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We are always picking sides, our favorites! Today there is a growing debate on where application virtualizationshould be performed, 'client side' or 'server side'. The concept of separating the application from the underlining OS can be done on the client (Desktop/laptop) and on the server.
Many references to application virtualization (http://virtualfuture.info/2008/06/virtualfuture-appchart/) are usually about client side application virtualization. Products like SoftGrid, ThinApp, InstallFree and XenApp application streaming (the application virtualization feature within XenApp) are mainly referring to the client side of virtualization. All these products do a great job of server side virtualization also. In many XenApp installations customers are using server slide application virtualization to improve the return on their XenApp investment. From what I've seen there are more server side implementations of application virtualization, now the idea of client side application virtualization is getting into the spotlight.
There seems to be a debate brewing as to which is the best way to go - client side or server side? Do you run the traditional server based model of computing and delivery apps to users from the server or is it better to deliver and run the apps as close as possible to the user on their PC? The good news is that application virtualization is applicable to both client and server side, so at the end of the day as long as you are looking at virtualization your applications you are heading in the right direction. Can you get the best of both world? The ideal scenario would be to prepare your applications for virtualization once and then decide later as to where would be the best place to execute the application, client side or server side. Even better would be a system that can decide based on policy, users connectivity or application usage controls where to vertualize, at the client or the server. The ultimate would be a system that can change where the application is virtualized and executed, based on the above scenarios - so in one instance you run your application on the client, and then, say, when you're, outside the corporate firewall, you would run the same application from the server. Of course you want to only use one instance of the virtualized application in both cases.
XenApp is an application delivery system that uses both client side and server side application virtualization to deliver applications in the most optimal way depending on policy. The application hub within XenApp stores the profiled applications and delivers the same application to the client or the server. Anytime the application is modified or needs to be updated, you only need to make the changes to the profile in the application hub and the virtualized application on the client and/or server is updated automatically. You can profile and store all your Windows applications in the application hub. Additionally XenApp works with Microsoft 'SoftGrid' application virtualization and other application virtualization technologies. XenApp is the overall delivery system for all windows applications. For example if you are using SoftGrid as your application virtualization technology that's fine, the XenApp delivery system still works in the exactly the same way, even more you can mix both SoftGrid and XenApp virtualized applications within the XenApp application delivery system. So if there is a specific feature within application virtualization you need, or you have already bought an application virtualization technology or you prefer a specific application virtualization vendor; you can use a specific application virtualization technology within the XenApp application delivery system.
The next version of XenApp which will also be on the Windows Server 2008 platform will provide even more features to enable application virtualization with XenApp. You should be using both sides of application virtualization; enabling all your Windows applications for all your users. You no longer need to decide which application virtualization side you are on, you can be on both sides, delivery the best of all worlds.
Are you working on both sides?
Comments (8)
Jun 30, 2008
Anonymous says:
Hi Nabeel, we've different installations. The big part is server side (with Xen...Hi Nabeel,
we've different installations. The big part is server side (with XenApp). Unfortunately you have more standard in your company if you use one product (e.g. you can use one package for client and Terminal server), and there comes the big part - it's Microsoft App-V which is truly on top of client-side virtualization. But as you already stated, you can choose what you want. With XenApp you can integrate every solution of client- or server-side application virtualization.
Reinhard
Jun 30, 2008
Nabeel Youakim says:
Reinhard, How many applications are you delivering in total? how many with XenA...Reinhard,
How many applications are you delivering in total? how many with XenApp specifically and how many with App-V?
Thanks,
Nabeel
Jun 30, 2008
Anonymous says:
Nabeel, a) XenApp + Streaming SS (server side): ~ 30 b) XenApp + App-V SS: ~ 6...Nabeel,
a) XenApp + Streaming SS (server side): ~ 30
b) XenApp + App-V SS: ~ 60
c) App-V CS: ~ 100
Clients, Desktop + Terminal Server ~ 5000
Reinhard
Jul 01, 2008
Anonymous says:
hi nabeel, for AUTOCAD REVIT application could we have the application vi...hi nabeel,
for AUTOCAD REVIT application could we have the application virtualised on the client side utilising power of higher end work stations and the data virtualised on the server end with network licence monitored on the server to ensure concurrent user licensing.
Jul 02, 2008
Nabeel Youakim says:
I will ge someone to give more details on AUTOCAD REVIT. Citrix and AutoDesk hav...I will ge someone to give more details on AUTOCAD REVIT. Citrix and AutoDesk have a strong relationship http://www.citrixandautodesk.com/ and we will continue to develop it. Please give us more details on the usage senarios you are looking at. You should be able to run REVIT as a streamed (Virtualized) app on a highend Windows work station if it runs today on a Windows workstation, I am not familiar with REVIT, obviously the data can reside on the sever if again the app allows it. As to licensing that is dependent on how it works today XenApp does not change anything with regard to the app licensing model.
Thanks
Nabeel
Sep 03, 2008
Anonymous says:
Is there a competitive summary that compares the features of Citrix Application ...Is there a competitive summary that compares the features of Citrix Application Virtualization with other products such as VMWare's ThinApp?
Mar 26, 2009
klark ooi says:
Yes, I am also very keen to know more about the different of features between Xe...Yes, I am also very keen to know more about the different of features between XenApp and VMware's ThinApp. Believe Apps virtualization is always a Citrix's strength. And how effective XenApp to be integrated into the XenServer. Thanks.
Mar 27, 2009
Nabeel Youakim says:
XenApp on XenServer is a powerful combination, so powerful that Citrix now inclu...XenApp on XenServer is a powerful combination, so powerful that Citrix now includes XenServer with all editions of XenApp, so its fully supported for all customers that have SA. Performance has been a focus for Citrix as we have been able to tune XenServer and XenApp working together to provide the best possible environment. There have been a number of blogs already written on this.
On the comparison of XenApp with other products. I would refer you to the recent blog by Michael Harris
http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/michaelha/2009/03/25/A+Hype-free+HDX+Whiteboard
In this blog Michael explains HDX, which is a key differentiator. XenApp has over 100 million users, and over the years Citrix has enhanced XenApp to be the best available with a strong focus on user experience (this is what HDX is all about), and providing the best feature set to provide the lowest cost environment for application delivery, delivery all applications as a service.
XenApp provide both hosted (running on a server) and streamed (running on a PC) forms of application virtualization, no other product can do this. XenApp selects the best app virtualization method for the user, ensuring the use can get their applications in any circumstance.
Bottom line, there is no other product that compares to the feature set, any size customer will get benefits from XenApp's complete focus on application delivery.
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