What was Citrix XenApp Enterprise Edition?

Written by Jas Singh in citrix

Citrix XenApp Enterprise Edition was a robust solution that provided additional features on top of the XenApp Advanced Edition, designed to deliver high-performance application virtualization. It catered to the growing needs of organizations for flexibility, scalability, and enhanced management, offering a more advanced set of tools for virtual desktop and application delivery. The Enterprise Edition enabled organizations to deploy and manage applications and desktops more efficiently, including the ability to support hybrid cloud models.

Key Features of XenApp Enterprise Edition

1. Linux Hosted Shared Virtual Desktops

  • Support for Linux Desktops: XenApp Enterprise Edition allowed the delivery of Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux virtual desktops, similar to how XenApp delivered Windows Server sessions. This enabled organizations to deliver Linux desktops from a single virtual instance, expanding the flexibility of their virtual desktop environments.

2. VM Hosted Apps

  • Legacy Application Support: The VM Hosted Apps feature provided a way to host applications on separate virtual machines and access them via XenApp. This was especially useful for running applications that were incompatible with newer versions of Windows. For example, applications requiring Windows XP could be hosted on a virtual machine and accessed through XenApp, ensuring continued usability without updating or replacing software.

3. HDX Mobile

  • Optimized Mobile Experience: HDX Mobile technology enhanced the performance of XenApp and XenDesktop when accessed from mobile devices. It improved network connectivity, compressed graphics and multimedia streams, and integrated mobile-specific features like GPS. This provided a seamless mobile experience for users accessing their desktops and applications on smartphones or tablets.

4. Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack

  • Enhanced Real-Time Communication: This feature optimized the delivery of voice, video, and collaboration applications, such as Skype for Business, Lync, and Office 365. It ensured that real-time communications over XenApp maintained high quality, even over low-bandwidth networks, enhancing productivity for remote workers and teams using these tools.

5. Custom Delegated Administration

  • Role-Based Administration: The Custom Delegated Administration feature allowed IT teams to assign specific roles and permissions to administrators. This granular control enabled the delegation of tasks within Citrix Studio, ensuring that administrators could only manage areas they were authorized to access, improving security and governance.

6. Configuration Logging

  • Change Tracking: With Configuration Logging, all configuration changes made to published applications and desktops were tracked. This ensured that administrators could monitor and audit changes, providing greater transparency and accountability in managing the Citrix environment.

7. Hybrid Cloud Provisioning

  • Cloud Flexibility: The Enterprise Edition allowed organizations to provision desktops and applications on public cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS). By integrating with Citrix Studio, administrators could manage on-premises and cloud-based deployments, making it easier to scale and manage resources dynamically.

8. Microsoft Azure Integration

  • Azure Cloud Support: The integration with Microsoft Azure allowed XenApp and XenDesktop workloads to be provisioned into the Azure platform, providing hybrid cloud capabilities. This allowed organizations to extend their on-premises infrastructure into the Azure cloud, enabling more flexible resource management.

9. Amazon Web Services Integration

  • AWS Cloud Integration: Citrix Studio’s support for AWS enabled the seamless provisioning of virtual desktops and application workloads to Amazon’s cloud infrastructure. This capability offered organizations the flexibility to manage workloads in both on-premises and cloud environments.

10. CloudPlatform Integration

  • Citrix CloudPlatform Support: CloudPlatform integration allowed further options for hybrid cloud provisioning, giving organizations flexibility in how they deployed and managed their virtual desktops and applications. This integration simplified the process of expanding infrastructure to the cloud.

11. Central Image Management of XenApp Servers

  • Provisioning Server for Simplified Management: By leveraging Citrix Provisioning Server, administrators could create a master image for XenApp servers, which could then be replicated across multiple servers. This saved time and ensured consistency by eliminating the need to configure each server individually.

12. Microsoft System Center Integration

  • Centralized Management with SCCM: The integration with Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) allowed pooled desktops and server images to be managed centrally. SCCM tools, such as reporting and software distribution, were fully compatible with XenApp, providing a comprehensive solution for managing large virtual desktop environments.

Conclusion

Citrix XenApp Enterprise Edition was a powerful solution that built upon the capabilities of XenApp Advanced Edition by introducing features aimed at enhancing scalability, management, and cloud integration. With support for Linux desktops, hybrid cloud deployment, and advanced tools for real-time communication and administrative control, XenApp Enterprise Edition enabled organizations to manage both on-premises and cloud-based environments effectively. Although it may no longer be available, its advanced feature set laid the groundwork for modern virtual desktop and application delivery solutions.

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