Citrix XenDesktop 4 - A desktop game changer

Citrix XenDesktop™ is a desktop virtualisation and VDI solution that delivers a complete Windows desktop experience as an on-demand service to any user, anywhere. Whether users are task workers, knowledge workers or mobile workers, XenDesktop can quickly and securely deliver individual applications or complete desktops while providing a high-definition user experience.

All of this is made possible by FlexCast™ delivery technology that enables IT to deliver any type of virtual desktop, on any device. With XenDesktop, IT can manage single instances of each OS, application and user profile and dynamically assemble them to increase business agility and simplify desktop management.

FlexCast delivery technology

Desktop virtualisation for everyone

Different types of workers across the enterprise need different types of desktops. Some require simplicity and standardisation, while others require high performance and personalisation.

XenDesktop can meet all these requirements in a single solution with our unique Citrix FlexCast™ delivery technology. With FlexCast, IT can deliver every type of virtual desktop - each specifically tailored to meet the performance, security and flexibility requirements of each individual user.

Hosted Shared Desktops provide a locked down, streamlined and standardised environment with a core set of applications, ideally suited for task workers where personalisation is not needed – or allowed. Supporting up to 500 users on a single server, this model offers a significant cost savings over any other virtual desktop technology.

Hosted VM-based VDI Desktops offer a personalised Windows desktop experience, typically needed by office workers, which can be securely delivered over any network to any device. This option combines the benefits of central management with full user personalisation, and can generally support about 60-70 desktops per server. The VDI offering also build on the new capabilities introduced in Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Remote Desktop Services and integrates with System Center for both physical and virtual environment.

Hosted Blade PC Desktops enable technical workers and power users to run professional graphics applications such as CAD/CAM, GIS, etc., which typically require more processing resources. This approach offers all the benefits of centralisation, but ensures dedicated processing power for each user by hosting only one desktop per server.

Local Streamed Desktops leverage the local processing power of rich clients, while providing centralised single-image management of the desktop. This approach offers an easy, low-cost way for customers to get started with desktop virtualisation by leveraging existing PC resources and keeping datacenter overhead to a minimum. It can also be ideal for government and university labs that use diskless PCs for maximum data security.

Virtual Apps to Installed Desktops offer 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. Virtual apps run on the local device, but are managed centrally. Because virtual apps can work offline this model is also a popular choice for mobile users.

XenDesktop makes virtual desktops a mainstream reality for hundreds of millions of corporate employees for the first time ever. Unlike first-generation virtual desktop (VDI) solutions that were applicable only to a narrow set of users, XenDesktop with its new FlexCast delivery technology is the first product in the industry to support every desktop virtualisation model in a single, integrated solution.

This approach improves ROI, simplifies management and extends the benefits of virtualisation to every employee in the enterprise. With the full integration of Citrix XenApp™ functionality, customers can deliver on-demand applications as a seamless part of their overall desktop management strategy.

XenDesktop, the clear choice for virtual desktop management and VDI, provides:

Any device, anytime, anywhere – Today’s digital workforce demands the flexibility to work from anywhere at any time using any device they’d like.  Leveraging Citrix Receiver as a lightweight universal client, XenDesktop users can access their desktop and corporate applications from any PC, Mac, thin client or smartphone.  This enables complete workplace flexibility, business continuity and user mobility. Furthermore, VDI solution is no longer confined to a small group of users.

HDX™ user experience – Deliver a high definition experience on any device, over any network, with better reliability and higher availability than a traditional PC. With Citrix HDX technology, users get an experience that rivals a local PC, even when using Multimedia, real-time collaboration, USB peripherals, and 3D graphics. XenDesktop uses 90% less bandwidth compared to alternative VDI or virtual desktop solutions. New webcam and VoIP support, improved audio, 3D graphics support and branch office WAN optimisation ensure that users can get a high-definition user experience regardless of their location.

FlexCast delivery – Different types of workers across the enterprise need different types of desktops. XenDesktop can meet all these requirements in a single solution with our unique Citrix FlexCast delivery technology. With FlexCast delivery technology, IT can deliver any type of virtual desktop (VDI), to any user, on any device. Each desktop is tailored to meet the performance, security and flexibility requirements to provide the best desktop for every user, every time.

On-demand apps by XenApp – To reduce desktop management costs, XenDesktop offers the full range of Citrix application virtualisation technologies. With application virtualisation, IT can control data access, manage fewer desktop images, eliminate system conflicts, and reduce application regression testing. Adding, updating and removing apps is simple and self-service for users, enabling them to access applications instantly from anywhere, while getting a high-definition user experience.

Open architecture – XenDesktop works with your existing hypervisor, storage and Microsoft infrastructures, enabling you to leverage your current investments – while providing the flexibility to add or change to alternatives in the future. Whether you use XenServer, Microsoft Hyper-V or VMware ESX or vSphere, XenDesktop supports them all and simplifies management of networked storage using StorageLink™ technology. XenDesktop will also closely integrate with Microsoft App-V and System Center for application and desktop management.