Citrix VDI in a Box feature set grows

Citrix has announced a technology preview of Project Aruba which improves Citrix VDI-in-a-Box, with personal vDisk technology.

Project Aruba uses vDisks layering technology, obtained with the acquisition, to manage end-user applications and preferences allowing non persistent desktops both personalisation and flexibility.

Project Aruba provides the following key features:

Personalised virtual desktops:
Project Aruba eliminates the need to create separate static desktops to carry forward end-user customisation by coupling single-instance management with the ability to have individual user workspaces for their applications and data.

Single instance management:
This provides the ultimate flexibility for IT to maintain one master copy of desktop images while preserving the personalisation of user applications and data.

Support for Windows 2008 R2:
Project Aruba manages Windows 2008 R2, Windows 7 and Windows XP –based virtual desktops – enabling customers to select the ideal virtual desktop environment based on compatibility and costs.

Windows 8 support (Beta):
Project Aruba supports Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 virtual desktops. All features of Windows 8 including the new Metro interface are fully supported. Since Windows 8 is not yet generally available, this feature is currently in Beta.

Simpler, more flexible:
Project Aruba makes management even simpler with added features such as access to multiple data stores for optimizing storage, and a touchless DTAgent that updates the desktop agent on all golden images and their desktop instances automatically when the VDI-in-a-Box software is upgraded.

Citrix Synergy 2012 Keynote Messages

Today has been the start of the Citrix end user event called Synergy, currently running in San Francisco.  Equanet has a good presence out there and have been able to report back the following messages.

Today’s announcements make it easier for companies of all sizes to go mobile – empowering employees to interact securely with any combination of people, data, apps and devices – then bringing it all together in a seamless, integrated experience for end users.

Key themes were based upon People, Data, Applications and Devices (pretty much aggregating all the areas of BYOD) into a succinct set of capabilities.

Citrix unveiled the first solution from its recent acquisition of Podio.  Citrix Podio delivers a cloud-based team collaboration platform for companies of all sizes, similar to other ESN's such as Yammer and Chatter.   Citrix also announced GoToMeeting® HDFaces for the iPad, combining video conferencing, audio conferencing and screen sharing into a single, integrated experience for mobile workers. 

Citirix also announced GoToAssist® for mobile devices which lets IT professionals provide live support from anywhere, connecting to employee computers and solving problems directly from their iPad, Android tablets or Android phone.

The second pillar of the Citrix mobile enterprise strategy is a focus on data. The core of this strategy is Citrix ShareFile, a cloud-based file sharing service ensuring that their information follows them across devices, regardless of where it was initially created and saved.  Similar to dropbox but developed for business.

Citrix also announced new ShareFile StorageZones technology, giving customers the ability to choose optimal locations for storing corporate data – either off-premise in the public cloud, or on-premise, within their own private datacenters. The new ShareFile StorageZones technology makes it easier for enterprise customers to meet security, compliance and performance requirements, without giving up the simplicity and elasticity of cloud-based data services.

Citrix also announced it is plugging ShareFile into Citrix Receiver.  As a result of this integration, end users will be able to open, view, edit, save and share documents on their personal and mobile devices, regardless of where those documents were initially created. 

The third component of the Citrix mobile enterprise strategy centers on applications.  Citrix announced a new RemotePC option as part of FlexCast.  Using RemotePC capability, XenDesktop customers will be able to quickly turn existing office PCs into distributed VDI hubs without setting up additional servers and storage in the datacenter. 

As the app world moves, an increasing percentage of business applications are being delivered as web, SaaS, cloud and mobile apps.  Citrix announced Citrix CloudGateway 2, a new update to its unified storefront solution that adds mobile application management capabilities, including full support for native HTML5, iOS and Android apps. The new CloudGateway release also adds integration with ShareFile, giving customers a single unified control point for all apps and data enterprise-wide.

The fourth pillar of the Citrix mobile enterprise strategy focuses on devices. The core of this strategy is Citrix Receiver. Citrix Receiver makes it easy for customers to support bring your own (BYO).

Citrix strengthened its client side hypervisor with the acquisition of Virtual Computer, a provider of management solutions for Xen-based client hypervisors. Citrix will combine the newly-acquired Virtual Computer technology with XenClient to create the new Citrix XenClient Enterprise edition. 

The last element of the strategy is Citrix HDX System-on-Chip (SoC) initiative, launched last October at Citrix Synergy Barcelona.  Citrix was joined by multiple partners today to unveil the first wave of devices featuring the new HDX SoC technology.  HP also unveiled a new All-in-One zero client that uses Power-over-Ethernet and consumes 13 watts of power, less than half that of comparable devices on the market today. 

The final big announcement was aimed at cloud service providers and arguably as Citrix CSP partners.  This is known as Project Avalon.  This aggregates a wide range of Citrix technologies to help users deliver any Windows app or desktop as a true cloud service. Rapidly deploy personalised Windows apps and desktops in a flexible, private cloud environment across single or multiple sites and utilise public clouds in a "capacity-on-demand" fashion. Leveraging the new Citrix CloudPlatform, powered by Apache CloudStack, makes it easy for existing customers to adopt new features at whatever pace they like. This allows them to mix and match different versions of Microsoft Windows Server®, Citrix XenDesktop and Citrix XenApp and span across any mix of public and private cloud infrastructure to host and deliver powerful, effective work styles for all users.

Architecturally it looks like the following:

So all in all I think you will agree a great extended vision by Citrix making them even more relevant within the boardroom and a flexible approach to accomodate to most scenarios.  If you need to know more contact us. 

Possibly the HP Windows 8 Slate?

The Internet is awash for rumours of an HP Windows 8 tablet, which is exceptionally thin, supports multi touch interaction and a whopping battery life of between 8 to 10 hours, oh and is expected out this calendar year.




Naturally this is a web rumour which means it also has lots of 'ifs and buts' associated with it, and first appeared on Neowin.net. HP are refusing to comment on this leak, but everyone knows that HP are working on an Intel-Based Windows 8 tablet.

The key notes to focus on is it will be running Windows 8 Professional. That means it will include the Desktop, allowing it to run existing Windows apps. It also will include encryption, virtualisation, PC management and domain connectivity. The HP Slate 8 will be 10.1 inches, 9.2mm thin according to this leak.

Other listed features include enterprise-level docking and both multi-touch and stylus support. Hopefully the docking will be good as the Samsung Series 7 dock...

If this is an accurate slide then this looks like a good move in the right direction for HP, what are your thoughts?

29%

As reported earlier this year by Equanet Microsoft has today officially released its price increases from the 1st July 2012.  The price increase averaged out stands at 29%.  The actual spectrum of increases ranges from 7.5% through to 33.5% dependant on the agreement type you hold with Microsoft.

The purpose of this increase is to provide price alignment with those prices seen across other areas of Europe due to a fluctuating euro. 

The 29% increase should not come as a major surprise to businesses (albeit painful to swallow) due to the transparency showed by Microsoft in February of this year.

There are many ways that businesses can reduce their financial exposure if they work with Equanet who can review their agreements and product plans and see how they map to proposed IT strategies.  Once we understand your IT requirements we can help you choose the right strategy and protect your budget.

Naturally each agreement is unique to your business and it is only by working with a trusted advisor such as Equanet that you can implement the buying strategy that is right for you.  Strategies such as procurement of additional products pre July through to agreements that provide price lock for the next three years.  There are many, many other ways that you can be smarter with your budget and we at Equanet are here to make sure that you make your budget work harder.

There are so many options available that once you get over the initial shock of the increase we urge you to contact us to see how we can advise you on the right course of action for you and your business.