Citrix XenClient

Citrix XenClient. - it is a client hypervisor of the first type, i.e. it is established on "naked iron". Further over this client hypervisor there is an installation of virtual machines.

Key features of Citrix XenClient are:

• an opportunity for one of virtual machines to use resources of the hardware 3D accelerator;
• possibility of safe work with the applications installed in one virtual machine from another;
• ability to integrate with the solution Citrix XenDesktop.

The Independence project was developed with the assistance of Intel company therefore actively uses the hardware opportunities offered by this vendor (VT-x, VT-d, vPro, etc.)

2010

Citrix XenClient 1.0

The Citrix company released in October, 2010 the final version of a client hypervisor of XenClient 1.0 (the former name – Project Independence) as a part of a packet of XenDesktop 4.0 Feature Pack 2. The final version of the product Synchronizer for XenClient 1.0, the tool for administration, backup and recovery of the virtual machines started on the user computers is also released.

Offered software of virtualization it can be used for deployment on a centralized basis of the managed virtual workstations on corporate notebooks and desktop PCs. Thanks to XenClient 1.0 employees of the organization will be able to get access to a usual workplace even in the absence of connection to network.

For protection of XenClient virtual machines the integrated means of disk encryption of AES-XTS can be used. These mechanisms guarantee security of confidential data on the XenClient systems and exclude the probability of unauthorized access to them in case of loss or theft of the equipment. For more effective authentication of users, except a name and the password, the digital certificates stored on the client computer can be used.

Users of systems based on Core i5 and Core i7 vPro processors will be able to estimate the increased performance of operations on enciphering thanks to support of hardware acceleration. Full support of external monitors and projectors is also offered to owners of modern processors from Intel.

The solution XenClient is also available in a version type of Express Edition which can be unrolled on 10 client devices and does not assume restrictions on functionality or lives.

Citrix XenClient 2.1

New opportunities of Citrix XenClient 2.1:

• The Delta Image Update function which allows the Synchronizer component to transfer to client side only differences between files of images.
• The Fast System Updates function allows to transfer updates in the background and to apply them during the following loading.
• Possibility of cleaning of changes in the user profile and its data at the following loading (Automatic Image Lockdown, i.e. receiving a net basic image only with those applications which in it were rolled up by service IT).
• Possibility of rollback to the last version of an image of guest Windows OS (Image Rollback).
• Possibility of independent deployment by the user of applications, approved from administrators, through Citrix Receiver for Windows.
• Stabler work 3D - diagrams.
• Support of the virtualized USB devices.
• Expanded support of images of Windows with disks which have several sections.
• Support of connection of the Synchronizer component to service of the directory with non-standard structure of OU.
• Support of several monitors and new GPU.

Citrix XenClient Enterprise 4.5

• Support of Windows 8 OS in virtual machines.
• Support of multilingualism of the interface of the client: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese and Simplified Chinese.
• Tagging of the personnel of VLAN.
• Possibility of synchronization with external network using NetScaler that allows external users to have access to the Synchronizer component for their remote installations of XenClient.
• Increase in speed of loading by 30%
• Support of two external monitors for docking stations.
• The new technology of display of the picture allowing to configure placement and resolutions of separate monitors.
• Support of export of virtual machines.

Citrix XenClient Enterprise 4.1

Citrix included in new release of XenClient a set of developments from the product NxTop which at the time of sale of Citrix reached version 4.0.8. Now Citrix XenClient 4.1 includes support considerably of a bigger range of the equipment of client PCs and notebooks and also is more integrated with virtual infrastructure of Microsoft Hyper-V. Besides, uses the solution XenClient as a server backend only Hyper-V infrastructure. The interface of new XenClient was borrowed from NxTop therefore users of the previous versions of the solution should poprivykat a little to new features of a client hypervisor.

The solution Citrix XenClient Enterprise 4.1 is included in the Citrix XenDesktop Enterprise and Platinum editions, so users of infrastructure of virtual PCs from Citrix can start testing of the solution at once. Users can just switch between remote and local copies of the virtual machines and also use service of storage ShareFile from Citrix and technology of availability of applications and data of Follow-Me-Apps and Follow-Me-Data.

