What was Citrix XenApp Advanced Edition?

Written by Jas Singh in citrix

Citrix XenApp Advanced Edition was a powerful solution designed to deliver virtualized applications and desktops to users securely from a centralized server. It provided users with the ability to access applications and desktops from various devices, such as desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones, ensuring flexible and scalable access to resources, regardless of the user’s location.

Key Features of XenApp Advanced Edition

1. Application Publishing

  • Applications installed on a XenApp server could be securely delivered (published) to users. This allowed users to connect from multiple devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones, and use the applications as if they were installed locally.

2. Browser Selection

  • IT departments could select the most suitable web browser for each web or SaaS application, ensuring secure and optimized delivery to the end-user’s device.

3. XenApp Published Desktops

  • Users could access the desktop of a XenApp server, allowing them to work as though they were on a local desktop. The desktop was securely published and remotely accessed, giving users a seamless desktop experience.

4. HDX™ (High Definition eXperience)

  • HDX technology improved the graphical experience by optimizing the use of peripherals and delivering enhanced graphics performance, even over high-latency networks. This ensured that users had a high-quality experience regardless of their network conditions.

5. Citrix X1 Mouse

  • Users on Apple iPads and iPhones could use a mouse with Windows applications and desktops accessed through Citrix Receiver, providing a more desktop-like experience on mobile devices.

6. HDX 3D Pro

  • Remote workers could securely and efficiently use graphically intensive 3D applications through HDX 3D Pro technology, ideal for industries requiring high-performance graphics.

7. HDX Virtual Display Technologies

  • Framehawk and Thinwire technologies enhanced visual performance over low bandwidth and high latency networks, improving the user experience, especially in wireless and remote environments.

8. HDX User Experience Templates

  • Policy templates allowed administrators to fine-tune the user environment, especially regarding graphics performance, ensuring that users had the best possible experience across various devices.

9. XenServer vGPU

  • For intensive graphics needs, XenServer’s video card sharing (vGPU) technology allowed the use of NVIDIA drivers to improve the virtual application and desktop experience, making it possible to run applications that require significant graphical processing.

10. Any Device Access

  • A multitude of Citrix clients were available for desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones, allowing these devices to connect to XenApp and XenDesktop and access published applications and desktops.

11. Pre-Launch Technology

  • Published applications could be set to pre-launch, meaning they were launched automatically in the background when the user connected, making applications available almost instantaneously.

12. Session Linger

  • When a user closed an application, the session could remain active for a period, allowing the application to relaunch quickly if needed, without requiring the user to log in again.

13. Anonymous Logon

  • Users could be provisioned to log in without authentication using the anonymous logon feature, simplifying access for certain environments.

14. WAN Optimization

  • Citrix HDX technology detected available bandwidth and latency to adjust communication between XenApp and XenDesktop, optimizing the user experience across different network conditions.

15. Enterprise App Store

  • StoreFront provided a self-service portal where users could select the applications and desktops they were authorized to use, simplifying access management.

16. Clientless HTML5 Receiver

  • Users could connect using devices with HTML5-compatible browsers, eliminating the need to install the full Citrix Receiver client.

17. Universal Printing Services

  • Universal Printing Services (UPS) provided optimized printing performance without requiring specific printer drivers on XenApp or XenDesktop systems.

18. 16, 32, and 64-bit Application Support

  • 16-bit and 32-bit applications could be deployed using desktop operating systems, while 64-bit applications could be deployed using server operating systems like Windows Server 2012.

19. FIPS Compliance

  • Compliance with US Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) ensured that the system met strict security requirements for cryptographic processing.

20. Centralized Security

  • Applications remained securely installed in data centers, with user interaction managed through Citrix clients. This minimized security risks by keeping applications off end-user devices.

21. High Security

  • By delivering desktops and applications through XenApp and XenDesktop, the exposure of the corporate network was reduced, as only screen updates were sent across connections in response to user interactions.

22. Two-Factor Authentication

  • NetScaler provided two-factor authentication (2FA), requiring users to enter a username, password, and a shared secret (e.g., Symantec 2FA, RSA SecurID) for added security.

23. Accelerated Logon for Smart Card Users

  • Smart Card Users benefited from faster access to applications through improved logon times.

24. ICA Proxy

  • By using NetScaler’s ICA Proxy service, users could securely connect to XenApp and XenDesktop without setting up a full VPN.

25. Microsoft App-V Integration

  • Citrix Studio could manage Microsoft App-V packages, enabling seamless application streaming to virtual desktops and XenApp servers.

26. Integrated Profile Management

  • The User Profile Manager (UPM) could virtualize active sessions in XenApp and XenDesktop, leading to faster logons and logoffs, while optimizing profile sizes.

27. Machine Creation Services (MCS)

  • MCS allowed the automated creation of virtual machines from master images, speeding up the deployment of desktops and applications.

28. NetScaler Load Balancing

  • NetScaler could optionally be used to load balance components in a XenDesktop or XenApp system, ensuring higher availability by redirecting users to functioning components in the event of failures.

29. Citrix LifeCycle Management – Deploy Edition

  • This feature allowed the automated deployment of XenApp and XenDesktop infrastructure and workloads, using Citrix-verified blueprints.

30. Simplified Operations

  • EdgeSight provided powerful monitoring capabilities for trend analysis, reports, and alerts, simplifying operational management.

Conclusion

Citrix XenApp Advanced Edition provided an extensive array of features to ensure the secure, scalable, and optimized delivery of applications and desktops. By integrating advanced HDX technologies, centralized security, high availability, and automation, XenApp Advanced Edition was well-suited for organizations seeking to deliver high-performance, flexible access to resources across diverse devices and environments. Its additional focus on browser selection, two-factor authentication, and enterprise scalability made it an ideal solution for enterprises looking to streamline IT operations while ensuring high availability and security.

Recent Posts