical applications to virtual packages using Citrix AppDNA technology.
• New administrative capabilities for managing profiles, StoreFront security, and publishing applications and optimizing storage.
• Citrix XenDesktop is not bound to the hypervisor used and can be used on any platform, including Citrix CloudPlatform.

2011

Citrix XenDesktop 5.6

• Citrix Personal vDisk Technology - this technology came about after the acquisition of RingCube, which Citrix bought last year. With vDisk, you can personalize your virtual PC as flexibly as possible by encapsulating your personal settings, data, and applications in a personal image. Thus, users can work in non-persistent desktops, while it will be possible to bind such a vDisk to the user, which will allow not to reset its settings when leaving. Personal vDisk is now integrated into all consoles: Desktop Studio, Desktop Director and Provisioning Services Console.
• Microsoft System Center 2012-Ready - Citrix Virtual PC Management XenDesktop is now available from a variety of System Center components, including reporting, policy assignments, and more.
• Mobile Application Access - Applications delivered on demand to mobile devices through the XenApp that is part of the XenDesktop are displayed on these devices depending on their type. That is, users of smartphones and tablets use different, most suitable, interfaces. This applies to keyboard, mouse, control and other capabilities.
• CloudGateway Express is a web component that aggregates virtual applications and desktops at a single point. So cloud users get a powerful tool to get IT resources on demand. There is also a version of CloudGateway Enterprise with wider functionality.
• XenClient 2.1 - Citrix client hypervisor has also been updated. There is support for Windows Dynamic Layering, a mechanism that allows you to more efficiently update virtual PCs. Now the virtual PC is assembled from "layers" (each customization of an application or a set of applications goes into a separate layer). This allows for flexible customization of the end image of the user's virtual PC.
• Delta Image Updates - Citrix XenClient Synchronizer can now only roll out differences between the base image and the end desktop of the user.
• The Citrix XenClient Synchronizer can update the IT layer with ease. If you make changes to master image, you can use the Synchronizer to update the changes on the image. But instead of deploying the entire image again, it simply updates the delta changes, thereby making the update simpler, easier and faster.
• Fast System Updates - The ability to update the guest OS or application in background mode is transparent to the user, and after a reboot, he receives an already updated desktop.
• Automatic Image Lockdown - The ability to prevent a user from making changes to the image of the virtual PC they are using for security and policy purposes.
• Windows Image Rollback - the ability to return to the previous version of the virtual PC image in the event of a curve update.
• Self-Service Install - Users can install their own applications through Citrix Receiver, which they have previously been allowed to install administrators.

Citrix XenDesktop 5.5

In August 2011, Citrix Systems officially launched the long-awaited new version of its Citrix XenDesktop 5.5 platform for virtualizing individual workspaces. Among the many new features, the ability to expand the personalization of workspaces for individual end users, as well as the ability to deliver a high-resolution HD graphics working environment through both local and global networks, stands out. You should also pay attention to Personal vDisk technology, acquired less than a month ago from RingCube - now this technology is included in all editions of XenDesktop 5.5 and allows you to significantly reduce the cost of deploying jobs with a high degree of customization.

According to Citrix, the most important innovation in XenDesktop 5.5 is the advanced Citrix HDX technology, which threefold speeds the delivery of individual jobs in high resolution through local and global networks. For the first time in history, the XenDesktop 5.5 platform allows customers to deploy real private clouds, giving end users full access to applications that support voice, multimedia, and video playback. This full-fledged multimedia application support is available for more than a billion client devices, including the most demanding end users with mobile devices that work through remote access and branch offices. Developers themselves emphasize the increased sound quality when working with multimedia applications in virtual desktops.

The massive transition of enterprise users from traditional PCs to cloud technologies has led to the fact that the popularity of virtual desktops is growing at an explosive pace. For IT organizations, the main benefits are the security, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of such solutions. Providing desktops as a service provides fully centralized management, keeping end users able to access the required enterprise applications and environments from any device anywhere in the world. In this growing market, Citrix is one of the recognized leaders.

