Posts Tagged ‘Comprehensive desktop virtualization’

Application Strategy in the New Enterprise…

December 15th, 2011 by Cyndi Meinke | No Comments | Filed in Application Virtualization, Virtual Desktop Management, Virtual Desktop Technology, Virtual Infrastructure, Virtual Workstation, Virtualization, Windows 7

Why is the right application strategy important?

Whether it is physical or virtual, the endpoint device won’t matter if you can’t get to your data; and it’s through applications that you get to your critical data.  But management of applications can be an administrative burden.  How can you take applications administration to the next level?

 The right application virtualization tool will:

  • Decrease your time to market by 20-40%
  • Decrease your software license spend by 30-50%
  • Reduce or eliminate your need to rewrite legacy applications
  • Allow central management of all your apps
  • Increase Software license management and compliance

For example, in the common case of having to reset a hung application, the average cost of a help desk ticket to reset an app is $345 without an application virtualization tool.  With the proper tool, an app reset can be done in 18 seconds; virtually eliminating that cost.  This has a two-fold benefit – decreased end user downtime, and decreased IT support costs.  But just having a tool to handle these situations does not — by itself — solve all your problems; you must have a strategy.

The right application strategy requires a 3-pronged approach

To arrive at an optimized virtual user-centric experience requires a three-part strategic focus that encompasses the following:

  1. Desktop Strategy
  2. Application Strategy
  3. User Strategy 

Each of these pieces is equally important.  While in some cases you can have an application strategy without a desktop strategy, you should never have a desktop strategy without an application strategy.  From this perspective, it becomes clear that an application strategy can actually be more important than a desktop strategy.  

How it can go wrong

My thoughts based on what I see from a sales and trending perspective:

  • Over time, server virtualization created such a positive ROI for both capex and opex, that it was assumed that desktop virtualization would be another no-brainer to implement.  Companies who have embarked on VDI pilots and initiatives have quickly become disillusioned; realizing that the same efficiencies that were gained at the server level do not necessarily apply at the desktop. Eventually, they are forced to rethink their strategy.
  • Companies that embark on Win7 migrations – and do not take the time to make a strategic decision about how they will manage their applications – may become disillusioned as well, as they are feeling the pain of long cycles to virtualize their applications for a new OS and new endpoint device.  And in addition to the long cycles to prepare the applications, there are the inevitable challenges with legacy apps and conflicting apps.
  • Aging infrastructures and desktop devices create projects driven by choosing an “endpoint strategy” (translated as endpoint device only) where the only thing taken into consideration is the device.  Their whole strategy is around making decisions about thin client, zero client, fat client, etc.; all without thinking about the delivery method or the user profile.

Overall, as companies make strategic decisions about their Virtual Desktop Strategy, there can be tunnel vision about the desktop piece as the only strategic piece, with applications and users being an afterthought.

How to make it right

Herein lies my mission:  To educate those embarking on a VDI initiative about the importance of choosing the right application strategy.

 

Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Citrix XenApp 6 Sets New Standard in On-Demand App Delivery for Physical and Virtual Desktops

September 10th, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Citrix, Citrix Solutions, Desktop Management, Managed Desktop, Thin Client, Virtual Desktop Management, Virtual Desktop Technology, Virtual Infrastructure, Virtualization

citrix_logoCitrix Systems, Inc. announced Citrix® XenApp™ 6, the de facto standard for centralizing applications in the datacenter and delivering them as an on-demand service to both physical and virtual desktops. 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.

The new enhancements to XenApp 6 will also be available as an integrated feature of the company’s comprehensive desktop virtualization solution, Citrix XenDesktop™ 4. Mainstream adoption of desktop virtualization requires a proven, scalable solution with the ability to deliver any type of virtual desktop to any user on any device, and to be able to interchange delivery technologies at any time. With more than half the ROI of virtual desktops coming from centralized app management, this integration provides an unparalleled advantage over any other desktop virtualization solution on the market today. This powerful combination makes it easy for customers to deliver apps as an on-demand service to any user, on any device, across a broad range of both physical and virtual desktops.

