- Pano Logic Transforms PCs into Zero Client Desktops
- Dell introduces the First Multi-User 2U Rack Workstation for Virtualized 3D Applications on Citrix XenDesktop on
- smsPasscode 6.1 released with new enhancements
- Citrix and NVIDIA team up on GPU hardware virtualization
- Igel announces new ARM-based System on Chip (SoC) thin client
2X Application Server
Seamless SaaS Provisioning with 2X ApplicationServer XG
The “software as a service” (SaaS) model has become a popular method for hosting applications, a trend that will continue to gain traction as time progresses. At 2X, we work with many administrators interested in application and virtual desktop delivery options from hosted platforms. Today’s hosted environments a solution that is flexible, able to easily scale to accomodate additional users with maximum ease of use, to allow optimal efficiency and minimal downtime for users. Many existing solutions are far too expensive for most companies; at upwards of $200 per concurrent user, Citrix licensing can strain project rollouts and require administrators to think long and hard before moving to such an application and virtual desktop delivery solution. By providing a highly affordable per-server pricing model, while getting high marks for flexibility and usability in an SaaS setting, 2X ApplicationServer XG can serve as the solution of choice for most hosted environments.
A prime example of 2X ApplicationServer’s versatility in a hosted environment is Florida-based DataTech’s 2X deployment to the MacDonald Training Center in Tampa, FL. MacDonald Training Center (MTC), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, offers people with disabilities living in and around Tampa, FL key services to allow them to improve their everyday lives, including vocational skills training, community living and employment services. The availability of these services allows 500 individuals annually to receive top-notch assistance in seeking to lead improved lives. The critical nature of MTC’s mission of empowering people with disabilities to lead the lives they choose, means that facilitating technologies must be simple and easy to use, with unparalleled reliability.
Needing a trusted, reliable hosting provider, MTC looked to DataTech, a Florida-based hosting provider and value-added reseller, to provide a powerful yet cost-effective solution, given the organization’s budgetary concerns. Scott Dollar of DataTech explains that the company “wanted to provide MTC with an extremely reliable application and desktop delivery solution, hosted in our datacenter that met the organization’s needs in an extremely affordable way.” While Citrix was initially considered as a possible choice, Dollar notes that both Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop were “far beyond the price point that the MacDonald staff could reasonably support.” Having recommended 2X to other customers in the past, Dollar was pleased to use 2X ApplicationServer XG as “a perfect solution for providing MacDonald trainees and employees with quick, easy application and desktop delivery from any location, allowing worker productivity to soar.” MTC staff have since found 2X ApplicationServer XG to be a great fit from its ease of use and simple, intuitive interface, while its unparalleled affordability allowed such cloud computing benefits to become a workplace reality.
For simple, secure application and desktop delivery and remote access for MacDonald Training Center users, DataTech chose 2X ApplicationServer XG, 2X Software’s all-in-one platform for access to published applications and desktops, as well as published virtual desktops through virtually any hypervisor. The product was utilized on five terminal servers in the DataTech datacenter, with 2X including resource-based load balancing to achieve optimal server performance. Constant uptime is guaranteed by DataTech datacenter redundancy, with MacDonald Training Center using their terminal server resources for Microsoft Office and financial accounting software, along with payroll and donor management applications. MTC staff note that they strive to “run everything through 2X,” with users “easily able to understand how to use 2X to access any remote application they need.”
There’s no question that the move to 2X ApplicationServer XG has allowed MTC to enjoy much greater ease of use than continued reliance on their existing solution. MTC staff note that using stand-alone desktops, updates and upgrades were laborious, with technicians having to work individually on each stand-alone desktop. As the 2X pricing model allowed the organization to enjoy cloud computing benefits at an extremely affordable price, the organization has now been able to centralize application and desktop delivery in a seamless, secure way using DataTech’s datacenter. While DataTech has long trusted the “extremely reliable” 2X ApplicationServer XG as a trusted 2X Partner, MTC staff knew that all that was required to access the applications and desktops they need is to use the 2X Client on their desktops and mobile devices. As a result, Susan and Adelisa report that for accessing their core applications and desktops, “the process couldn’t be simpler!”