The XenDesktop 5.5 platform offers major improvements in desktop virtualization, setting a new standard in this area. In particular, with Personal vDisk technology, the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) can provide a fully customized, cost-effective workplace. In fact, only one copy of the Windows reference system is stored on the server, and on personal virtual disks, end users can store their applications, data and settings - this creates a personal working environment with the preservation of all personal settings.

HDX technology in XenDesktop 5.5 contains more than 150 innovations and improvements - 3 times more efficient delivery of the working environment to the user's workplace through local and global networks, 6 times faster printing and scanning, applications run 3 times faster. New Quality of Service tools provide optimal performance for any network bandwidth. Multimedia features now create half the network load compared to previous versions of XenDesktop.

As for the stated support of a billion client devices, the Citrix Receiver client module is responsible for this - variations of this client are available on PCs, Macs, tablets, smartphones and thin clients, including the latest platforms, and Apple iOS Android ChromeOS. For users smartphones , traditionally necessary access to work files on the corporate network is provided, and on tablets, particular attention is paid to applications. In all possible application scenarios, XenDesktop 5.5 offers a functional and fast access environment far ahead of competing products.

The XenClient 5.5 Desktop Client XenDesktop 2 extends access to virtual desktops and applications on laptops even without network connectivity. The new release XenClient expanded hardware support to ensure full compatibility with even more laptops.

XenApp 6.5 technology in the XenDesktop 5.5 platform is responsible for faster delivery of virtualized applications. Citrix XenApp 6.5 now provides the right applications at the same high resolution (and responsiveness) as virtual desktops. XenDesktop The new Instant App Access feature reduces the startup time of these applications by 50%. Virtualized applications are managed through a single console, XenDesktop Desktop Director. Graphics elements can now be rendered on local graphics accelerators, and the data flow between the client and the server can be divided into 2-5 separate channels to use all available network connections and ensure the maximum possible quality of service.

Compatibility with Microsoft technologies is not forgotten: the XenDesktop 5.5 platform fully supports Microsoft RemoteFX technology, a key component of the Microsoft Hyper-V hypervisor. Using HDX and RemoteFX technologies, the XenDesktop platform provides the most comfortable end-user experience with rich environments, including Windows 7-based desktops and an Aero graphics shell. Interestingly, a high speed of operation and display of all desktop elements is ensured both during execution on the server and during execution on the client side. Support for Microsoft proprietary systems management technologies such as App-V and System Center allows IT staff to easily virtualize applications and organize a single management structure for all applications and workspaces, including physical and virtual desktops and applications.

XenApp и XenDesktop

As of July 2018, Citrix XenApp is a Windows application delivery solution that manages applications in data centers and instantly delivers them to users, wherever they are and to any device. XenApp reduces application management costs by up to 50%, increases IT responsiveness when delivering applications to distributed users, and provides better data and application protection.

In turn, Citrix XenDesktop provides fast and secure delivery of virtual desktops of any type, as well as applications, Windows web applications and applications in the form of a service () SaaS to all modern PCs, Macs, tablets,, smartphones laptops and thin customers. Thanks to this solution, employees can use any device to continue working outside the office, home or on the road, without mixing personal data and company data.

XenDesktop 5

• Speed, simplicity, performance - XenDesktop 5 makes desktop virtualization much easier. Customers can now complete the installation of the solution in just 10 minutes using the '10 minutes to Xen' approach. The new XenDesktop 5 features enable easier and faster management of virtual desktops after installation. The new Desktop Studio console enables IT services to centrally create and manage virtual desktops. Thus, the process of connecting new employees now takes only a few seconds. One more advantage of XenDesktop 5 - the allocated Desktop Director™ console which allows the staff of support service to trace, debug and carry out effectively support of thousands of virtual desktops at the large distributed enterprise, providing information on use, the status and level of service in real time. XenDesktop 5 also has an opportunity to be integrated with the program Microsoft System Center complex that gives the chance to users to operate applications on real and virtual desktops by means of familiar tools and processes. Moreover, XenDesktop 5 features a new comprehensive SDK that enables customers and partners to integrate and automate their solution with third-party systems management tools.

