Citrix XenClient Enterprise 4.1 - What's new?

Citrix has long been associated with leading the desktop virtualisation market, one of the key issues has been the need to connect to the network to receive corporate desktop services.  Clearly there has been XenClient to cater for offline VDI in the past but this had a restricted HCL and many doubters.  Citrix has been on the acquisition trail for many years and one of the latest acquisitions to be integrated into the portfolio is Virtual Computer; welcome to XenClient Enterprise.

Citrix has recently announced the first full release of XenClient Enterprise within XenDesktop Enterprise and Platinum.

What does this mean to you?  Citrix have cited the following benefits:

9X More Devices Supported

• XenClient now supports more PCs than ever before with an increased hardware compatibility list (HCL).
• Support for desirable devices including Ultrabook™ systems and the latest 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processor systems
• 3G/4G modem support, enabling users to make full use of their XenClient PCs.

Enterprise-Class Management Scalable to Thousands of Endpoints

• Open, scalable backend management system supported on all industry standard server hypervisors – Hyper-V, vSphere, and XenServer.
• Enterprise level scalability supporting thousands of endpoints for large deployments in multiple locations and geographies.
• Enhanced policies and role-based administrative control deliver the granularity IT needs to manage XenClient effectively.

Easier to use

• In-guest controls make XenClient feel more like native Windows to end users, so they can manage wireless networks, mouse settings, and other controls from within Windows, and IT can hide the hypervisor from less sophisticated users.
• Automated over the air upgrades let XenClient update itself with no intervention needed from the end user.
• A  ’Connect’ environment for quick-boot access to the web, with Google Chrome included.

It is worth remembering though that desktop virtualisation is not about technology it is about users and processes.  If you're looking for an innovative approach to desktop services then please contact us to learn how our approach can help simplify your end user computing architecture.