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Version 11 by desktop2020 blog
on Jul 01, 2009 10:17.

<< Changes from 10 to 11
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Current by desktop2020 blog
on Jul 01, 2009 10:20.

 
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 We always make a pretty big deal of [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] being an open [desktop virtualization solution|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop]. &nbsp;Particularly on the subject of hypervisor support, [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] treats the 3 big vendors equally (Microsoft, VMware, plus our own XenServer).&nbsp; But, just like in life, some are more equal than others\!&nbsp; Just using your existing production server virtualization infrastructure can unnecessarily drive up the cost and complexity of your&nbsp;[XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] deployment. The point is that Citrix has made a commitment to leverage XenServer and Citrix Essentials to the n{^}th^ degree to make it the best platform for [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop].&nbsp; That is besides the obvious fact that Citrix Essentials for XenServer is built into XenDesktop (so that makes it free, as in free beer). See more on [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop]&nbsp;editions at: [http://www.citrix.com/English/ps2/products/subfeature.asp?contentID=1685000]&nbsp;
  
 So it is pretty important that [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] users consider the benefits of Citrix Essentials 5.5 and XenServer 5.5 which are now available for download. [XenDesktop 3|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] has been tested on XenServer 5.5 and is fully compatible and supported by Citrix. &nbsp;And if you are already using XenServer 5, just click on the "check for updates" link.&nbsp; A download is available on [http://www.citrix.com/lang/English/lp/lp_1688615.asp].&nbsp;
  
 Here are some key benefits of XenServer which establishes it as the obvious choice for a XenDesktop deployment:
  Here are some key benefits of XenServer which establishes it as the obvious choice for a [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] deployment:
 || *Best Bets for VDI Hypervisor Infrastructure* \\ || *XenDesktop on VMW ESX*&nbsp; \\ || *XenDesktop on XenServer/ Essentials 5.5* \\ ||
 | Open Architecture | Limited integration with storage vendors. \\ | Full integration with any third party storage vendor. \\ |
 | Single Vendor Solution | Multiple vendors \\ | One "throat to choke" for virtual desktop troubleshooting and support. \\ |
 | Easy Management | Complex support \\ | Elegant design requiring minimal patching and updates. \\ |
 | Low Cost | Expensive ESX licenses needed \\ | XenServer included in XenDesktop license. \\ |
 The StorageLink™ technology in Citrix Essentials ensures that XenServer is certified to work seamlessly with virtually every third-party storage infrastructure, array and backup system on the market today. The 5.5 release also adds the ability to fast clone and provision virtual machines, simplifying volume [virtual desktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] deployment. Watch a video covering these and other technologies on our blog: [http://community.citrix.com/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=71237761]
  
 For more details, please refer to [http://www.citrix.com/essentialsxenserver]&nbsp;
  
 When using [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] on XenServer, Citrix is there to support the entire solution.&nbsp; In a mixed [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] + VMware solution, troubleshooting and support will often be more costly and complex.&nbsp;
  
 XenServer is better integrated into [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] than ESX, making for a better overall management experience for IT.&nbsp; ESX introduces unneeded complexity to a desktop virtualization solution. XenServer will require less patching and maintenance due to a simpler and more elegant design.&nbsp; For example, in the past 2 years since its release, XenServer 4.0 has required just 5 patches ([link|http://support.citrix.com/product/xens/v4.0/hotfix/general/]).&nbsp; By comparison, in the 18 months since its release, VMware has issued 200\+ patches ([link|http://support.vmware.com/selfsupport/download/]) and updates for ESX 3.5.&nbsp; Many VMware users were also bitten by the high-profile Update 2 bug last August ([link|http://blogs.vmware.com/console/2008/08/letter-from-vmw.html]).&nbsp;
  
And, just to remind you once again, Citrix Essentials for XenServer is included in every XenDesktop license. &nbsp;
  And, just to remind you once again, Citrix Essentials for XenServer is included in every [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] license. &nbsp;
 \\
 || {color:black}{*}XenServer 5{*}{color}\\ {color:black}*(as part of XenDesktop Enterprise Edition)*{color} \\ || || {color:black}{*}VMware vSphere 4.0 - 20 Servers{*}{color} || ||
 | {color:black}Capabilities:{color} {color:black}Multi-server management, resource pools, XenMotion, HA, workload balancing{color} | \\ | {color:black}Capabilities:{color} {color:black}Multi-server management, resource pools, vMotion, HA, DRS{color} | \\ |
 | {color:black}20x Citrix XenServer{color} | {color:black}Included{color} | {color:black}vCenter Server + 3 Year Gold Support{color} | {color:black}$7,670{color} |
 | {color:black}20x Essentials for XenServer, Enterprise{color} | {color:black}Included{color} | {color:black}vCenter Server Heartbeat, 3 Yr Gold Support{color} | {color:black}$15,347{color} |
 | {color:black}1 Year support contract{color} | {color:black}$1,500{color} | {color:black}vSphere Enterprise, 3 Yr Gold Support :{color} \\ {color:black}(40 processors){color} | {color:black}$176,608{color} |
 | {color:black}{*}Total 3-year cost{*}{color} | {color:black}*$4,500{*}{color} | {color:black}{*}Total 3-year cost{*}{color} | {color:black}*$199,625{*}{color} |
 Now that I have convinced you to give XenServer 5.5 a try, I should mention how easy it is to move your desktop VMs over.&nbsp; XenServer's Enhanced Conversion Tools make it a breeze to convert virtual machines created in the VMDK format (commonly used by VMware) into the VHD format. The new XenConvert tools also make it easy to seamlessly convert between any of the common open virtualization format packages, including OVF (open virtualization format), OVA (open virtual appliance) and XVA (XenServer virtual appliance). For more details, have a look at: [http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/richcr/2009/06/23/Citrix+XenConvert+2.0.1+Released%21]&nbsp;
  
 The bottom line is that there is really no reason not to give XenServer a try for virtual desktops.&nbsp; It has always been provided as part of XenDesktop and, now, the new features of XenServer 5.5 and Citrix Essentials 5.5 are compelling reasons to choose it for any virtual desktop deployment.
  The bottom line is that there is really no reason not to give XenServer a try for [virtual desktops|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop].&nbsp; It has always been provided as part of [XenDesktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] and, now, the new features of XenServer 5.5 and Citrix Essentials 5.5 are compelling reasons to choose it for any [virtual desktop|http://www.citrix.com/xendesktop] deployment.