2X ApplicationServer XG Kicks Off a New Era of Virtual Desktop and Application Delivery for Microsoft, VMware and Citrix
2X Software announced that its new all-in-one application and virtual desktop delivery platform, 2X ApplicationServer XG (Next Generation), has just been released. 2X ApplicationServer XG seeks to combine the best in application and virtual desktop delivery and management by allowing administrators to publish virtual desktops and applications from a single, all-in-one platform, simplifying administration and enhancing virtual computing performance. 2X VirtualDesktopServer and 2X ApplicationServer have thus been combined into 2X ApplicationServer XG, with both more advanced features and enhanced simplicity for the 2X Software user base. Rather than seek separate solutions for both application and desktop delivery, users can now use 2X ApplicationServer XG for all their virtual computing needs, from application delivery and universal printing and scanning, to advanced VDI templates, pooling and more.
“With this new generation of 2X ApplicationServer we have proved once again that we can make application and virtual desktop delivery even simpler, more affordable and efficient,” stated Nikolaos Makris, CEO of 2X Software. “2X ApplicationServer XG combines the best in application delivery and virtual desktop (VDI) management by allowing administrators to publish applications and virtual desktops from an all-in-one platform, integrating seamlessly with all common virtualization platform vendors like Microsoft, VMware and CITRIX . 2X Software will continue its tradition to provide administrators with the advanced features and capabilities they need for their desktop and application delivery strategy.”
To download a trial version of 2X ApplicationServer XG, please click here.
2X ApplicationServer XG Features
2X ApplicationServer XG combines the best in application delivery and virtual desktop (VDI) management by allowing administrators to publish applications and virtual desktops from an all-in-one platform. Experience the full benefits of desktop virtualization and improve desktop manageability, security, accessibility and performance by delivering virtual desktops and applications to Windows, Linux, Mac, Android and iOS from any virtualization platform, rather than installing locally, all while enjoying additional features such as complete universal printing and scanning, virtual desktop pooling and templates, full RDP 7 and RemoteFX compatibility and more.
2X ApplicationServer XG features include:
- Publish virtual desktops and applications to Windows, Linux and Mac, rather than installing locally
- Hypervisor vendor-independent
- Use the same client to connect to virtual desktops and published applications
- Publish virtual desktops and applications based on username, group or IP
- Publish virtual desktops and applications to a web portal
- Integration with the 2X LoadBalancer
- SSL security and MAC address filtering
- Universal printing and scanning
- Windows 2008 R2 and Windows 7 ready
- Mobile client connectivity (iPad, Android, HP webOS and more)
Please see our 2X Application Server XG features list for more information.
AIM Services Chooses 2X ApplicationServer to Provide Easy, Reliable and Affordable Remote Access to EHR Applications
AIM Services has deployed more than 30 terminal servers in a single farm, maximizing the scalability, security and manageability of their 2X ApplicationServer installation.
2X ApplicationServer Selected as VirtualizationAdmin.com Readers Choice Award Winner
The 2X ApplicationServer is VirtualizationAdmin.com Readers' Preferred Choice for Remote Application Delivery
The leading virtualization resource site, VirtualizationAdmin.com, announced today that the 2X ApplicationServer for Windows Terminal Services was selected as winner of the Application Server category of the VirtualizationAdmin.com Readers' Choice Awards.
"Our Readers' Choice Awards give visitors to our site the opportunity to vote for the products they view as the very best in their respective category," said Sean Buttigieg, VirtualizationAdmin.com manager. "VirtualizationAdmin.com users are specialists in their field who encounter various solutions for virtualization at the workplace. The award serves as a mark of excellence, providing the ultimate recognition from peers within the industry."
VirtualizationAdmin.com conducts bi-monthly polls to discover which product is preferred by administrators in a particular category of third party solutions for virtualization environments. The awards draw a huge response per category and are based entirely on the visitors' votes. VirtualizationAdmin.com users can submit their votes for the current Readers' Award poll in the site's left-hand bar.
