1. July 2008 by admin.

Interesting dilemma…

I have high profile client that has a unique VDI implementation that we did last year. At the time Leostream was initially selected as the Broker of choice but during the Design phase it was decided that we needed no broker at all. Part of the specifcations was to have the Thin Client boot directly to a specific VDI instance with no portal (again a very unique environment)  So if you sit at seat 10 you get VDI instance 10, no matter what.

Eventually we modified the local devices to auto launch an RDP instance at startup to the specific VDI instance.

The Problem: Video sucks with RDP

At the time RDP was the only choice and we found a 3-5 second delay between audio/video (similar watching an old Godzilla movie)

The Solution: XenDEsktop

In our Solutions Center we setup both VDM 2.0 and Xendesktop for a bake off. Regardless of pools, and fetures the only requirement was to get video to wok better.

It DID.

Summary: if you need better video performance ICA still wins, hands down

See for yourself:

VDI with Citrix XenDesktop vs. VDI with VMWare VDM (you tube)

Posted in Xendesktop, VDI | No Comments »

1. July 2008 by admin.

“Virtualization Power Panel” to Present Top Virtualization Executives Live on SYS-CON.TV — VMware CTO Steve Herrod, Citrix CTO Simon Crosby, Red Hat CTO Brian Stevens, Egenera CTO Pete Manca, and Allen Stewart, Group Manager of Windows Virtualization at Microsoft are among the top industry executives joining Jeremy Geelan in the famous 4th Floor Reuters Studio overlooking Times Square for a special SYS-CON.TV ‘Virtualization Power Panel’ to be recorded on the eve of SYS-CON’s 3rd International Virtualization Conference & Expo being held 23-24 June 2008 in New York City.

Posted in General Virtualization | No Comments »

30. June 2008 by admin.

 Massimo’s site has been a blessing, he keeps an updated comparison or Hypervisors and brokers and recently added a Sample VDI project section…

VDI/CCON Connection brokers page. It provides a basic understanding regarding the concept of Client CONsolidation (CCON) technologies as well as practical information regarding broker features and thin client integration.

Virtualization comparison page. It provides a crue comparison of the current top x86 virtualization technologies for the Datacenter.

VDI project sample. This is a sort of (live) “log of activities” I am carrying on to setup an interesting (I think) ”virtual desktop” project.

Posted in VDI, General Virtualization | No Comments »

30. June 2008 by admin.

Bernd Harzog wrote a terrific article as part of his “Managing Virtualization” Column on Dabcc.com:

It is easy to say that Microsoft vanquished Netscape by giving away what Netscape was trying to sell, and therefore won. But, the browser is logically an extension of the operating system (what OS on what platform does not include a browser these days?), so using this as a precedent is like saying that just because spell checkers became part of word processors, means that Microsoft is destined to obliterate VMware. Get it Here:

http://www.dabcc.com/article.aspx?id=8029

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28. June 2008 by admin.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Jul 01, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — – Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS), the global leader in application delivery infrastructure, extended its popular Citrix Advisor Rewards program today to pay channel partners on sales of Citrix XenServer(TM) software that ships as an embedded feature in servers from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like HP. The program, originally introduced in 2004, pays Citrix(R) Solution Advisors for designing and delivering solutions based on Citrix application delivery products, even if a different channel partner ultimately fulfills the order. Extending the program to include embedded versions of XenServer eliminates any potential channel conflict with OEM partners and ensures strong incentives across the board by compensating partners that influence embedded XenServer deals as well as those who fulfill them.

“With this new OEM element Citrix has once again set the standard in partner profitability with its Citrix Advisor Rewards program,” stated Scott Gorcester, President, Moose Logic, a leading Seattle-based IT services firm. “I am free to focus on being a trusted advisor to my customers without worrying about profitability. Citrix has once again proved to me and to the industry that it understands how to best leverage their partners to meet customer needs. The channel is clearly part of its DNA.”

Citrix has announced several OEM agreements in recent months to embed XenServer in servers from leading systems vendors such as HP. As a result of today’s announcement, the Citrix Advisor Rewards program now pays channel partners on sales of these products, effectively eliminating potential channel conflict and focusing the extensive expertise of Citrix Solution Advisors on delivering the best possible solutions to customers. With OEM products now included in the rewards program, systems manufacturers that embed Citrix technology can leverage an extensive pool of channel resources and expertise to address their customers’ ever changing needs.

“We continually work with our partners to build the most profitable partner program and the most skilled partner community,” stated Al Monserrat VP Channels, Strategy & Sales Operations for Citrix. “As a channel-centric company, we recognize the value our partners bring to a total solution, including the specification of hardware that includes embedded Citrix products.”

In March 2008, Citrix and HP announced the availability of the integrated server virtualization solutions Citrix XenServer HP Enterprise and HP Select Editions. The new products feature a unique and exclusive easy-to-use graphical management console and are seamlessly integrated with HP Insight Control management software that administers HP ProLiant and BladeSystem servers. With this new solution, customers are able to deploy and manage a virtualized environment and benefit from the ability to purchase an entire server virtualization solution from HP with the added benefit of interoperability and HP support.

“Customers want to implement virtualization with reduced risk, and HP understands that the channel is essential to meeting those requirements,” said Scott Farrand, vice president, Industry Standard Server Software, HP. “Citrix’s new channel program enables partners to offer a comprehensive virtualization solution that integrates the power of HP ProLiant servers with the rich functionality of the Citrix XenServer HP Select Edition from a single, reliable source.”

About Citrix

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is the global leader and the most trusted name in application delivery infrastructure. More than 215,000 organizations worldwide rely on Citrix to deliver any application to users anywhere with the best performance, highest security and lowest cost. Citrix customers include 100 percent of the Fortune 100 companies and 99 percent of the Fortune Global 500, as well as hundreds of thousands of small businesses and prosumers. Citrix has approximately 8,000 partners in more than 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2007 was $1.4 billion.

Citrix(R) and Citrix XenServer(TM) are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.

SOURCE: Citrix Systems, Inc.

Citrix Systems, Inc. Jason Wyse, 786-449-3740 jason.wyse@citrix.com or A&R Edelman Chris Buckley, 650-762-2842 chris.buckley@ar-edelman.com

Posted in Citirx, XENserver | No Comments »