• A new level of ease of use - Citrix HDX technology has always provided users with a XenDesktop level of convenience with virtual desktops and applications. As part of the XenDesktop 5 solution, HDX has undergone significant improvements that further improve performance for demanding tasks, such as audio and video collaboration and large file printouts, even with low bandwidth connections. XenDesktop 5 also offers interesting new features for end users. Each element of the user interface XenDesktop 5 - from new "welcome" screens for beginners to a completely redesigned display of the virtual desktop - is aimed at creating the most comfortable and friendly working conditions for the user.

• The system of support of new user touch devices - the Universal Citrix Receiver™ software client allows to deliver working desktops and applications to numerous new working devices, including the personal computer, Mac, laptops, tablets and smartphones. XenDesktop 5 now supports a large number of new devices, as well as improves user experience through the ability to instantly, "one touch" launch existing enterprise applications that were never designed to work on touch devices such as Apple iPad or BlackBerry PlayBook.

• The ability to connect virtual desktops to next-generation applications - Last year, the integration of Citrix XenApp™ in XenDesktop 4 changed the usual ways of working, as it allowed users to deliver Windows desktops and applications as services on demand with a single solution. The new Citrix Receiver in XenDesktop 5 is once again making a breakthrough: now users can instantly access next-generation applications, including external web applications, cloud and SaaS ("software as a service") applications, without re-authorization. Thus, there is now a simple and convenient way to deliver a wide range of Windows, Web and SaaS applications to any user in a single scheme, regardless of the type of application.

• VDI and mobile virtual desktops - Last year, the XenDesktop 4 solution introduced advanced FlexCast™ technology, which made it possible with a single product to deliver various virtual desktop technologies - personal desktops based on VDI technology, which are ideal for office employees, and desktops located on the server, optimal for employees with a limited range of tasks. XenDesktop 5 is an advanced FlexCast technology that enables IT services to deliver "mobile" virtual desktops that run directly on user PCs or laptops. This new hypervisor-based approach is XenClient ideal for millions of enterprise notebook users because it enables central management and the right level of security for IT services while enabling mobile employees to work over a connection or offline.

• Citrix XenVault and BYOC system security ("bring your computer") - More and more employees bring their own devices to work. Mostly these are project employees or participants in the BYOC program (bring your own computer - "bring your computer"). In these cases, IT services should give employees access to enterprise applications and protect sensitive information, but you want to avoid problems with installing applications or managing personal laptops. XenDesktop 5 offers the easiest way to solve such problems by delivering enterprise applications as a service on demand, applying automatic encoding of any documents that were created in these applications, and storing them in an encrypted folder on the user's desktop. These capabilities provide innovative data protection technology. XenVault™ In addition to providing data protection at any time on personal non-corporate devices, XenVault allows you to remotely and securely remove corporate data from the device after the end of the contract, dismissal of an employee or in the event of loss/theft of a laptop.

• Support for 15,000 Third-Party Products - With Citrix Ready's third-party verification program, XenDesktop can now work with more than 15,000 third-party products. from servers, hypervisors, and storage to client devices printers, webcams, and USB peripherals The list of tested products is updated every day, and customers can be confident that they have the ability to migrate to virtual desktops as needed, without losing investments already made in IT, as well as choosing any partners for new investments. A complete list of supported third party products can be found here: Citrix Ready Open Desktop Virtualization.

Citrix Branch Repeater VPX

Any customer purchasing Platinum Edition XenDesktop receives a powerful virtual WAN optimization device for free, which can be quickly and easily implemented in any branch office to improve the productivity of users with XenDesktop. Based on the revolutionary Citrix Branch Repeater VPX virtual device, the new solution is specifically designed to accelerate and optimize the delivery of virtual desktops, applications, and data to end users, while reducing network bandwidth consumption.

The March 2010 release of Citrix Branch Repeater VPX attracted the attention of network customers around the world due to its ability to combine WAN optimization with the flexibility and dynamism of a software virtual device. Citrix customers were even more intrigued by the fact that the Branch Repeater exceeded the WAN optimization technologies offered by companies such as Riverbed through special optimization methods for the ICA protocol, which plays such an important role in HDX technologies that have taken XenDesktop to the top of the market for virtual desktop solutions. As thousands of 2010 users downloaded the Branch Repeater VPX in XenDesktop to test it themselves, we decided to add the WAN optimization for HDX to the standard package for the most strategically important XenDesktop users.

