Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 Enterprise Edition MG2CPSE0001 User Manual
Product codes
MG2CPSE0001
2
repository, it executes locally on the target device. The application
is segmented into smaller components that can be streamed to
the PC as the application requests the function. The packaging
and profiling is accomplished through Citrix's Profiler. Different
profiles for the same application are required when different
operating systems (OSs) and service packs, languages and
security settings are in place.
is segmented into smaller components that can be streamed to
the PC as the application requests the function. The packaging
and profiling is accomplished through Citrix's Profiler. Different
profiles for the same application are required when different
operating systems (OSs) and service packs, languages and
security settings are in place.
Applications run in a cached, isolated bubble that resides on the client
device: this should prevent any conflict with other applications on the
client device. Application virtualization is the technology used to create
these isolated bubbles. Applications are cached on the client device
and are then ready for subsequent use. The application's license is
normally released from the device when the user exits the application,
but it can be configured to remain a resident on the device for a
predetermined period of time. Citrix refers to this as "checking the
application out," and the intention is to support users that occasionally
need to work offline. Files are saved locally, and individual settings are
preserved. Every time the application is executed, it checks for
updates and delivers them automatically.
device: this should prevent any conflict with other applications on the
client device. Application virtualization is the technology used to create
these isolated bubbles. Applications are cached on the client device
and are then ready for subsequent use. The application's license is
normally released from the device when the user exits the application,
but it can be configured to remain a resident on the device for a
predetermined period of time. Citrix refers to this as "checking the
application out," and the intention is to support users that occasionally
need to work offline. Files are saved locally, and individual settings are
preserved. Every time the application is executed, it checks for
updates and delivers them automatically.
Application streaming is available in Presentation Server 4.5, Platinum
or Enterprise Edition. Currently, Citrix's application streaming and
application virtualization features are not available as a stand-alone
product. Organizations interested in these features, but not in the
server-based computing features, need to license the entry-level (five
users) license of Presentation Server 4.5, Enterprise Edition and add
the desired number of application streaming licenses.
or Enterprise Edition. Currently, Citrix's application streaming and
application virtualization features are not available as a stand-alone
product. Organizations interested in these features, but not in the
server-based computing features, need to license the entry-level (five
users) license of Presentation Server 4.5, Enterprise Edition and add
the desired number of application streaming licenses.
Citrix has already expanded its support for alternative ways of
delivering Windows applications to users, in addition to its server-
based computing functionality. The desktop broker feature,
released in October 2006 as an add-on to Presentation Server 4.0,
provides session brokering for pooled and dedicated (mapped to a
specific user) Windows XP images in a virtual desktop environment.
The desktop broker feature can be used to support blade PC
deployment or to deliver a hosted "virtual" desktop from the server.
delivering Windows applications to users, in addition to its server-
based computing functionality. The desktop broker feature,
released in October 2006 as an add-on to Presentation Server 4.0,
provides session brokering for pooled and dedicated (mapped to a
specific user) Windows XP images in a virtual desktop environment.
The desktop broker feature can be used to support blade PC
deployment or to deliver a hosted "virtual" desktop from the server.
Users connect to desktop brokers over the Citrix Independent
Computing Architecture (ICA) display protocol, which then connects
to the virtual desktop using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol
(RDP). The use of RDP, however, is significantly slower than ICA.
When used to deliver virtual desktops from a server, desktop
brokers can be used in conjunction with most leading server
virtualization software, including Microsoft Virtual Server, VMware
ESX or XenEnterprise. The desktop broker features are available as
part of Presentation Server or in Citrix's Desktop Server product.
Computing Architecture (ICA) display protocol, which then connects
to the virtual desktop using Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol
(RDP). The use of RDP, however, is significantly slower than ICA.
When used to deliver virtual desktops from a server, desktop
brokers can be used in conjunction with most leading server
virtualization software, including Microsoft Virtual Server, VMware
ESX or XenEnterprise. The desktop broker features are available as
part of Presentation Server or in Citrix's Desktop Server product.