New opportunities of Citrix XenClient Enterprise 4.1:

• Support of new devices (in 9 times more, than earlier)
  • XenClient considerably expanded the list of compatibility of iron (hardware compatibility list, HCL)
  • Support of new devices, such, as Ultrabook and systems based on Intel Core of third generation
  • Support of modems 3G/4G
  • Expanded support of graphic nVidia devices
  • The updated audio-drivers

• Expansion of functions of management tools
  • The processed server backend of a management tool (XenClient Enterprise Synchroniser) which can work at the Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware vSphere and Citrix XenServer platforms
  • The possibilities of Enterprise-scaling which came from NxTop, allowing to manage flexibly thousands of virtual PCs on devices of users
  • The improved mechanisms the politician for virtual PCs and a role model of access with the big level of granularity
  • The improved Active Directory integration

• Ease of use
  • The improved mechanisms of management in guest OS allowing to manage Wi-fi networks, settings of an environment and input devices
  • Automatic upgrade of XenClient without user intervention
  • Environments like "Connect" for fast loading of the PC and access

2013: Citrix XenClient 5

The new version of Citrix XenClient 5 is announced by vendor on August 7, 2013 and contains significant improvements.

New features

• Availability to users of the mode of independent installation of the application on the devices that became possible due to integration of XenClient with a personal virtual disk of vDisk. Received this Citrix technology in 2011 together with RingCube company and built in the product XenDesktop.

With the IT manager technology vDisk will transfer the unified image to the user device, and users will be able to set over it, at the separate level, the applications which remain also in case of reset of the client. With Citrix XenClient 5 of IT service received necessary means of the centralized administration, and users - an opportunity to configure the applied environment at discretion.

• The unified management of profiles. This feature increases integration of XenClient with XenDesktop, allowing users to pass without problems from one device to another, for example from the desktop computer on mobile and to get access to the profiles and data.

• Integration of a personal virtual disk of vDisk with the system of synchronization Synchronizer which is built in XenClient. Now users can work with applications and data on mobile devices even without Internet access - preliminary loading on the mobile device is required. After recovery of communication with network all changes made offline will be synchronized with a corporate system.

2014: Citrix XenClient 5.1

On April 7, 2014 the Citrix company announced release of upgraded version of a client hypervisor of Citrix XenClient 5.1.

As a part of a component of a hypervisor XenClient Engine new opportunities appeared:

• Traditional expansion of the list of the supported client devices with the 4th generation of the Intel processors Core.
• The USB redirection mechanism is improved.
• Support of USB pass-through technology through Citrix Receiver in desktops on the XenDesktop/XenApp platform is implemented.
• Support of hot turning on / shutdown of the USB Ethernet/wi-fi cards.

For the XenClient Synchronizer component new features are added:

• XenClient can interact with any Syncrhonizer component when changing a geographical location now.
• Support Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 for deployment.
• Support of the Windows SQL Authentication mechanism that allows to use service accounts of AD.
• Politicians allow to reboot XenClient now if guest OS are switched off or to independently switch off them before reset.

Starting with this version virtual PCs on the Windows platform of Vista are not supported.

2015: Citrix XenClient Enterprise completes the way

On September 22, 2015 it became known - the Citrix company made the decision on the termination of further development of Citrix XenClient Enterprise both as product and as technologies. Development of this client hypervisor will be completely stopped on October 1, 2015. Support of a product will continue till December, 2016^[1].

In 2012 the Citrix company announced purchase of the competing client hypervisor of NxTop together with Virtual Computer company on which platform of technologies Citrix XenClient Enterprise was created.

XenClient project completion reason - technology is not really demanded in corporate environment and Citrix was come from the outside to support a set of client devices (computers, notebooks) that generated considerable labor costs.

The product Citrix Synchronizer providing delivery of desktops and communication with the virtual machines let in DesktopPlayer will remain available as a part of the solution Citrix XenDesktop.

In plans Citrix - to focus on products XenApp and XenDesktop, on mobile solutions.

Links

Short technical requirements to the computer on which the Citrix XenClient installation and also the list of already checked systems is planned are provided on this page.

Citrix XenClient can be downloaded at the following link freely.

Notes