Many IT organizations we speak to are looking at desktop virtualization to upgrade their entire approach to desktop management. Today, individual desktops are hard-coded combinations of OS, apps and user settings, and managed one-by-one on an ongoing basis. IT executives are looking for a better way to address the needs of all their enterprise users.

The end game is a solution where one moving part doesn’t have to disrupt any of the other moving parts in order to make a change. That means the device, OS, applications and user settings are all shielded from each other. These components can then be consolidated into single master instances of each, eliminating redundant data, workload and management processes. IT assembles desktops dynamically based on business roles, and delivers these resources in a way that matches the users’ requirements - whether that means hosting them in the datacenter or placing them to their device.

To ensure every user gets the optimal desktop, customers need solutions that don’t limit the options to one specific type of virtual desktop technology. With XenDesktop, customers can choose from any of the popular server-side virtual desktop models, including VDI and blade PCs, as well as server-based computing models that can host up to 500 shared virtual desktops on a single physical server. XenDesktop also supports client-side virtual desktop models that execute at the end point, freeing up server resources, extending the life of existing PCs and allowing laptop users to disconnect from the network and work offline. All of this is made possible through Citrix FlexCast™ delivery technology, offered in XenDesktop 4. FlexCast delivery technology delivers the right type of virtual desktop, to any user, on any device.

 In addition, XenDesktop 4 significantly raises the bar for desktop virtualization performance and user experience through enhancements made to several Citrix HDX technologies. XenDesktop 4 provides superior user experience with Flash multimedia and apps, 3D graphics, webcams, audio and branch office delivery, while using 90% less bandwidth than alternative solutions.

XenDesktop Desktop Virtualization Overview

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 virtualization model in a single, integrated solution.

This approach improves ROI, simplifies management and extends the benefits of virtualization 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 optimization 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 virtualization technologies. With application virtualization, 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.