In Presentation Server 4.5, Windows application clients reside in a
central repository, called the Application Hub, and are profiled in
such a way that they are ready to be provisioned across a
Presentation Server farm for server-based delivery or delivered
directly to the desktop through application streaming or virtual
desktops. This reduces server set-up time and regression testing
compared with traditional server-based computing. Organizations
evaluating the application streaming capabilities of Presentation
Server 4.5 to deliver applications outside the Presentation Server
central repository, called the Application Hub, and are profiled in
such a way that they are ready to be provisioned across a
Presentation Server farm for server-based delivery or delivered
directly to the desktop through application streaming or virtual
desktops. This reduces server set-up time and regression testing
compared with traditional server-based computing. Organizations
evaluating the application streaming capabilities of Presentation
Server 4.5 to deliver applications outside the Presentation Server
environment should consider its compatibility with their PC
configuration tools. PC configuration tools use their own
application depot for storing applications that are ready for
deployment. As PC configuration tool vendors integrate application
virtualization and application streaming into their offerings, they will
eventually also integrate the application depots; however, until
then, separate depots will coexist. Presentation Server 4.5 is
compatible with HP Configuration Management solutions.
configuration tools. PC configuration tools use their own
application depot for storing applications that are ready for
deployment. As PC configuration tool vendors integrate application
virtualization and application streaming into their offerings, they will
eventually also integrate the application depots; however, until
then, separate depots will coexist. Presentation Server 4.5 is
compatible with HP Configuration Management solutions.
Other new features of version 4.5 of Presentation Server are mainly
focused on improving the management and security of large and
complex server-based computing deployments. These new
features include:
focused on improving the management and security of large and
complex server-based computing deployments. These new
features include:
•
Application Performance Monitoring - A tool that helps identify
poorly performing applications and the root cause of
bottlenecks. It keeps a historical record of application
performance and utilization, providing input for capacity
planning.
poorly performing applications and the root cause of
bottlenecks. It keeps a historical record of application
performance and utilization, providing input for capacity
planning.
•
Health Assistant - A tool that performs continuous server heath
checks. It works with load balancing to direct sessions to
healthy servers before users are affected. It interoperates with
standard system management tools, such as IBM Tivoli, HP
OpenView and Microsoft Operations Manager.
checks. It works with load balancing to direct sessions to
healthy servers before users are affected. It interoperates with
standard system management tools, such as IBM Tivoli, HP
OpenView and Microsoft Operations Manager.
•
Single Sign-on - A tool that centralizes password management,
storing credentials safely and enforcing password policies with
automatically generated passwords.
storing credentials safely and enforcing password policies with
automatically generated passwords.
•
SmartAccess - Based on Citrix's Access Gateway line of
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) virtual private network (VPN)
appliances, which enable administrators to implement access
control policies at the application level.
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) virtual private network (VPN)
appliances, which enable administrators to implement access
control policies at the application level.
•
SpeedScreen Progressive Display - Optimizes bandwidth use
for graphic-intensive applications, thus improving the user
experience with such applications.
for graphic-intensive applications, thus improving the user
experience with such applications.
Alternative Application Delivery Models
PCs are flexible and powerful tools; however, many organizations
are reevaluating their traditional PC architectures, looking for ways
to reduce the security risks and management complexity
associated with Windows PCs and applications. Server-based
computing is a mature alternative to traditional methods of
installing and managing Windows applications. Server-based
application delivery can deliver significant advantages in terms of
ease of management, added security and low total cost of
ownership when it is targeted at the right users.
are reevaluating their traditional PC architectures, looking for ways
to reduce the security risks and management complexity
associated with Windows PCs and applications. Server-based
computing is a mature alternative to traditional methods of
installing and managing Windows applications. Server-based
application delivery can deliver significant advantages in terms of
ease of management, added security and low total cost of
ownership when it is targeted at the right users.
In some circumstances, however, server-based computing may not
be a suitable way of delivering applications - not all applications
are designed to work in a server-based environment. Application
virtualization and application streaming complement Citrix's
Presentation Server by addressing some of these limitations. In the
context of a server-based computing deployment, they enable
organizations to deliver Windows applications to users that need to
work offline, while helping to retain central control. They are also an
alternative way of delivering applications that do not perform well in
a server-based delivery environment.
be a suitable way of delivering applications - not all applications
are designed to work in a server-based environment. Application
virtualization and application streaming complement Citrix's
Presentation Server by addressing some of these limitations. In the
context of a server-based computing deployment, they enable
organizations to deliver Windows applications to users that need to
work offline, while helping to retain central control. They are also an
alternative way of delivering applications that do not perform well in
a server-based delivery environment.
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does not provide legal advice or services and its research should not be construed or used as such. Gartner shall have no liability for errors, omissions or
inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.
forbidden. The information contained herein has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. Gartner disclaims all warranties as to the accuracy,
completeness or adequacy of such information. Although Gartner’s research may discuss legal issues related to the information technology business, Gartner
does not provide legal advice or services and its research should not be construed or used as such. Gartner shall have no liability for errors, omissions or
inadequacies in the information contained herein or for interpretations thereof. The opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice.