Ulrik Christensen

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Archives for May 2016

XenServer 7 and all the new features

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During Citrix Synergy, XenServer 7 got released. I think a lot of people have been waiting for this version for some time. After Citrix got more focus on their core business, we can now expect to see more features the core products.

With that said, let’s take a look at some of the new features:

Support for Intel Iris Pro

This feature allows you to leverage the integrated GPU in Intel’s Xeon processor E3 family. This gives you the opportunity to deliver desktop and applications with rich graphic experience. This also helps you to get a higher user density on each server. The reason is that, application that can leverage the GPU will do that instead of using the CPU. With XenServer 7 you are able to have 7 vGPUs for each Iris Pro GPU.

New NVIDIA features

XenServer has always been the first hypervisor to support new NVIDIA GRID technology. XenServer 7 now supports, with the NVIDIA Tesla M10, 128 vGPU enabled VM’s. This makes very good sense, when you think about that more and more applications are becoming more GPU demanding.

Direct Inspect API

The way we are protection ourselves against viruses and malware is typically by using AV software that are installed into the VM. These AV solutions usually protect the VM based on definition files and you have to update every single VM using this technology. This requires a lot of resources and makes it vulnerable to zero-day attacks. With XenServer 7, Citrix introduce Direct Inspect API that allows 3rd party AV vendors to interface with the hypervisor layer through APIs. The 3rd party AV products are able, by scanning the guest memory, to detect if the is any malicious code running in the memory and then kill the process and remove the virus. What viruses are doing as the first thing, if you get one, is to disable any security products, if they are installed on your system. With this feature, the virus is not able to see any security systems, because it is only able to see inside the boundaries of the VM, which makes a lot more secure.

VM migration

In XenServer, it has been possible to migrate VM, using local storage, from one host to another. But it has to be running. With XenServer 7, you are now able to migrate VM in any state. Running, stopped or paused, you are able to migrate all of them.

Support for Microsoft SMB

We all have SMB’s on our network. Finally XenServer comes with support for Microsoft SMB.

XenServer 7 is available today

Get your copy of XenServer 7 today on the Citrix download site.

Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client available

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Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client
Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client

I don’t know how many times I have been involved in business cases about whether to go with a thin client strategy or not. You always have to go through the prices of laptops, desktop and thin clients and at the same time compare their lifespan.

But the calculations just got a lot better in favor of the thin client strategy after the first day of Citrix Synergy. The first Citrix Ready Raspberry Pi thin client was presented. Developed by Citrix Ready partner ViewSonic or Micro Center.

There has been a lot of talk for a long time about running Citrix Receiver on Raspberry Pi. Not only did Viewsonic and Micro Center put Citrix Receiver on to a Raspberry Pi, but they also stuck a HDX chip inside the box, so it can give the best user experience when running your VDI session. Because of this chip the Raspberry Pi thin client is a very good client when running HDX 3D Pro. I do not know any other client that able to do that for $99.

Technical stuff

The Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client is a Raspberry Pi 3 running a linux version developed by ViewSonic designed especcially to run Citrix Receiver. 4 x USB ports, LAN port and HDMI. The Citrix HDX thin client comes with powersupply.

Get Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client for only $99

The Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client can become yours for only $99. You are able to pre-order the Citrix HDX Raspberry Pi thin client at ViewSonic and Micro Center and they will start to ship in next month.

Secure file sharing with Citrix Sharefile

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Secure file sharing
Citrix Sharefile

In these days, enterprise companies are struggling with secure file sharing. The reason is that users are demanding to get access to their files from anywhere. Back in the days you were able to access your files on the company file server through the corporate network.

With the introduction of mobile devices, users want to be able to access their files easily on any device on any network. Whereas companies controlled the environment, more and more users are going their own and are finding the solutions that they need.

When it comes to file sharing, there are lot solutions to choose from:

  • Dropbox
  • Box
  • Google Drive
  • OneDrive

These services are not what I consider as secure file sharing services. Users can sign up for these services in minutes and from that moment, the IT department is no longer in control of the company’s data. They now exist in an untrusted zone. You have no which data is that has been upload. Not the best message you want to pass on to your C-levels.

I have seen companies blocking for online file sharing services. The only outcome was that the users started to use USB keys. From a technology perspective, I think I can say without objections, that I have witness a step back. Also, what do you consider as the biggest security threat. Unencrypted USB keys or online file sharing services.

Where to get secure file sharing

Companies have to start to look at secure file sharing with enterprise features. The best solution on the market is Citrix Sharefile. The reason for that claim is because that is the only product, if you ask me, which really have the whole feature set and at the same time also have the security features that are needed. Citrix Sharefile comes with features like:

  • Storage zones, which allows you to keep your data on premises.
  • In app office document editor. Edit your Word document on the run.
  • On-demand sync. Great feature for VDI environments.
  • Offline features on all devices.
  • Central remote swipe of devices. If you loose your device. No worries.

There are a lot of other features, but these are just some of the most important. If your company is ready for secure file sharing and do not know which product to choose, then Citrix Sharefile is worth a look.

Citrix Cloud – Not just a Workspace Cloud

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Citrix Cloud
Citrix Cloud Menu

Just as i thought that the Citrix marketing team didn’t came up with anything for Synergy 2016. Citrix Workspace Cloud is being renamed to Citrix Cloud.

Enough with the jokes!

According to Citrix, the reason for the rebrand is because they want to offer all Citrix products from their cloud. Citrix also want to offer services that are beyond the workspace. Citrix Cloud will be able provide:

  • Complete Workspaces
  • Migration services
  • Automation services
  • Networking services

And i am pretty sure that there is more to come once we are on the other side of Synergy 2016.

Citrix Cloud is not the only new name. All the services in the cloud are also changing name. On the picture underneath, you can see the new names.

 

Citrix Cloud
Citrix Cloud

Citrix Workspace Cloud was released in August 2015, so it is all still very new. Still, there are customers running on the platform. Nothing really changed for them other than the name. They still have the same access and they still have the same products. They will all be able to login from the new URL: citrix.cloud.com

Citrix Cloud and Citrix Partners

It has been a great discussion among partners weather or not this will take their bread and butter. There are still a lot that needs to be done with this Citrix Cloud. The only thing you, as partner, do not need to worry about anymore is the upgrade and maintain the infrastructure roles. Applications still need to be installed and tested. Not only that but, there is also the whole designing fase. So still great opportunities out there.

Citrix Visio Stencils for XenApp and XenDesktop

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Citrix Visio Stencils
Citrix Visio Stencils

When we install new systems or do a change in IT, we always to document what we have done and how to operate the new system. I do not think that I only speak for myself, when I say that writing documentation is not the most motivating in your job description. But this still needs to be done and it also goes for Citrix Installations.

One of the tools that can be used is Microsoft Visio. Microsoft Visio is a tool that you can use to draw network diagram so others can get an overview of the components in your solution.

For your pleasure, I can tell you that Citrix stencils for Microsoft Visio are available. You can them for Microsoft Visio 2010 and Microsoft Visio 2013. This means that it is a lot easier to document your Citrix installation.

With Citrix Visio Stencils, you are able to document your Citrix installation with real Citrix role stencils. This makes it a lot easier to get an overview.

Get the Citrix Stencils for Microsoft Visio right here:

XenApp and XenDesktop Stencils for Visio 2010

XenApp and XenDesktop Stencils for Visio 2013