More than 70% of XenDesktop users have already chosen Platinum Edition, as it allows you to provide a wide range of different virtual desktop technologies to a wide variety of employees - from users working only with specific tasks, and office workers to mobile employees and contractors. In addition, large customers of XenDesktop began to increasingly use Branch Repeater to increase performance when working with WAN. According to Gartner's research, Branch Repeater is among the top three in the market for WAN optimization controllers for extended platforms due to the high prevalence of XenDesktop.

The choice of early users of the solution is clear: Citrix XenDesktop, combined with the HDX WAN optimization technology provided by the Branch Repeater device, accelerates the delivery of virtual desktops and provides high-quality service to branch office workers (see independent comparative performance report XenDesktop and View with and without WAN optimization). These innovative embedded technologies have helped transform desktop virtualization and WAN optimization markets.

• From February 14, 2011, the XenDesktop Platinum will include the HDX WAN optimization feature, implemented by the Branch Repeater VPX device - at no additional cost. New virtual devices for optimizing HDX WAN can be implemented in an unlimited number of branches with WAN channels up to 45 Mbps, provided you purchase XenDesktop Platinum, use XenDesktop Platinum SA or switch to XenDesktop Platinum. This allows XenDesktop Platinum users with up to 45 Mbps of WAN channels to accelerate and optimize delivery of virtual desktops and applications, as well as embedded applications such as Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, SharePoint, and other data and application traffic.
• The new HDX WAN optimization feature works as a virtual device based on Citrix XenServer or VMware vSphere. In addition, a separate Citrix Branch Repeater VPX virtual device is now available for both the XenServer hypervisor and VMware.

2010

Citrix XenApp 6 Fundamentals

The XenApp 6 Fundamentals package offers support for most popular smartphones and tablets. With XenApp 6 Fundamentals, even a small organization can provide secure remote access to applications for their mobile employees or customers.

The XenApp 6 Fundamentals package for the first time offers support for 64-bit platforms - the user can install the package on a server running the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system. Because the XenApp Fundamentals package is based on Citrix XenApp technology, small business consumers get all the benefits of XenApp - high performance, stability, and a proven platform for delivering applications over local networks and the Internet. The creators of the XenApp Fundamentals package themselves emphasize that the Quick Start Wizard has been saved almost unchanged in the new version of the package, which to a large extent contributed to the popularity of previous versions of XenApp Fundamentals. As a result, customers will not have to retrain to upgrade to the new version of XenApp 6 Fundamentals.

Another important innovation in the XenApp 6 Fundamentals package was the implementation of many components of HDX technology, which provides end users with a kind of analogue of high-definition television, only in the field of application virtualization. HDX helps you get the best image and sound experience with Adobe Flash-based applications, USB devices, and removable drives. With HDX technology, all communications and applications work in real time regardless of the actual speed of the network connection.

Support for smartphones and tablets in the XenApp 6 Fundamentals package was a response to numerous user requests. Previously, setting up a tablet or smartphone to work with virtualized applications XenApp Fundamentals was not very convenient, but now, with the help of the Citrix Receiver client module, XenApp 6 Fundamentals users can provide full support for such popular mobile devices as iPhone, iPad, Android, BlackBerry and devices with Windows Mobile operating systems in the shortest possible time.

Citrix XenApp 6

In December 2010, Citrix Systems announced the release of Citrix XenApp 6, a product in the field of centralizing applications in data centers and their delivery as an on-demand service to physical and virtual workstations. With a number of enhancements, the XenApp 6 platform simplifies data processing for IT, has simpler centralized management, enhanced enterprise scaling, and seamless integration with Microsoft technologies such as App-V and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Besides, XenApp 6 allows to increase performance for end users, thanks to improvements in HDX™ technology and a possibility of easy independent access to applications from any device, including the personal computer, Mac, the laptop and the smartphone.

The new enhanced XenApp 6 capabilities will also be integrated into Citrix XenDesktop™ 4 desktop virtualization solution. To make virtualization available to millions of users, you need robust, scalable solutions with the ability to deliver any virtual workstation to any user on any device and share delivery technologies at any time. Because more than half of the ROI ratio for virtual workstations is derived from centralized application management, such integration provides an advantage over other desktop virtualization solutions in the market. This combination allows you to easily deliver applications as a service on demand to any user, to any device in a wide environment of both physical and virtual workstations.

