The Citrix XenDesktop Platinum Edition is the most advanced version in the XenDesktop product line, offering a comprehensive set of features designed to enhance the virtual desktop experience. It builds on the capabilities of the XenDesktop VDI Edition and XenDesktop Enterprise Edition, providing additional tools for optimizing performance, security, user experience, and administration. The Platinum Edition is tailored for organizations requiring a high level of control, scalability, and security for their virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).
Key Features of XenDesktop Platinum Edition
1. HDX Seamless Local Apps
The HDX Seamless Local Apps feature allows applications installed on a user’s local device to be blended into the XenDesktop or XenApp session. This provides a seamless experience for users, enabling them to access both local and remote applications in a unified interface.
2. CloudBridge VPX-10 for WAN Optimization
CloudBridge VPX-10 is a WAN optimization solution that enhances the performance of XenDesktop and XenApp over wide-area network (WAN) connections. This is crucial for organizations with users accessing resources across public and private networks, ensuring a smoother and faster experience.
3. CloudBridge Plug-In
The CloudBridge Plug-In accelerates network access for laptops and workstations, improving connectivity to resources over public and private networks. This tool helps optimize traffic, ensuring a better user experience even in remote locations.
4. Self-Service Password Reset
This feature allows users to reset their passwords, unlock their accounts, and set new passwords directly from the StoreFront portal. The self-service functionality helps reduce the burden on IT helpdesks and empowers users to manage their own accounts.
5. Common Criteria Certified
The Common Criteria certification ensures that XenApp and XenDesktop meet stringent security standards recognized by 25 countries. This certification is essential for organizations requiring a secure virtual desktop infrastructure, particularly in industries such as finance, healthcare, and government.
6. SmartAccess
SmartAccess provides granular control over user sessions, allowing administrators to set policies that manage actions like printing, copying, pasting, or mapping drives on an individual user basis. This level of control is essential for ensuring security and compliance.
7. SSL VPN (NetScaler VPN)
Available separately, SSL VPN through NetScaler VPN enables secure access to the corporate network from any device, ensuring that users can securely connect to resources without the need for a full VPN setup.
8. SmartAuditor Session Recording
SmartAuditor allows sessions to be recorded for monitoring and security purposes. This feature is particularly useful for auditing user activity, ensuring compliance, and monitoring for any unauthorized actions.
9. Hosted App Usage Reporting & Trending
This feature provides detailed analysis of published applications, including usage by specific users, servers, and time periods. Hosted App Usage Reporting helps administrators manage capacity and optimize resources by understanding trends in application usage.
10. Advanced Performance Analytics
Available through EdgeSight integration in Director, this feature enables comprehensive trend analysis and monitoring of the health of the environment. Advanced Performance Analytics helps administrators detect issues before they impact user experience and provides insights into long-term performance trends.
11. User Experience Network Analysis
By using NetScaler HDX Insight, administrators can break down user sessions to assess network issues that may be affecting performance. This analysis helps identify and resolve problems that degrade user experience, particularly over challenging network conditions.
12. AppDNA
AppDNA is a powerful tool for analyzing application compatibility with XenApp and XenDesktop environments. It provides detailed reports on potential compatibility issues, helping administrators ensure that applications run smoothly in the virtual environment.
13. Integrated AppDNA for AppDisk
With Integrated AppDNA for AppDisk, application compatibility reporting is available for AppDisk layered applications. This allows administrators to instantly analyze and remediate compatibility issues by reordering layers, ensuring smoother application deployments.
14. Citrix Connector for SCCM
The Citrix Connector for System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) allows administrators to manage Citrix Delivery Sites and published applications directly from the SCCM console. This integration simplifies the management of virtual environments, making it easier to handle updates, deployments, and configurations.
15. NetScaler InSight Integration
By integrating with NetScaler InSight, administrators can gain visibility into user connections from end to end. This integration provides deep insights into connection issues and helps troubleshoot problems more efficiently by offering a detailed view of the entire connectivity path.
Conclusion
Citrix XenDesktop Platinum Edition is designed for organizations that require advanced tools to manage and optimize their virtual desktop environments. From enhanced WAN optimization to advanced session monitoring and security features, the Platinum Edition offers everything necessary to deliver a high-quality user experience while maintaining robust security and performance analytics.
The inclusion of features like SmartAccess, SmartAuditor, and NetScaler integration makes this edition ideal for enterprises looking to fine-tune their VDI environment and ensure that resources are delivered securely, efficiently, and with a high degree of user satisfaction.