Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 Enterprise Edition MG2CPSE0001 User Manual
Product codes
MG2CPSE0001
3
Similarly, both implementations of desktop brokers (blade PCs and
virtual desktops from servers) represent alternative ways of
delivering applications and desktops to remote users. Compared
with server-based computing, blade PCs and virtual desktops can
be configured to enable users to have more control over their
desktops and to customize them. Blade PCs will also deliver more
performance to power users. However, the biggest disadvantage
is that the IT organization will still have to manage multiple images.
virtual desktops from servers) represent alternative ways of
delivering applications and desktops to remote users. Compared
with server-based computing, blade PCs and virtual desktops can
be configured to enable users to have more control over their
desktops and to customize them. Blade PCs will also deliver more
performance to power users. However, the biggest disadvantage
is that the IT organization will still have to manage multiple images.
Few organizations are able to respond to users' needs by
adopting a single client architecture and one application delivery
model for all their users. Therefore, organizations are encouraged
to evaluate mature and emerging application delivery mechanisms.
adopting a single client architecture and one application delivery
model for all their users. Therefore, organizations are encouraged
to evaluate mature and emerging application delivery mechanisms.
Product Strategy
Presentation Server 4.5 is available in three editions: Advanced,
Enterprise and Platinum. Advanced Edition includes all the server-
based computing feature sets; Enterprise Edition also includes
application virtualization, application streaming, the Application
Hub and the Health Assistant tool. On top of these features, the
Platinum Edition includes Application Performance Monitoring,
Smart Access and Single Sign-on.
Enterprise and Platinum. Advanced Edition includes all the server-
based computing feature sets; Enterprise Edition also includes
application virtualization, application streaming, the Application
Hub and the Health Assistant tool. On top of these features, the
Platinum Edition includes Application Performance Monitoring,
Smart Access and Single Sign-on.
Licenses for Advanced Edition are priced at $350 per concurrent
users; $450 for Enterprise Edition; and $600 for Platinum Edition.
These are list prices, without volume discounts. Pricing for all
licenses includes one year of Subscription Advantage, which
entitles users to any product updates, including major and minor
releases, released during the membership period. Select features,
such as application streaming, Single Sign-on, Performance
Monitoring and Universal SSL VPN, can be licensed as add-ons
for additional users.
users; $450 for Enterprise Edition; and $600 for Platinum Edition.
These are list prices, without volume discounts. Pricing for all
licenses includes one year of Subscription Advantage, which
entitles users to any product updates, including major and minor
releases, released during the membership period. Select features,
such as application streaming, Single Sign-on, Performance
Monitoring and Universal SSL VPN, can be licensed as add-ons
for additional users.
In a Windows-server-based computing environment, it is important
to evaluate all the licensing components required. Typically these
include:
to evaluate all the licensing components required. Typically these
include:
•
Windows Server OS
•
Windows Server Client Access Licenses (CALs; per user, per
device or per server mode)
device or per server mode)
•
Terminal Services (TS) CALs (per user or per device)
•
Citrix Presentation Server (per concurrent users) licenses
•
Licenses for applications
•
Other management tools
Strengths
•
Presentation Server offers a strong set of server-based
computing features and scalability for large, complex
deployments.
computing features and scalability for large, complex
deployments.
•
Citrix's ICA display protocol supports a variety of client devices.
•
Alongside its server-based computing features, Presentation
Server 4.5 offers the flexibility of delivering Windows
applications in other ways: through application streaming,
virtual hosted desktops or blade PCs. Integration of these
application delivery models into one single offering is the main
differentiator.
Server 4.5 offers the flexibility of delivering Windows
applications in other ways: through application streaming,
virtual hosted desktops or blade PCs. Integration of these
application delivery models into one single offering is the main
differentiator.
•
Application virtualization and streaming can be used for users
that are not permanently connected to the network.
that are not permanently connected to the network.
Challenges
•
The introduction of application virtualization and application
streaming technologies to version 4.5 of Presentation Server
means the products are effectively competing with Microsoft's
SoftGrid product on these features.
streaming technologies to version 4.5 of Presentation Server
means the products are effectively competing with Microsoft's
SoftGrid product on these features.
•
Application streaming and application virtualization are not
available as stand-alone products.
available as stand-alone products.
•
The packaging and sequencing process requires IT staff to
become familiar with it.
become familiar with it.
•
Some application management features must be preconfigured
when packaging applications - for example, to enable the
"check out" feature of application streaming. A post-packaging
configuration option is more practical.
when packaging applications - for example, to enable the
"check out" feature of application streaming. A post-packaging
configuration option is more practical.
•
The desktop broker feature can't yet take full advantage of the
ICA protocol.
ICA protocol.
•
Presentation Server 4.5 requires the use of two management
consoles: Citrix Management Console and Access
Management Console.
consoles: Citrix Management Console and Access
Management Console.
Competitive Analysis
In 2005, about 90% of server-based computing software licenses
sold were Windows-based, and almost 60% of new server-based
computing licenses purchased were Citrix Presentation Server
running on the Windows TS (WTS) platform. Because Presentation
Server runs on the WTS platform, it requires users to license
Presentation Server and TS, meaning Microsoft makes license
revenue every time Presentation Server is sold. As a result of this
business model, Citrix and Microsoft are not in direct competition
in the server-based computing market. However, by adding
application streaming and desktop broker to Presentation Server
4.5, Citrix enters new markets and faces new competition.
sold were Windows-based, and almost 60% of new server-based
computing licenses purchased were Citrix Presentation Server
running on the Windows TS (WTS) platform. Because Presentation
Server runs on the WTS platform, it requires users to license
Presentation Server and TS, meaning Microsoft makes license
revenue every time Presentation Server is sold. As a result of this
business model, Citrix and Microsoft are not in direct competition
in the server-based computing market. However, by adding
application streaming and desktop broker to Presentation Server
4.5, Citrix enters new markets and faces new competition.
Many vendors have launched application virtualization and
streaming products as stand-alone or alternative products (or,
rather, complements) to established packaging and software
distribution products. The main player is Microsoft, through its
acquisition of Softricity. Softricity's product, SoftGrid, combines
application virtualization and application streaming functionalities. It
also integrates with Microsoft System Center, WTS and Citrix
Presentation Server.
streaming products as stand-alone or alternative products (or,
rather, complements) to established packaging and software
distribution products. The main player is Microsoft, through its
acquisition of Softricity. Softricity's product, SoftGrid, combines
application virtualization and application streaming functionalities. It
also integrates with Microsoft System Center, WTS and Citrix
Presentation Server.
Many players are also entering the virtual desktop space. VMware
is the pioneer in this market and, following its acquisition of
Propero, is able to combine its server virtualization product, ESX,
with Propero's brokering software to offer a complete virtual,
hosted-desktop solution.
is the pioneer in this market and, following its acquisition of
Propero, is able to combine its server virtualization product, ESX,
with Propero's brokering software to offer a complete virtual,
hosted-desktop solution.
Consider This Product When
•
Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 can be used to deliver Windows
applications in several ways; however, its core focus remains
server-based computing. For this reason, it should be
considered when server-based computing is a suitable
environment for the best part of users and applications in use.
Application streaming and desktop broker features enhance the
scope of Presentation Server by accommodating the
requirements of a broader set of users.
applications in several ways; however, its core focus remains
server-based computing. For this reason, it should be
considered when server-based computing is a suitable
environment for the best part of users and applications in use.
Application streaming and desktop broker features enhance the
scope of Presentation Server by accommodating the
requirements of a broader set of users.