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Citrix Extends XenClient to Windows 8 and Ultrabooks

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Citrix announced a tech preview ofCitrix XenClient™ Enterprise 4.5, a leading solution for client virtualization. This new release of XenClient empowers mobile workstyles with support for Ultrabooks™, Windows 8 and third-generation Intel® Core™ vPro processors. XenClient is a key FlexCast delivery model in Citrix XenDesktop® giving enterprises the flexibility to deliver secure virtual desktops to all users, even mobile workers who are often disconnected from the corporate network.

The number of worldwide mobile workers is growing dramatically and mobile employees are expected to make up 37.2 percent of the workforce by 2015, according to IDC Research [1].  Ultrabooks represent the ultimate in mobility, and are expected to be used in greater numbers by mobile workers, offering the productivity capabilities of a laptop with the portability benefits of a tablet. The expansion of mobile workers in enterprises heightens the challenges of deploying, managing and securing devices that frequently reside outside of the corporate network. XenClient offers a complete centralized management solution that addresses these challenges. In addition, XenClient XT delivers extreme isolation and security available for high-security organizations, and is now enabled to run on tablets powered by Intel.

Key Highlights:

  • Support for New Hardware Platforms – XenClient delivers support for the latest Intel® third-generation Core™ and Core vPro™ processors, allowing organizations to run XenClient on the latest Ultrabook™ desktop, laptop, tablet and convertible computers, in addition to previous generation devices.
  • Support for Multiple Microsoft Operating Systems – Microsoft Windows 8 support enables organizations to now run a wide range of virtual desktops, spanning Windows XP through Windows 8 on a single device.  
  • Expanded Use Cases – The latest release of XenClient supports expanded use cases for client virtualization, including the ability to operate multiple virtual networks on a single laptop or desktop computing device with VLAN tagging. This is particularly beneficial for markets such as retail where PCI compliance for credit card processing requires network separation, and other markets where discrete security across multiple networks is critical.

Quotes

 

 

 
Desktop virtualization is a key enabler of mobile workstyles. A key challenge for enterprises has been how to manage and secure the millions of corporate laptops used by employees who need to work both online and offline and are frequently working away from the corporate network. XenClient solves these key challenges by giving IT a way to secure and manage these devices and fuel the growth of business Ultrabooks, the next generation in mobile computing.
– Dan McCall

Vice President Marketing & Product Management, Client Virtualization

Citrix

 

 
Systems based on the Intel Core™ vPro™ processor platform, including business Ultrabooks, tablets, and convertibles are poised to change mobile workstyles with devices that fuse portability and enhanced security with personalized productivity. Citrix, with its XenClient solution, continues to demonstrate leadership by taking advantage of the Intel Core™ vPro processor platform capabilities. The latest release of XenClient, optimized for Intel® vPro™ platforms, is an ideal desktop virtualization solution that enables businesses to embrace IT consumerization with confidence, giving users the flexibility to thrive at work or play from anywhere at any time, whether online or off, while giving IT complete centralized management and control over the device.
– Rick Echevarria

VP & GM Business Client Platforms Division

Intel

 

 
Life Time Fitness has 105 locations with an average of 50 desktops per site so it is very labor intensive and costly to manage desktops at each location. By using XenClient, we can centralize the management of PCs remotely instead of traveling to each site to deploy, update or patch. This has greatly reduced our costs and increased the productivity of our IT staff. We are also able to consolidate desktops by running two local virtual desktops on one device, enabling us to remain PCI compliant to process credit card transactions in one VM and help our customers with questions in the other VM. XenClient is proving to be a valuable technology in achieving our IT goals.
– Kraig Stewardson

IT Desktop Manager

Life Time Fitness

 

Availability

  • Existing XenClient Enterprise and XenDesktop Enterprise and Platinum customers can download the XenClient tech preview this month. XenClient Enterprise 4.5 will be generally available for download in December.
  • XenClient Enterprise is included as part of XenDesktop Enterprise and Platinum editions.
  • XenClient XT 3.0 is generally available and can be downloaded from the Citrix website.

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