Archive
#XenMobile and the #Citrix Mobile Workspaces Architecture – #BYOD
This is a great blog post by Christopher Campbell and good picture to show the overall capabilities and architecture of the Citrix offering!
You’ve heard us talk about Mobile Workspaces and if you’re a techie you’re probably wondering if Citrix really has the architectural components (a complete, comprehensive and fully integrated architecture) that can deliver any app and data to any user on any device over any network?
Well let’s first identify a few of the market leading technologies that make up the Citrix Mobile Workspaces solution:
- XenApp mobilizes and secures Windows apps on any device
- XenDesktop securely delivers virtual Windows desktops and apps on any device
- XenMobile manages and secures mobile, web and SaaS apps on mobile devices
- GoToMeeting empowers people to meet and collaborate with anyone, anywhere
- ShareFile shares and syncs corporate data securely from any location
- NetScaler optimizes and secures app delivery and on any network
- CloudPlatform orchestrates and provisions apps, desktops and IT services from any cloud
OK, OK. We know you have the products but do they really integrate?
Yes. Don’t believe me? Well as they say a picture is worth a thousand words. This is what the Mobile Workspace Architecture looks like.
OK. I get it. You have the architecture but that doesn’t necessarily translate to a seamless user experience.
Still don’t believe huh? Well this is what the user experience looks like.
XenMobile is a key ingredient in delivering a mobile workspace. Along with XenApp and XenDesktop it allows organizations to deliver on giving users access to any app from any device. In fact, if you’re an existing XenApp or XenDesktop customer, XenMobile seamlessly plugs into your existing architecture.
If you’re a XenDesktop or XenApp customer this is what your environment probably looks like.
Now this is what you need to enable EMM for BYO and COPE (Corporate Owned, Personally Enabled) devices and add that MDM, MAM, Secure Email, Secure Data…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
#App-V and #XenDesktop 7 – #Citrix, #AppV
A couple of good posts from Citrix (Ram Kumar Mantena & Nagendra Kumar) around the support for App-V on XenDesktop 7 and what to think of etc.
Tips/Tricks for Using App-V Integration with XenDesktop 7.0
XenDesktop 7.0 is released and it supports both Apps and Desktop Virtualization. One of the key features of this release is support for Microsoft App-V. As this is the first release for App-V support, here are some tips/things to consider for an easy deployment of App-V 5.0 in a XenDesktop Environment.
- XenDesktop 7.0 supports Server based App-V deployment scenario where Admin uses App-V Publishing Server and Management Server to manage apps.
- Microsoft App-V client does not support more than 5 Publishing Servers. In Citrix Desktop Studio, although the admin can add one Management and one Publishing server through Studio UI, he can also add multiple Publishing Servers using low level SDKs. It is recommended to add only 5 Publishing Servers. Though Studio low level SDKs take more than five Publishing Servers, studio enumerates App-V apps from first 5 Publishing Servers.
- When adding the Management Server and Publishing Server in App-V publishing node, if the test connection fails and App-V Server is up and running, make sure WinRm is up and running.
- Once the Virtual Desktop Agent is installed on Server/Client, make sure CtxAppVCOMAdmin is member of Administrator group. This is required as some of the App-V operations on VDA side need administrator privileges. This is the user account pre-created by Citrix XenDesktop VDA installation. [CTX138057]
- It is recommended to enable SharedContentStoreMode…. Read more…
What will happen to #XenServer now? – #Citrix, #Virtualization, #IaaS
This is a question that I get a lot these days…. what will happen to XenServer now when Citrix has handed it over to the open source community and that it will be available at XenServer.org. Have they really handed it over, if you think yes; what did they then hand over then though it’s been open source based all along?
Well I suggest that you read a bit about the product strategy etc in this release from Citrix on what the view is:
Key Messages and FAQs for Customers
On June 25, 2013, Citrix announced the availability of the Citrix XenServer 6.2 virtualization platform, which is the first XenServer offering to deliver a full featured, open-source, freely available software package. Citrix is also introducing a new XenServer.org community portal to provide source code access and drive innovation and collaboration around server virtualization and cloud.
Why the change to open source?
