Citrix puts XenDesktop in cloud, snaps-up VDI player

BANGALORE, INDIA: Virtualization software player Citrix announced Project Avalon, a desktop virtualization product which is optimized to run on cloud infrastructure and can be delivered as a cloud service.

Sheng Liang, CEO and founder of Cloud.com that was bought by Citrix, and who now heads Citrix’s CloudStack product line, wrote on the company's blog, "Project Avalon enables windows desktop and windows applications to be delivered as a cloud service. This will benefit both enterprises and service providers. Enterprises and service providers alike are looking for capabilities such as self-service, metering, billing/chargeback, and delegated administration."

Project Avalon is built upon XenDesktop, and supports all of the leading hypervisors.

"It has taken major engineering efforts to transform the XenDesktop product, which was designed to run on enterprise virtualization architecture, to work seamlessly on Apache CloudStack and Amazon Web Services. It was not easy but we did it."

Citrix acquires Virtual Computer

Citrix also announced the acquisition of Virtual Computer, provider of enterprise-scale management solutions for client-side virtualization.

Citrix will combine the newly-acquired Virtual Computer technology with its XenClient hypervisor to create the new Citrix XenClient Enterprise edition, which will be available in Q2, 2012.

Citrix HDX System-on-Chip initiative

Citrix also announced HDX System-on-Chip (SoC) initiative, launched last October at Citrix Synergy Barcelona, a programme designed to enable an entirely new generation of devices, capable of running high-definition virtual desktops and apps.

Citrix unveiled device partners such as HP, NComputing, LG and Fujitsu who are among the technology partners deploying the HDX solution on their thin clients.

Citrix was joined by multiple partners to unveil the first wave of devices featuring the new HDX SoC technology. New thin clients from ATrust, Centerm, NComputing and ThinLinx improves the return on investment for desktop virtualization just six months after the HDX SoC program was first announced.

Citrix partner HP also unveiled a new all-in-one zero client that uses Power-over-Ethernet and consumes a mere 13 watts of power. Citrix expects additional innovations in price and design based on the new HDX SoC program to be announced by these and other partners in the coming months.