Citrix Release XenDesktop 4

Citrix Drives Mainstream Adoption of Desktop Virtualisation to Deliver Virtual Desktops from Single, Integrated Solution

Citrix Systems has released XenDesktop 4, designed to make virtual desktops a mainstream reality for hundreds of millions of corporate employees for the first time ever. Unlike first-generation solutions, XenDesktop 4 with its new FlexCast delivery technology, is the first product in the industry to support every major desktop virtualisation model including Citrix XenServer, Microsoft Windows Server Hyper-V, VMware ESX and VMware vSphere in a single, integrated solution. This flexibility makes it easy for customers to choose whatever hypervisor best fits their unique business requirements with no limitations or proprietary lock-in.

XenDesktop 4 further simplifies desktop computing by integrating all the capabilities of Citrix XenApp, enabling customers to deliver on-demand applications to physical or virtual desktops. To ensure every user gets a high-definition experience at all times, XenDesktop 4 includes enhancements to its HDX technology.

By delivering desktops as an on-demand service to any device, XenDesktop 4 simplifies the world of desktop computing. Benefits for end users are equally profound. With XenDesktop 4, users are no longer tethered to a specific device. They simply use whatever PC, Mac, thin client, laptop or netbook is most convenient, and get instant, secure access to their full Windows desktop and everything on it. XenDesktop's HDX technology ensures a rich, high-definition experience every time they log in, no matter where they are or what kind of virtual desktop technology is being used on the back end.

Niall Gilmore, (pictured above) country manager for Citrix Ireland said, "With Citrix's XenDesktop 4, virtual desktops will soon become the norm for every enterprise user. Its flexibility means it can be delivered to any user - whether they are office based workers who need personalised desktops, high end users who demand high definition capabilities, or mobile workers. XenDesktop 4 can be set up at a minimal cost as it leverages existing IT infrastructures, making it the simplest option for businesses new to desktop virtualisation."

The centerpiece of XenDesktop 4 is its FlexCast delivery technology, a powerful new capability that gives customers the flexibility to deliver any type of virtual desktop, to any user, on any device - and to change this mix at any time. It allows customers to use any combination of the following virtual desktop technologies, all orchestrated from one, centrally-managed solution. It is ideal for task workers for whom a cost-effective approach is a shared, server-based virtual desktop, for office workers who need more personalised desktops and for power users running high-end professional applications.

XenDesktop 4 also includes the ability to stream desktops to each user's device to run locally, while still managing the OS, apps and data centrally. This leverages existing PC resources and keeps datacenter overhead to a minimum. For some, the simplest option is to centralise apps and delivering them as an on-demand service to existing desktops. This option offers many of the ROI and management benefits of a fully virtualised desktop with minimal setup costs, making it an ideal starting point for customers new to desktop virtualisation and for those with mobile users.

Much of the cost and complexity of desktop management is a direct result of the applications running on each user's unique desktop. The company claims that integrating all the capabilities of XenApp technology into XenDesktop 4 instantly improves the ROI of desktop virtualisation by making application delivery a seamless part of the overall desktop management experience.

Mark Templeton, president and CEO, Citrix Systems, said "2010 will be a watershed year for desktop virtualisation, ushering in a new era that will revolutionise the way we work, live and play. Twenty five years ago, the personal computer turned the world upside down, radically improving individual productivity and communications. That world is about to change again."

Templeton continued, "People today need to work in entirely new ways, powered by the connectivity of the internet, an explosion of new devices, and the limitless promise of the web. And they need to do it without being confined to ordinary desktops that are locked to an office, a device, or a network. Desktop virtualisation has the power to make all this possible. That revolution begins here, today. And it starts with the new XenDesktop."

It also builds on the company's 20-year partnership with Microsoft, simplifying the management of virtual desktops through Microsoft System Center, and adding multiple enhancements that further extend the value of Microsoft Windows and Windows Server platforms. XenDesktop 4 helps customers drive desktop efficiency by leveraging the latest enhancements in Microsoft platforms such as Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services and the Microsoft VDI Suites.

Bob Muglia, president, Server and Tools Business, Microsoft Corp, said "Citrix XenDesktop 4 represents an important milestone for the industry and an ideal complement to Microsoft's user-centric computing vision. Microsoft is working closely with Citrix to ensure users have on-demand access to the information they need when they need it, regardless of what device they're using - and to provide users with as seamless an experience as possible as they roam between devices."

Michael Dell, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dell, said, "Given the upcoming Windows 7 refresh cycle, we're expecting many of our customers to begin assessing desktop virtualisation as the industry moves to anytime, anywhere desktop access. Dell's Flexible Computing vision aligns well with Citrix's desktop virtualisation strategy. Citrix XenDesktop 4, as part of Dell's Flexible Computing offering, gives our customers the flexibility to pick the best type of virtual desktop solution for their needs."

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