To see the complete Readers' Choice Awards results, please visit: Readers' Choice Awards Results. ( http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/news/general/VirtualizationAdmin-Readers-C hoice-Award-Application-Servers-2X-ApplicationServer-Windows-Terminal-Service s-Jun10.html)
About 2X ApplicationServer for Windows Terminal Services
The 2X ApplicationServer tunnels any Windows application or desktop onto remote computers, including Mac and Linux desktops, without the need to install the application or desktop onto each user's machine. This provides significant savings on administration and support. Key features include:
- Application publishing, rather than local installation
- Tunneling specific applications rather than a complete desktop
- Publish applications to Web interface
- Publish Windows applications to Linux and Mac
- Multiple monitor support
- Automatic redundancy
- Application publishing based on username, group membership or IP
- Seamless integration with local desktop and taskbar
- SSL-secured connection to applications
- Universal printing and scanning
- Application license management
- Integration with 2X LoadBalancer
- Windows 2008 Server 32 / 64-bit support
The 2X ApplicationServer Version 8 was recently released, combining virtual computing technology and thin client management within a single application. New features include TWAIN re-direction, improved direct client settings management and the zero-management thin client feature. For more information on Version 8 features, please visit our blog post. (http://www.2x.com/blog/2009/10/virtualization/get-ready-for-2x-virtualdeskto pserver-and-applicationserver-v-8/)
For a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) comparison of the 2X ApplicationServer 8 vs. Citrix XenApp 5, please visit our TCO blog post. (http://www.2x.com/blog/2010/01/2x-product/2x-applicationserver/substantial-i t-cost-reduction-with-2x-applicationserver/)
(Due to the length of these URLs, it may be necessary to copy and paste the hyperlinks into your Internet browser's URL address field. Remove the space if one exists.)
Obtaining the Trial Version
2X is offering a 30-day trial version of the 2X ApplicationServer for Windows Terminal Services. After the 30-day trial period, users can still use the 3-connection free version by registering for the 3-connection license key on the 2X website. Download the trial version ( http://www.2x.com/applicationserver/download.html) today.
2X Software releases ApplicationServer 8.1 Beta for download
2X Software has release a Beta version of their 2X ApplicationServer. The Version is 8.1 Beta.
Here is what is fixed in this release:
Server:
Fixed Client connection log to show the peer's ip
Fixed PXE booting issue when a network interface has an invalid ip/subnet 0.0.0.0
New feature: Listing policies (Which clients can list published items),
Windows 2008/R2 Printer name renaming
Adding or removing a backup publishing agents will update all gateways even those who are not using the default settings
Fixed SMB gateway port error
Added "2X Appliance" OS Type in remote installation of VDS
Adding gw automatically when backup servers are added from "Find" button
During Server installation we detect which Ports are in use by other applications
Changed licensing model for VDS
Windows Client:
Improved Secondary connections on the Client, now we support up to 16 servers
Added RDP7 "Use All monitors"
Added RDP7 "Audio Recording"
Application listing available from Tray Icon
Added Authorization Tab both in 2X Connection and Terminal Server Connection
Added Direct SSL mode, in this mode the connection to the gateway is done over ssl, while the rdp session is done directly to the server
Added support for new version of RDP control "Control Version: 6.1.7600"
Improved support Windows 7 Taskbar grouping,
Added server side colour depth, width and height for published application
Added auto close error message
Fixed Drag and Drop issue with windows 7, Windows 2008
Changed MSI Client options. Now you need to specify a file with the client settings exported. Installation looks for default file "2XSettings.2xc" in the same folder where the msi resides.
Fixed connect to console to work with latest active x control (80/81)
Fixed SSL trusted file not loaded always
Added Client side Logging
Linux Client:
Added Single Sign-On feature
Mac Client:
Added Sound redirection
Implemented Uninstaller
Added RDP compression option
Added "Show Certificate information" for SSL desktops (works on MAC 10.5 and later)
Java Client:
Added Configuration tool for server configuration
Added support for installation mode
Improved Deepnet integration
Added cleaning of registered 2X applications
Added Basic installation of 2X Client
Added support for Direct SLL Mode
Unregistering extensions after listing if applicable
Added support for credentials passed through HTML param tags
Web Portal:
Provide Client detection as a seperate component
Improved Deepnet integration
Added Global Message in login page
Added support for Default Domain
Site Settings Replication (Still in development)
Added Client detection on Linux using Firefox
Connect on Twitter
Become a Ervik.as Partner
Find us around the web
