Virtualization.com

News and insights from the vibrant world of virtualization and cloud computing

citrix essentials

Release: Free ‘Express’ Version Of Citrix Essentials for Microsoft Hyper-V

by 1 Comment

Citrix has unveiled a new free Express Edition to its Citrix Essentials for Microsoft Hyper-V lineup. The new Express Edition is immediately available for download and includes Citrix StorageLink technology. With StorageLink, Windows administrators can dramatically simplify their storage management processes with quick and easy storage configuration and provisioning for their Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V and System Center virtual infrastructures. Citrix Essentials helps administrators take full advantage of powerful storage-based features like deduplication, thin provisioning, cloning, snapshots and replication – features that otherwise hide behind layers of proprietary, specialized virtualization storage file systems.

The new free Express Edition of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V is designed specifically for Windows IT professional in the early phases of Hyper-V adoption. It will allow them to take advantage of the benefits of shared storage with Hyper-V and simplify storage management in virtual server environments.
The StorageLink technology featured in all editions of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V provides Windows IT Professionals with the tools necessary to easily manage Hyper-V storage in iSCSI and Fibre Channel (FC) SAN environments, enabling them to leverage advanced storage technologies from leading storage vendors that deliver powerful features for performance, storage efficiency, and business continuity. Industry estimates have shown that by applying storage-saving technologies like deduplication and thin provisioning , Hyper-V customers can often shrink their storage footprint by upwards of 50 percent depending on the nature of their workloads. In cases where virtual machines (VMs) are highly duplicated, like virtual desktop images, many have seen a nearly 90 percent reduction in storage consumption.

The Express Edition of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V supports up to two Hyper-V servers and one storage array. Organizations that download the free Express Edition of Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V can easily upgrade to the Enterprise or Platinum Editions. Listed at $1500 and $3000 per server, respectively, the Enterprise and Platinum Editions add dynamic server provisioning, automated lab management, automated stage management, and workflow orchestration.

Citrix Releases XenServer 5.5

by Leave a Comment

Citrix yesterday announced the availability of Citrix XenServer 5.5, a new upgrade that it says raises the bar once again for “free, enterprise-class virtualization”.

Today’s announcement comes just 75 days after Citrix changed the game in server virtualization by making XenServer available for unlimited production deployment at no charge. Unlike basic hypervisors that have been free for years, XenServer sets an entirely new standard for free virtualization with powerful features such as centralized multi-node management, built-in storage and full live motion.

In the short period of time since its release, more than 100,000 customers have downloaded XenServer from hundreds of download sites in over 50 countries worldwide with overwhelmingly positive feedback. The new XenServer 5.5 release, available for download today, provides these customers even more value by adding a wide range of new enterprise management capabilities at no additional charge.

The XenServer 5.5 release available for download today adds a wide range of new features that enable easier virtualization management and broader integration with enterprise systems. The latest version now includes features such as consolidated backup, enhanced conversion and search tools, Active Directory integration and expanded guest support for virtually every version of Windows and Linux operating systems. With the new 5.5 release, XenServer provides all the functionality that typically costs up to $5,000 per server with other leading virtualization products.

Also available today is the new 5.5 release of Citrix Essentials for XenServer and Hyper-V, providing advanced virtualization management capabilities for customers using Citrix XenServer or MicrosoftWindows Server 2008 Hyper-V.  Citrix Essentials 5.5 enhances both of these high-growth virtualization platforms by adding expanded storage integration, automated lab and stage management and dynamic workload balancing.

In addition to the availability of the 5.5 product releases, Citrix also today announced the XenServer Central community website, a new resource for all things XenServer to help users enhance their use of the free enterprise-ready virtualization platform.  The XenServer Central website will feature the latest product information, tips and tricks, access to the Citrix KnowledgeCenter and web-based support forums. Offers from Citrix Ready partners for free or discounted licenses for complementary products will also be featured, as well as the latest XenServer content on CitrixTV, Twitter and the blogosphere.

XenServer Central will go live on June 19 at http://www.citrix.com/xenservercentral.

The new XenServer 5.5 release is immediately available for download here. Citrix Essentials 5.5 for XenServer and Hyper-V are also available immediately for purchase or a 30-day trial version on this website.  Suggested pricing for Citrix Essentials starts at $2,500 per server, regardless of the number of processors.