Key facts and key aspects:

• Simplified management: XenApp 6 dramatically simplifies workstation data processing with AppCenter™, a powerful new management console that enables IT professionals to easily manage all enterprise-wide applications from a single location.
• Scalability: XenApp 6 enables 100,000 simultaneous users on a single farm, providing customers with unprecedented cost savings and increased data center performance.
• Advanced integration with Microsoft: Seamless integration of XenApp 6 and Microsoft App-V allows customers to easily manage applications using any combination of local and published solutions that best suit their unique needs. XenApp 6 also fully supports Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, offering a wide range of platform enhancements, including simplified software, easier automation, and higher energy efficiency.
• Self-access to applications: By integrating with Citrix Dazzle, XenApp 6 gives users a whole new level of flexibility and mobility, allowing them to choose the right applications on demand without costly IT support. Applications available to users "on the Dazzle window" can include those delivered using XenApp or Microsoft App-V, as well as software as a service (SaaS) supported by IT, or web applications.
• Support for Mac devices and smartphones: In addition to supporting PCs, thin customers and laptops, XenApp 6 now makes it easier for users to access Windows applications from Mac devices and popular smartphones such as Apple iPhone, Google Android and Windows Mobile.
• Advanced technology of high definition HDX™: The wide range of advanced opportunities of HDX technology which allow clients to deliver in real time such multimedia-applications as a voice and audio of CD of quality is a part of XenApp 6, ensuring users full functioning with applications of high definition. The new HDX features of XenApp 6 also include enhanced support for many different USB devices, including web cameras, microphones, digital cameras, and scanners.

XenDesktop 4 Feature Pack 2

Citrix announced in September 2010 an update to the desktop hypervisor XenDesktop. The main difference between the new version called XenDesktop 4 Feature Pack 2 is the automatic encryption of enterprise data on service laptops using XenVault technology. In addition, Citrix now offers users the ability to run virtual machines without installing the operating system - on the bare-metal hypervisor - using a special hypervisor XenClient.

The Citrix solution, introduced in the Enterprise and Platinum editions of the announced product XenDesktop 4 Feature Pack 2, works directly on top of the PC hardware, and not on top of the operating system. This kind of software platform (such hypervisors are referred to as "type 1 hypervisors") significantly increases the security of systems, since they isolate the image of the employee's workplace from both PC equipment and personal applications of the user, as well as from web browsers.

The hypervisor XenClient places the user's work environment in a secure virtual machine that is installed directly on the new service laptop. Users receive all the benefits of offline access, and IT personnel retain the ability to centrally manage user machines.

In addition, XenVault technology automatically encrypts all data that is created using utility applications that are delivered to users as Citrix XenApp images (or using the XenApp component in the XenDesktop platform), or Microsoft App-V virtual application images. All encrypted data is thus stored in an encrypted folder on the local computer, remaining protected from curious eyes.

XenDesktop 4

XenDesktop 4 is a versatile desktop virtualization solution that provides users with the ability to fully interact with the Windows desktop in the form of an on-demand service regardless of the current location of users, and for the first time makes the use of virtual desktops real for hundreds of millions of users. Unlike first-generation solutions that only supported VDI and were only suitable for a narrow range of users, XenDesktop 4 with new delivery technology FlexCast™ is the first product in the industry to support all large desktop virtualization models in a single integrated solution.

Citrix Systems announced in August 2010 the new release of Citrix XenDesktop. With two new technologies, Citrix XenClient™ and Citrix XenVault™ desktop virtualization has become available to millions of enterprise notebook users. These two technologies enable IT to connect notebook mobile users to a single enterprise desktop virtualization environment, while ensuring high levels of security and ease of use. Desktop virtualization technologies are suitable both for enterprise laptops managed by IT services and for personal user devices running contractors or employees participating in the bring your own computer (BYOC) program.

