Citrix announces XenApp 6!
Today Citrix announced XenApp 6, which will be available starting March 24th. XenApp6 will only be available on Windows 2008 R2 (x64 only). Alongside XenApp 6, Citrix will also make available XenApp 5 Feature Pack 3 for Windows Server 2003 and 2008.
XenApp 6 offers major new enhancements that simplify computing for IT, including easier central management, enhanced enterprise scalability and seamless integration with Microsoft technologies like App-V and Windows Server 2008 R2. XenApp 6 also improves productivity for end users with extensive new high-definition HDX™ technology enhancements and simplified self-service access to apps from any device, including PCs, Macs, laptops and smart phones.
Read the entire XenApp 6 announcement.
Reasons to upgrade (IMHO):
- AppCenter simplifies application management with a single, more intuitive console.
- HDX RealTime collaboration enables real-time audio and video collaboration using Microsoft Office Communicator and VoIP softphones.
- HDX Plug-n-Play for Windows portable USB devices ensures a seamless user experience with expanded USB support for POS interfaces, webcams, microphones, scanners and more.
- App-V integration enables IT to manage and deliver both Citrix and Microsoft virtual applications on demand from a single point with Microsoft App-V.
Reasons NOT to upgrade:
- Windows 2008 R2 = x64 only! You might have (a) business critical application(s) which won’t work on a 64-bit OS.
Application Virtualization comparison chart update: Sneak peak
We are currently updating our application virtualization comparison chart. The one thing I’m most excited about is that we’ve added the launch times of a couple of applications you might want to virtualize. We have planned to release the updated chart this month, but I wanted to give you a sneak peak at the launch times of Adobe Acrobat 9.1 when virtualized with the featured products. In the chart you see the first launch and the second launch. The second launch is to see the difference when (some of the blocks of) the package is cached on disk or in memory. … Continue Reading
Blueprint for Optimizing Citrix XenApp High Availability
Marathon Technologies released a couple of whitepapers and a blueprint for optimizing Citrix XenApp High Availability. As you know, the technology for HA in Xenserver is actually from Marathon and you can also enable Fault tolerance with Marathon EverRun VM. These documents aren’t about Xenserver, but “a set of planning and implementation tools designed to help companies ensure high availability of applications delivered with Citrix® XenApp™ more efficiently and cost effectively“.
The documents are a good read if you want to learn more about XenApp and about how you can protect each component of XenApp.
Citrix XenApp on VMware ESX: 1 or 2 vCPU part 2
One month ago I wrote a blogpost about using 1 or 2 vCPUs on Citrix XenApp VMs. My conclusions in that blogpost were:
- 2 vCPU terminal server (or XenApp) VMs allows more users and gives a more consistent user experience
- Use dedicated hardware (ESX cluster) for the TS/XenApp VMs
- Don’t overcommit total amount of vCPUs
I stated this conclusion to get some reactions and it worked. Because as Jason Boche commented on the article: It depends! … Continue Reading
Citrix XenApp Plugin for Iphone release on Synergy?
On various blogs people are speculating about the release of the Citrix XenApp plugin for the Iphone on the Citrix Synergy Event. I cannot wait till the plugin is available. Funny part is, seems like the development work has been done already and it’s just waiting for the release, some blogs sugest the plugin has already been sent to the Itunes store. A demo of the Xenapp Plugin can be viewed since MACworld 2009. I’ll keep you posted during the Synergy event.
