Citrix Virtual Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) is a desktop virtualization product.
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. [1] [2] Pratt founded a company called XenSource in 2004, which made a commercial version of the Xen hypervisor. [2] In 2007, Citrix acquired XenSource, releasing XenDesktop version 2.0 in 2008. [3] [4] 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. [5] [6]
In 2018, the software was renamed Citrix Virtual Desktops. [7]
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. [8] 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. [9] Citrix developed the software for use by medium to large enterprise customers. [10] [11]
Citrix Workspace is able to manage and deliver applications and desktops using a connection broker called Desktop Delivery Controller. [11] [12] It supports multiple hypervisors, including Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V and Nutanix Acropolis to create virtual machines to run the applications and desktops. [11] 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. [8] [13] [6] [11] Virtualized applications can be delivered to virtual desktops using Virtual Apps. [10]
Citrix Virtual Desktops (formerly XenDesktop) is a desktop virtualization product.
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. [1] [2] Pratt founded a company called XenSource in 2004, which made a commercial version of the Xen hypervisor. [2] In 2007, Citrix acquired XenSource, releasing XenDesktop version 2.0 in 2008. [3] [4] 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. [5] [6]
In 2018, the software was renamed Citrix Virtual Desktops. [7]
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. [8] 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. [9] Citrix developed the software for use by medium to large enterprise customers. [10] [11]
Citrix Workspace is able to manage and deliver applications and desktops using a connection broker called Desktop Delivery Controller. [11] [12] It supports multiple hypervisors, including Citrix Hypervisor, VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V and Nutanix Acropolis to create virtual machines to run the applications and desktops. [11] 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. [8] [13] [6] [11] Virtualized applications can be delivered to virtual desktops using Virtual Apps. [10]