Citrix is advancing its strategy around open source with the launch of the XenServer.org community portal to drive innovation, collaboration and discussion around XenServer. As evidenced by the strong industry response to phase 1 of this strategy (move Xen to the Linux Foundation, April 15), open source provides us with a way to better engage with ecosystem partners to enable innovation. Open source also provides alignment with the dominant cloud orchestration platforms of CloudStack and OpenStack and meets cloud builder expectations for source code availability and open APIs. Our move to an open source strategy was chosen for several reasons.
1. Open source is in the Xen / XenSource DNA.
2. Open source software is leading proprietary software in cloud infrastructure.
3. Open source enables collaborative development that drives public trust.
4. Open source communities empower users and broaden market reach.
What is the new XenServer product strategy?
It all ADDS up with #BYOD (Assess + Design + Deploy + Support = Success)
Below you can read about a couple of webinars coming up on Citrix’s view on how to get your BYOD strategy up and running!
Cowboy consumerization is here…and it’s here to stay. You may not want to admit it, but you already have a few “outlaws” in your organization who are using their own devices, regardless of whether you allow them to or not. In fact, you probably have entire departments accessing email, apps and data on devices and through services that are not secure. The consumerization of IT is here to stay, so you may as well embrace it.
When business information is accessed by user-owned, consumer-grade devices, the right technology foundation is essential to ensure IT control. The question is where to begin. What are the business, user and IT benefits of enabling bring-your-own device (BYOD)?
The business wants to make employees more productive yet remain compliant. Users want access to all their enterprise apps and data from their many devices and IT wants to ensure security and control in a way that’s simple to manage.
Before you begin a BYOD initiative, it’s important to understand the underlying products that will become a part of your BYOD solution and their functionality and feature sets. One size does not fit all and, even though a BYOD solution may seem complex, it’s important to realize that it all boils down to addressing four key things:
- Multiple Devices – Employees are bringing their own devices (on average 3) into the workplace – whether you like it or not.
- Lots of Apps – IT have lots of them and different types (Windows, Web, SaaS and Mobile) that everyone want access to from their device.
- Unmanaged Data – Employees are..
Continue reading here!
//Richard
Free eBook – Secrets of the #Citrix Support Ninjas – #XenApp, #XenDesktop, #NetScaler
Secrets of the Citrix Support Ninjas
So we decided to pick their brains and gather a bunch of ‘power tips’ to help administrators like you run better Citrix environments.
The result is this free eBook: Secrets of the Support Ninjas.
It’s a quick, easy-to-browse collection of insider tips and tricks from the people who know best – organized by four products: XenApp, XenDesktop, XenServer and NetScaler.
If you only take away a single tip to help you run your environment, it’ll be well worth the download…
Download here!
//Richard
Lifecycle Milestones for Citrix Receiver – #Citrix, #Receiver
For each major version (e.g., v3.0) of a Citrix Receiver for Windows, Mac, Linux, Java, or WinCE, customers will receive a minimum lifecycle of four years. The lifecycle consists of a Mainstream Maintenance Phase for at least the first three years followed by an Extended Maintenance Phase for the remainder of the lifecycle. The specific dates for each major release of these components will be posted in the tables below.
During the Mainstream Maintenance phase, customers that remain current in a Citrix Technical Support program receive 24x7x365 worldwide support. Support includes assistance from experts and connects you to the latest troubleshooting tools, techniques and resources you need to protect your Citrix investment. Citrix will provide code-level maintenance in the form of minor version releases, and in some cases, Cumulative Updates (maintenance releases containing multiple fixes) when Citrix determines they are required to resolve issues with Receiver. The release of a minor version or Cumulative Update may define a new maintenance baseline. Citrix customers may be required to upgrade to a specific minor version or Cumulative Update to receive continued maintenance. When a new maintenance baseline is defined, Citrix will continue to provide support for each minor version (e.g., v3.3) for a minimum of 12 months after the release of the next minor version (e.g., v3.4). Minor versions may include functional enhancements as well as code-level maintenance.
During the Extended Maintenance Phase, technical support continues as before but code-level maintenance will be limited to security-related issues deemed critical by Citrix.
For Citrix Receiver for Android, Chromebook, iOS, or Windows 8/RT, customers that remain current in a Citrix Technical Support program receive 24x7x365 worldwide support for the version of Receivers that are currently available from the respective vendor app store. Code-level maintenance is provided with the next version made available in the respective vendor app store.
Lifecycle dates for Citrix Receiver for Windows, Mac, Linux, Java, and WinCE
The tables below list the major versions…
The IT Melting Pot! 