Citrix XenClient White Paper Citrix XenClient Extending the benefits of desktop virtualization to mobile laptop users www.citrix.com
Executive summary Desktop virtualization is attractive to organizations of all types and sizes worldwide because of its many compelling benefits. Delivering desktops as a service accelerates their deployment and significantly reduces operating costs while simultaneously strengthening data security and enhancing IT responsiveness to rapidly changing business conditions. One issue that arises, however, is the gap in coverage that exists for mobile laptop users, particularly those who need to continue working even when disconnected from the network. With the introduction of Citrix XenClient, this gap no longer exists. XenClient, an innovative, client-side alternative for delivering virtual desktops, allows IT to extend the benefits of desktop virtualization to laptop users whether or not online. Support for multiple virtual machines, robust synchronization capabilities and a centralized delivery model also mean that users get the flexibility they want including the ability to install personal applications and data, and IT gets the control, security and administrative efficiency it needs. Desktop virtualization and the mobile user Desktop virtualization is becoming the new standard Enterprise adoption of desktop virtualization is booming, and with good reason. Traditional desktops are typically an inflexible combination of operating systems, applications, user settings and data hard coded to a specific device. A change to one element means changes to other, if not all other elements. With desktop virtualization, the elements of computing are separated from each other and the underlying hardware, IT can centrally manage and maintain them in the datacenter, a change made to one does not affect any of the others, and desktops can be assembled on demand and delivered in the best way to meet the needs of each user. A mature desktop virtualization solution, such as Citrix XenDesktop, can: Sustainably reduce desktop infrastructure and operating costs Implement desktops, applications, updates and patches centrally and apply them instantly to all virtual desktop users regardless of location Support, optimize and extend the service life of all types of devices, new and old Enable complete workplace flexibility, and workforce continuity in the event of a disaster or disruption Improve security and facilitate compliance by keeping desktops, applications and data in the datacenter, and by protecting and isolating them when they leave the datacenter 2
Citrix XenClient White Paper Increase IT and business agility by rapidly and efficiently providing support for new users, applications, devices and technologies, as well as strategic initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions, branch or geographic expansion, and dynamic partnership arrangements Simplify and accelerate the migration to a new operating system, such as Windows 7 User mobility is also on the rise User mobility is another long-standing trend with considerable momentum. A Gartner survey found that mobile technologies is the sixth highest technology priority for 2010 1. Analyst projections predict that by 2014, 72 percent of endpoint systems sold will be laptops 2. A related trend is towards broad and comprehensive use of teleworking. Task workers and others traditionally tied to a fixed location expect the flexibility to work on the move, whether to use a laptop in a meeting room, work from home or make better use of their daily commute. Corresponding business drivers and benefits of user mobility include increased personal contact with prospects and customers, better resiliency in the event of a disaster or workforce disruption, and higher levels of employee productivity, morale and retention. The challenge Adapting to these trends individually is manageable, if difficult. The real challenge is to be able to provide the benefits of desktop virtualization to the rapidly growing number of mobile laptop users when they are offline. XenClient Delivering desktop virtualization to mobile users Citrix XenClient Citrix XenClient allows laptop users to fully leverage desktop virtualization whether they are online or offline. In combination with Citrix Receiver for XenClient and Synchronizer for XenClient, XenClient enables Local VM Desktops virtual machines running on remote endpoints, typically laptops, that can execute centrally compiled desktop images delivered from the datacenter. This additional option for delivering virtual desktops is completely complementary to the other methods already supported by XenDesktop, and provides an ideal solution for users who need to work from anywhere, with or without connectivity to the datacenter. Built from the same technology as the Citrix XenServer server virtualization solution and designed specifically to take advantage of Intel vpro hardware, XenClient is a bare-metal hypervisor that enables multiple virtual machines to run side by side on a single client device. 1 Press Release, Gartner EXP Worldwide Survey, January 19, 2010 2 Gartner Forecast PC s Worldwide and North America 3Q 09 Update, October 2009 3
A bare-metal hypervisor XenClient is a true Type 1 hypervisor: it has only a thin layer between the workloads in this case, different desktop environments and the underlying hardware. Workloads are completely isolated and operate independently from one another, ensuring the highest levels of performance, stability and security. In comparison, Type 2 technology requires a full-blown host operating system, which introduces another layer of processing susceptible to attacks and failures, and allows the issues of one environment to negatively impact all other environments running on the same device. Built on XenServer technology XenClient is derived from proven, enterprise-class technology with an extensive track record of success. Enabling multiple virtual machines Unlike other client-side desktop virtualization options, XenClient enables multiple desktop environments to operate side by side on the same device. IT managers can deliver a locked-down corporate environment that runs in one virtual machine at the same time that a second one runs personal applications and data, and give users the administrative rights necessary to download new applications as desired. Complete isolation between each environment ensures that corporate security policies are not compromised, and provides protection for environments controlled by IT from those that are not. Support for Intel vpro hardware XenClient takes advantage of Intel Virtualization Technology, the hardware support for virtualization included in Intel vpro Processor technology, which allows a lighter-weight hypervisor than would otherwise be possible, and significantly enhances