Developer(s) Citrix Operating system Website www.citrix.com | Stable release 7.12 License Proprietary | |
Type Desktop virtualization software | ||
XenDesktop is a desktop virtualization software that allows multiple users to access and run Microsoft Windows desktops that are installed at a centralized location separate from the devices from which they are being accessed.
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History
The virtualization technology that led to XenDesktop was first developed in 2000 through an open source hypervisor research project led by Ian Pratt at the University of Cambridge called Xen Project for x86. Pratt founded a company called XenSource in 2004, which made a commercial version of the Xen hypervisor. In 2007, Citrix acquired XenSource, releasing XenDesktop version 2.0 in 2008. The company continues to release updated versions, with XenDesktop 7.6 featuring HDX technology enhancements for audio, video and graphics user experience, as well as a reduction in storage costs associated with virtual desktop deployments as a result of improvements to Citrix provisioning services.
Product overview
XenDesktop is a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) product developed and sold by Citrix Systems. It allows users to virtually access and run Microsoft Windows desktops from a datacenter or a public or private cloud, via devices located anywhere. Users are able to access virtual desktops and applications through Citrix Receiver. Applications are delivered and managed via XenApp.
The product's aim is to give employees the ability to work from anywhere while cutting information technology management costs because desktops and applications are centralized. XenDesktop also aims to provide security, because data is not stored on the devices of end users, instead being saved in a centralized datacenter or cloud infrastructure. Citrix developed the software for use by medium to large enterprise customers.
XenDesktop is able to manage and deliver applications and desktops using a connection broker called Desktop Delivery Controller. It supports multiple hypervisors, including XenServer, VMware vSphere, and Microsoft Hyper-V to create virtual machines to run the applications and desktops. The software allows for several types of delivery methods and is compatible with multiple architectures, including desktops and servers, datacenters, and private, public or hybrid clouds. XenDesktop comes with the XenServer hypervisor and image management tool Provisioning Services. Virtualized applications can be delivered to XenDesktop virtual desktops using Xenapp.