 
Bill Burley, Group Vice President and General Manager, XenApp Product Group at Citrix

“Citrix XenApp 6 delivers an entirely new level of IT simplification and user experience that goes beyond anything we’ve ever done with XenApp. The new simplified management capabilities and increased scalability reduce the cost of application management by up to 50 percent for both physical and virtual desktop environments. Combined with Citrix Dazzle, the self-service enterprise app store, and broad new support for Macs, laptops and smart phones with Citrix Receiver, customers can now deliver apps as an on-demand service to any user in any location at a fraction of the cost of traditional application management.”

Garth Fort, General Manager of System Center Marketing, Server and Tools Business at Microsoft Corp.  

“With support for Windows Server 2008 R2 in XenApp 6 and new integration with Citrix XenApp and Microsoft App-V, we are providing increasing value to our customers and delivering a simplified yet powerful application delivery infrastructure. Customers can leverage their existing investment in Microsoft solutions while continuing to expand their ability to deliver applications on-demand.”

Key Facts and Highlights:

  • Simplified Management – XenApp 6 dramatically simplifies desktop computing with AppCenter™, a powerful new management console that makes it easy for IT to centrally manage all applications enterprise-wide from a single location.
  • Unparalleled Scalability – XenApp 6 has been verified to scale up to more than 100,000 concurrent users in a single farm, giving customers unprecedented levels of cost savings and datacenter efficiency.
  • Expanded Microsoft Integration – Seamless integration between XenApp 6 and Microsoft App-V makes it easy for customers to centrally manage applications using whatever mix of local and hosted solutions best fit their unique requirements. XenApp 6 also includes full support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, adding a broad range of platform enhancements including simplified provisioning, easier automation, and more efficient power consumption.
  • Self-Service Apps – Through its integration with Citrix Dazzle™, XenApp 6 gives users an entirely new level of flexibility and mobility, allowing them to choose the apps they need on-demand, without costly manual IT support. Apps available to users through the Dazzle “storefront” can include those delivered by XenApp or Microsoft App-V, as well as IT supported SaaS or web applications.
  • Mac and Smart Phone Support – In addition to supporting PCs, thin clients and laptops, XenApp 6 now makes it easy for users to access Windows apps from Macs and popular smart phones such as Apple iPhone, Google Android and Windows Mobile.
  • Enhanced High-Definition HDX™ Technology – XenApp 6 includes broad new HDX technology enhancements that allow customers to deliver real-time media applications like voice and CD-quality audio with a rich, high-definition user experience. New HDX enhancements in XenApp 6 also expand support for a broad range of USB devices, including webcams, microphones, digital cameras and scanners.

Video: Highlights of XenApp 6
Pricing and Availability:

The new XenApp 6 release will be available for download beginning on March 24, 2010, and will be offered as a free upgrade to all XenApp customers with current Subscription Advantage agreements. Suggested list pricing for new licenses of XenApp 6 will begin at $350 per concurrent user. More information on the new features in XenApp 6 can be found at http://www.citrix.com/xenapp6.

XenApp 6 will also be included as an integrated feature of the company’s broader XenDesktop 4 product line, which is available to customers at a suggested list price beginning at $225 per-user or per-device.

Related Announcements:

Follow us online:

About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is a leading provider of virtualization, networking and cloud computing solutions for more than 230,000 organizations worldwide. Its Citrix Delivery Center™, Citrix Cloud Center™ (C3) and Citrix Online product families radically simplify computing for millions of users, delivering desktops and applications as an on-demand service to any user, in any location on any device. Citrix customers include the world’s largest Internet companies, 99 percent of Fortune Global 500 enterprises, and hundreds of thousands of small businesses and prosumers worldwide. Citrix partners with over 10,000 companies worldwide in more than 100 countries. Founded in 1989, annual revenue in 2009 was $1.61 billion.

For Citrix Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance.  Those statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with revenue growth and recognition of revenue, products, their development and distribution, product demand and pipeline, economic and competitive factors, the Company’s key strategic relationships, acquisition and related integration risks as well as other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citrix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.

The development, release and timing of any features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole discretion and is subject to change without notice or consultation. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions or incorporated into any contract.

Source: Citrix

Did you like this? Share it:

Tags: , , ,