Citrix Optimizes XenServer for the Cloud Era
September 30 2011 - 9:15AM
Business Wire
Citrix Systems (NASDAQ:CTXS) today announced the availability of
XenServer® 6, the most recent edition of its server virtualization
product line. As a key component of the Citrix cloud computing and
virtualization strategy, XenServer 6 brings new optimizations and
improved scalability and performance for cloud infrastructure,
desktop virtualization and networking. XenServer continues to grow
market presence and adoption, fueled by the strong leadership of
the underlying open source Xen® technology, the virtualization
platform of choice in a majority of the public cloud today.
XenServer was recently positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the leaders
quadrant of the “2011 Magic Quadrant for x86 Server Virtualization
Infrastructure, and was listed as a “Champion” in Info-Tech
Research Group’s Vendor Landscape report on server
virtualization.
As the industry progresses into the Cloud Era, new cloud
services are emerging that demand platforms that are purpose-built
for cloud computing with requirements that are significantly
different from the traditional enterprise datacenters of today.
These platforms need to be designed from the ground up to deliver
multi-tier, multi-tenant services in the simplest and most
cost-effective way, using virtualization as a key enabler. Rather
than attempting to force-fit cloud capabilities into existing
server virtualization architectures, XenServer addresses these
challenges by delivering a highly-resilient, cloud-optimized and
easily customized virtual platform that helps cloud providers
produce differentiated solutions that meet the needs of their
customers. In addition, by leveraging XenServer 6 with the
recently-released Citrix CloudStack™, users can be assured the core
component of their cloud infrastructure has the network and
virtualization optimizations necessary for the same scale-out
architectures employed by the world’s largest and most successful
cloud providers today.
For customers desiring a cost-effective, powerful, and
integrated server virtualization solution, improvements in
XenServer 6 make it even easier to download, install and use. Since
its inception, XenServer has employed a simple licensing model that
does not place artificial limitations on breadth of use or impose
cost increases as customers utilize higher density servers with
more CPUs and memory available for virtual workloads. As a result,
users can preserve existing virtualization investments while
continuing to grow their virtual infrastructure. In addition,
VMware customers can break free from the escalating cost model
recently imposed with VMware’s new vSphere 5 licensing plan (often
referred to as the “vTax”), but also gain the added flexibility of
leveraging the most cloud-optimized server virtualization solution
in the market.
What’s New
New features in XenServer 6 include:
- Optimizations for Cloud and Service
Delivery Networking – XenServer 6 includes full integration of
Open vSwitch, a core technology used to build next-generation cloud
networks based on the innovative OpenFlow standard. Tight
integration with Citrix NetScaler® enables hardware-assisted
network performance optimizations (SR-IOV) for NetScaler VPX™ and
SDX™ service delivery products.
- Optimizations for Desktop
Virtualization – XenServer 6 includes HDX™ enhancements for
improved TCO and optimized user experience for virtual desktops
using highly graphical applications. With this release, physical
GPUs can be centrally pooled and assigned to a virtual desktop,
enabling direct access and optimal graphics performance.
Additionally, the Citrix XenDesktop® and XenServer product teams
have continued to innovate in reducing storage overhead in virtual
desktop deployments, leveraging local storage where possible and
reducing the storage costs dramatically for XenDesktop customers
utilizing the XenServer IntelliCache feature.
- “Ten to Xen” – In further
simplifying the management requirements for XenServer, customers
can still install the product and be up and running in a matter of
minutes, while also employing powerful automation features to get
the most out of their datacenter resources and ensure service
availability and performance.
- Full Support for Microsoft System
Center 2012 – XenServer 6 now provides customers with the
option of managing XenServer hosts and VMs directly from their
System Center Management environment – integrating with both
Virtual Machine Manager for ongoing machine operations and
provisioning and Operations Manager for monitoring and
troubleshooting. For more information refer to the Microsoft System
Center 2012 beta page.
- Powerful, Open Source Xen Hypervisor
Engine – XenServer 6 incorporates Xen 4.1 hypervisor, the
latest release of the industry’s most popular and secure open
source hypervisor that resulted from 11 months of development
across more than 25 organizations. The new version of the Xen
hypervisor includes advancements for latency-sensitive workloads,
improved support for very large systems, and many new security
features. See the Xen 4.1 release announcement for a full list of
what’s new.
For a complete list of features, please visit:
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX130418
Product Availability
XenServer 6 is immediately available for download on the
XenServer download page.
Quotes
Peder Ulander, Vice President of Product Marketing, Cloud
Platforms Group, Citrix
“With every release of XenServer, more customers are realizing
that the vast majority of their workloads do not require the
expense and complexity of VMware vSphere. According to industry
analyst estimates, today’s average enterprise only has 40-50
percent of its servers virtualized, while ultimately they need
70-80 percent virtualized to meet the demands of the Cloud Era.
When customers extrapolate the cost of getting to that point, they
recognize the need to adopt simpler, highly-functional, cost
effective virtualization solutions. XenServer 6 deserves a look
from every VMware customer.”
Related Links:
- Expert Blog: XenServer 6 is Here
- Announcement: Citrix Opens Up the Cloud
for VMware Customers
- Expert Blog: CloudStack, The Best Kept
Secret in Cloud Computing
- Announcement: Citrix Changes the Game
in Cloud Infrastructure with Cloud.com Acquisition
- Expert Blog: OSCON 2011 - Open Source
Thriving in the Cloud
- Expert Blog: Citrix and CloudStack, a
match made in Heaven (or in the Clouds;)
- Expert Blog: Bringing CloudStack and
OpenStack Together
Follow us online:
- Twitter: @Citrix, @Ulander,
@XenServerArmy, @cloudstack,
@mrhinkle, @Bill_Carovano
About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is a leading provider of
virtual computing solutions that help people work and play from
anywhere on any device. More than 230,000 enterprises rely on
Citrix to create better ways for people, IT and business to work
through virtual meetings, desktops and datacenters. Citrix
virtualization, networking and cloud solutions deliver over 100
million corporate desktops and touch approximately 75 percent of
Internet users each day. Citrix partners with over 10,000 companies
in 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2010 was $1.87 billion. Learn
more at www.citrix.com.
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