performance, particularly for graphics-intense applications. The result is a robust, highly capable version of the core component needed to enable Local VM Desktops, namely, an enterprise-class, client-side hypervisor. Citrix Receiver and Synchronizer for XenClient Working in tandem, Citrix Receiver for XenClient and Synchronizer for XenClient complete the Local VM Desktop solution. Located in the client device and in the datacenter, respectively, they enable the following: Creation of a secure, bi-directional tunnel for all management communications Use of individual, master desktop images to support large populations of users operating with a wide variety of client devices Centralized definition and implementation of security and backup policies for all managed devices Self-service download of preconfigured desktops and virtual machines Self-service creation of new, local desktops and virtual machines (as permitted by central policies) Automatic backup of local desktop environments to a centralized store in accordance with administrator-defined policies and periodicities 4
Citrix XenClient White Paper Self-service recovery of backed-up desktops in the event of the theft, loss or failure of a client device Remote disablement of local desktops and virtual machines the next time a lost or stolen endpoint connects to the Internet XenClient Enterprise-wide benefits Along with XenClient, Citrix Receiver for XenClient and Synchronizer for XenClient is a complete enterprise-class solution for delivering Local VM Desktops that provides benefits to IT and to users. IT gets what it needs With XenClient, IT has centralized control and can: Deliver locked-down corporate desktops, secure corporate data and minimize issues caused by user changes, and yet allow the use of personal applications and helpful utilities Isolate business applications from personal ones, thereby providing the protection and performance required Enforce lease policies that can be used to expire managed desktop environments if they are not synchronized within a certain timeframe Apply data movement restrictions that prevent users from copying data to USB and optical drives Efficiently implement a backup and recovery solution for mobile laptop users Safeguard corporate data on lost or stolen laptops via a remote kill capability Rapidly support important business initiatives that involve mobile and distributed users, such as mergers and acquisitions, geographic expansion and various types of contractor and partnership arrangements Users get what they want For users, it s all about freedom and flexibility. With XenClient they can: Work anywhere, online or offline Readily install personal applications and data on their corporateprovisioned devices, and also personal tools and utilities that help them get their work done Seamlessly switch between business and personal environments, saving time and, ultimately, improving productivity Avoid having to use, carry and maintain multiple devices to meet all of their computing needs 5
In addition, users are assured of a high-definition experience based on the presence of features such as support for full Windows Aero capabilities and the ability to accelerate graphics and video when using Intel vpro devices. The net result is an ideal solution for IT that delivers the rock-solid reliability and robust security required to meet the needs of the business, and provides unmatched flexibility for users. Representative use cases By enabling secure, side-by-side operation of multiple desktops on a single client device, XenClient-enabled Local VM Desktops can be used: By IT to provide any user with the ability to run multiple desktop environments on a single, corporate-owned device By IT to extend the benefits of desktop virtualization to mobile laptop users For development and test personnel and scenarios, where multiple separate systems would otherwise be required XenClient Delivering virtual desktops to go XenClient and its associated components, Citrix Receiver and Synchronizer for XenClient, close the critical gap in desktop virtualization strategy support for users that need to be able to work from anywhere, at anytime whether connected or not by enabling Local VM Desktops, a complementary addition to the other desktop virtualization options already supported by Citrix XenDesktop. With XenClient and Local VM Desktops, IT can configure and control a locked-down corporate environment that remains completely isolated from any other virtual machines running on a user s laptop. At the same time, users can operate anywhere even when they are disconnected from the network and also install and use personal applications without having to carry multiple devices. The net result is a win-win-win situation where users get the flexibility they want, IT gets the control it needs, and the business becomes more agile and competitive by extending the benefits of desktop virtualization to a rapidly expanding and strategically important group of users. To experience the benefits of XenClient in your organization, download the free trial software at www.citrix.com/xenclient/tryit For sales engineers who need to perform complex, multi-machine demonstrations For systems administrators who require multiple systems running in isolation or with different security contexts 6
Worldwide Headquarters Citrix Systems, Inc. 851 West Cypress Creek Road Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, USA T +1 800 393 1888 T +1 954 267 3000 Americas Citrix Silicon Valley 4988 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054, USA T +1 408 790 8000 Europe Citrix Systems International GmbH Rheinweg 9 8200 Schaffhausen, Switzerland T +41 52 635 7700 Asia Pacific Citrix Systems Hong Kong Ltd. Suite 6301-10, 63rd Floor One Island East 18 Westland Road Island East, Hong Kong, China T +852 2100 5000 Citrix Online Division 6500 Hollister Avenue Goleta, CA 93117, USA T +1 805 690 6400 www.citrix.com About Citrix Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is a leading provider of virtual computing solutions that help companies deliver IT as an on-demand service. Founded in 1989, Citrix combines virtualization, networking, and cloud computing technologies into a full portfolio of products that enable virtual workstyles for users and virtual datacenters for IT. More than 230,000 organizations worldwide rely on Citrix to help them build simpler and more cost-effective IT environments. Citrix partners with over 10,000 companies in more than 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2009 was $1.61 billion. 2010 Citrix Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Citrix, XenClient, XenDesktop, XenServer and Citrix Receiver are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other trademarks and registered trademarks are property of their respective owners. 0610/PDF