What was Citrix XenDesktop Enterprise Edition?

Written by Jas Singh in citrix

Citrix XenDesktop Enterprise Edition was a mid-level version of the XenDesktop solution, offering additional features and functionality on top of the XenDesktop VDI Edition. This edition expanded capabilities for delivering not only virtual desktops but also applications, enabling more complex and scalable deployment options. It was designed to provide organizations with greater flexibility in managing virtual desktops, applications, and cloud resources.

Key Features of XenDesktop Enterprise Edition

1. XenApp Published Applications

  • Application Publishing: Applications could be installed on a XenApp server and securely delivered to users. This enabled users to access published applications from a variety of devices such as desktops, tablets, and smartphones, without needing the application installed locally.

2. Browser Selection

  • Optimized Browser Delivery: IT departments could select the optimal web browser for each web or SaaS application, ensuring secure and efficient delivery of applications to users’ devices.

3. XenApp Published Desktops

  • Remote Desktop Access: Users could connect to and use a XenApp-published desktop, providing the experience of working on a local desktop remotely. This desktop could be securely published and accessed from various devices.

4. Server VDI

  • Server-Based Virtual Desktops: A virtual desktop solution using server operating systems (e.g., Windows Server 2012) could be provided. This feature allowed cloud providers to deliver a Windows 8 desktop experience while using a server OS, without deploying a desktop operating system.

5. Hosted Physical Desktops

  • Remote Physical Desktop Access: Hosted physical desktops allowed users to remotely access physical desktops housed in the data center. This feature was especially useful for high-performance or graphically intensive applications.

6. Remote PC Access

  • Direct Access to Office PCs: Users could securely connect to their office PCs via a web portal, giving them remote access to their work computers. This made it possible for employees to work from home or other locations while accessing their familiar desktop environment.

7. Linux Hosted Shared Virtual Desktops

  • Linux Desktop Delivery: With XenDesktop Enterprise Edition, Red Hat Linux and SUSE Linux virtual desktops could be delivered to users from a single instance, similarly to how multiple sessions of Windows Server 2012 were delivered in XenApp.

8. Linux Dedicated VDI Desktops

  • Dedicated Linux Virtual Desktops: For environments that required Linux, dedicated virtual desktops could be assigned to users, providing them with a personalized Linux environment without sharing resources.

9. Desktop Player Add-On

  • Offline Access: As an optional add-on, the Desktop Player allowed users to run their XenDesktop virtual desktops on a Windows laptop or MacBook, even while offline, ensuring productivity in situations where connectivity was unavailable.

10. VM Hosted Apps

  • Legacy Application Support: Applications that required older versions of Windows, such as Windows XP, could be hosted on separate virtual machines and accessed via XenApp. This allowed organizations to continue using legacy applications that were incompatible with newer Windows versions.

11. HDX Mobile

  • Optimized Mobile Access: HDX Mobile technology improved the user experience for mobile devices, optimizing network connections, graphics compression, and integrating with mobile features like GPS. This ensured smooth access to virtual apps and desktops from smartphones and tablets.

12. Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack

  • Enhanced Communication: This optimization pack improved the performance of real-time communications, such as Skype for Business, Lync, and Office 365, when accessed through XenDesktop and XenApp.

13. Pre-launch Technology

  • Faster Application Launch: Applications could be set to pre-launch when a user connected, allowing them to launch almost instantaneously when the user needed them.

14. Session Linger

  • Persistent Application Sessions: After a user closed an application, the session would remain active for a defined period, allowing the application to relaunch quickly without requiring the user to log in again.

15. Anonymous Logon

  • Non-Authenticated Access: With Anonymous Logon, users could access applications and desktops without the need for authentication, simplifying access in certain scenarios.

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

  • Multi-Version Application Compatibility: XenDesktop Enterprise Edition supported 16-bit, 32-bit, and 64-bit applications, allowing organizations to deploy legacy and modern applications across both desktop and server operating systems.

17. Centrally Secured Applications

  • Data Center Security: Applications remained securely installed and managed in the data center, while users interacted with them through Citrix clients, ensuring data security and compliance.

18. Custom Delegated Administration

  • Role-Based Access Control: Administrative tasks could be delegated to different roles, allowing granular control over which administrators could manage certain aspects of the Citrix environment.

19. Configuration Logging

  • Audit Changes: Configuration Logging enabled IT administrators to monitor and log changes to published applications and desktops, ensuring visibility into when and by whom changes were made.

20. Hybrid Cloud Provisioning

  • Cloud Flexibility: XenDesktop Enterprise Edition integrated with cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS), allowing organizations to deploy desktops in the cloud directly from Citrix Studio.

21. Microsoft Azure Integration

  • Azure Cloud Support: Workloads from XenApp and XenDesktop could be provisioned into the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, offering organizations hybrid cloud capabilities to extend their on-premises infrastructure into Azure.

22. Amazon Web Services Integration

  • AWS Cloud Provisioning: Integration with AWS allowed administrators to provision desktops and applications on AWS cloud infrastructure through Citrix Studio.

23. CloudPlatform Integration

  • Additional Cloud Integration: CloudPlatform integration allowed provisioning of virtual desktops and applications into cloud environments, providing more flexibility for hybrid cloud deployments.

24. Central Image Management of XenApp Servers

  • Simplified Server Deployment: Provisioning Server enabled centralized management of XenApp servers through a master image, ensuring that all servers were identical to the master and reducing deployment time.

25. Powerful Migration Scripts

  • Seamless Migration: Scripts were available to assist in migrating applications, policies, and folder structures from XenApp 6.5 to XenApp 7.x, making it easier for organizations to upgrade their infrastructure.

26. Microsoft App-V Integration

  • **Application

Virtualization**: Citrix Studio supported Microsoft App-V integration, allowing administrators to manage and deliver App-V packages for virtual desktops and XenApp servers. This enabled seamless application streaming from SCCM to virtual environments, providing flexibility in application deployment.

27. Secure Browser Deployment Kit

  • Automated Browser Delivery: The Secure Browser Deployment Kit allowed automated deployment and configuration of XenApp to publish web or SaaS applications. This was made easy through the Citrix Lifecycle Management XenApp Secure Browser Blueprint, ensuring quick and secure deployment of browser-based applications.

Conclusion

Citrix XenDesktop Enterprise Edition offered a comprehensive set of features designed to deliver a robust virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) while also supporting application publishing and cloud-based deployments. The inclusion of tools for secure remote access, centralized management, and flexible cloud provisioning made it an ideal solution for organizations seeking scalable and efficient virtual desktop and application environments. The Enterprise Edition built on the capabilities of the VDI Edition by adding advanced features like Linux desktop support, legacy application management, hybrid cloud integration, and customized administrative controls, ensuring flexibility for diverse IT environments.

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