Desktop virtualization is rapidly growing in popularity as it provides a safer, faster way to deliver Windows desktops to enterprise users wherever they are. With the updated version of the solution, any company can now implement a single desktop virtualization technology, regardless of its size, which would ensure that employees work smoothly, both on desktops and on laptops in any way. With about half of the employees working on laptops today in many companies, the updated version of the solution is a very important milestone that significantly expands the capabilities of desktop virtualization and makes it available to millions of new users.

Today, most mobile employees work primarily on enterprise laptops. The best virtualization solution for them will be a virtual desktop that runs directly on a laptop. This approach provides IT services with centralized management and security, that is, all the benefits of server-hosted desktops (VDIs), as well as flexibility and the ability to work when disconnected from the network, that is, all the features that are available when working on traditional locally installed desktops. Since desktops are always run as a local virtual machine, users do not have to go through the complex process of registering their virtual desktop every time, downloading it from the central server every time they leave the office. All of these new capabilities are provided by XenClient technology, a client hypervisor developed in close collaboration with Intel and optimized to work with Intel Core vPro technology.

In many companies, it is now becoming increasingly popular to use a personal laptop that is not controlled by the organization's IT services. This is especially true for contractors who work on the project with their own device, as well as for employees who participate in the Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) program. In these cases, users do not want to install software on their personal laptops, and IT services do not want to spend money and effort on managing users' personal devices. In this situation, the main task of IT services is to ensure the performance of these employees and the absolute security of any corporate data that is stored on their personal laptops. The best way to work with personal devices is a scheme in which the necessary enterprise applications are delivered as a service on demand. At the same time, any data that is created in these enterprise applications is automatically encrypted. This feature is supported by the new XenVault technology. With the advent of new XenClient and XenVault technologies, XenDesktop strengthens its leadership as the most affordable and flexible workstation virtualization solution on the market.

Basic facts (XenClient):

• Enabling mobile virtual desktops is a XenClient client hypervisor that runs the virtual desktop directly on the client device. It provides security and centralized management similar to VDI, allowing users to work online and offline without having to go through the complex registration procedure that is required when using the traditional locally installed desktop. XenClient can be installed on any supported hardware and is ideal for use on enterprise laptops.
• Control for IT services, flexibility for users - XenClient allows IT services to provide users with a secure enterprise desktop environment with central management. At the same time, users do not feel any changes in terms of convenience. Moreover, a second, personal desktop can be installed on the same laptop, giving the user greater leeway without compromising security.
• The centralized backup and recovery of data - Offline XenClient works as the usual established desktop. Once users connect to the network, all changes are automatically synchronized with the data center, providing centralized backup of data on all enterprise laptops. If a laptop is stolen or lost, users can completely restore the desktop environment on the new laptop, and all data on the old laptop can be deleted remotely.
• Mobile and stable desktop images - By separating the operating system from the hardware, the desktop image can be created, protected, deployed, and moved to any supported hardware while significantly reducing the cost of IT maintenance, as well as simplifying data recovery on user laptops.
• Advanced Hardware and Device Support - The XenClient now includes a number of new features that were not in beta. These include improvements in practicality and security, new synchronization capabilities, and enhanced support for hardware platforms, wireless adapters, and USB devices such as webcams, iPad, iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, and Windows Mobile devices.
• Optimizations for Intel ® vPro™ - Hypervisor XenClient was developed with Intel to seamlessly communicate with basic hardware. Intel Core vPro processors deliver the highest level of convenience for end users and IT services by leveraging Intel hardware technologies for virtualization, management, and security.

Basic facts (XenVault):

• Protect and isolate user data - The new XenVault technology automatically and transparently stores all user data created with enterprise applications in a dedicated folder. This ensures that unauthorized users are constantly protected from access.
• Ideal for BYOC contractors and participants - Because XenVault technology supports both virtual and real desktops, it is ideal for contractors and employees using their own computers. In such cases, users generally do not want the IT service to install any software on their personal computers. If the contract ends, the employee leaves the company or his laptop disappears, the corporate information remains secure and can be deleted remotely.
• XenApp and App-V support - XenVault automatically encrypts data created by any enterprise application that is delivered using Citrix XenApp™ technology (or using the XenApp feature as part of XenDesktop) or Microsoft App-V.

2009: How does XenApp work

Notes