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XenApp 5 introduces significant enhancements for application streaming and isolation, a completely redesigned, end user experience and powerful end user performance monitoring tools.  In total, XenApp 5 includes more than 50 new features and enhancements that simplify and streamline management and support, while substantially reducing the total cost of ownership. Now, more than ever, XenApp 5 is the best option for delivering all Windows applications to both connected and mobile users.

Top 8 Reasons to Upgrade to XenApp 5

1. Modernized, Intuitive, and Rich User Experience

   IT organizations need to provide users with fast, secure, and easy access to all Windows applications. XenApp 5 introduces a redesigned, intuitive, and consistent user experience on the desktop and over the Web. The innovative fresh look for Web Interface – with enhanced security through Advanced Kerberos Authentication and extended support for additional third-party authentication products that support RADIUS protocol – provides users with simpler site navigation for quicker access to Windows applications, desktops and information through an intuitive, easy-to-use interface. A new small form-factor interface is also available for mobile workers who want to access applications using handheld devices. Providing a simpler, consistent and platform-independent user experience to access all Windows applications increases user acceptance and productivity.

2. Broader Application Compatibility and Stronger Security for Streamed Applications

   Maintaining applications is a resource-intensive task for IT organizations. XenApp 5 simplifies application delivery and maintenance and minimizes the time to update or patch streamed applications through the addition of Inter-isolation Communication and HTTP/S streaming support. Inter-isolation Communication enables streamed applications to communicate and interoperate as if they were installed locally while ensuring that they execute within their own discreet isolation environment . If a single application needs to be updated or patched, the profile can easily be updated and only the delta is streamed, significantly reducing application maintenance costs in comparison to traditional application management practices. The addition of HTTP/S support enables applications to be streamed securely using HTTP to branch office and mobile users.

3. Assured Service-Level Performance

   Existing XenApp load balancing capabilities monitor server load to efficiently distribute user and application load across the servers in the farm. XenApp 5 enhances these capabilities through a new and intelligent load management system that includes Preferential Load Balancing and CPU management for assuring service-level agreements. Preferential Load Balancing can ensure the best performance for the most critical users and scenarios by enabling administrators to control the priority of a user session based on a combination of application and user level importance.

   Application Performance Monitoring in XenApp provides a detailed view of application performance as experienced by end users . XenApp 5 introduces expanded monitoring capabilities and metrics to provide greater visibility into the user experience enabling administrators to make faster and better assessment of performance issues.  The new Active Application Monitoring feature enables administrators to proactively identify performance issues before they are experienced by end users. This real-time check of application availability and responsiveness of production applications enables service level alerting and readiness checks.

4. Simplified Printer Management and a More Seamless Printing Experience

   XenApp 5 includes Printer Management, a comprehensive set of tools for managing printers, printer drivers, policies and performance.  Through its advanced printer management capabilities, such as driver management, XPS-based Universal Print Driver, compression, bandwidth control, and printer routing, XenApp reduces administrative effort by providing administrators the tools they need to manage a high-performance printing environment. With XenApp 5 users now have a printing experience with the performance and flexibility they demand, resulting in greater satisfaction and productivity.

5. Improved Network Performance

   The efficient use of WAN bandwidth has a direct impact on the productivity of branch office and mobile users. XenApp 5 provides WAN Optimization to deliver LAN-like application performance over the WAN by accelerating the movement of data across the WAN, making branch office and mobile workers more productive and enabling increased collaboration over existing links.

6. Enhanced Security and Stability with Windows Server 2008

   XenApp 5 leverages the new security and architectural enhancements in Windows Server 2008. Some of the key platform enhancements include User Account Control (UAC), Protected-mode Internet Explorer, Windows Firewall, and Service-specific Security Identifiers (SIDs).

7. Multi-platform Support

   With support for both Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2003 and the ability to use both platforms within a single XenApp server farm, XenApp 5 enables a smooth transition to the Windows Server 2008 platform.

8. Additional Application Delivery Enhancements

   XenApp 5 delivers more than 50 additional features and enhancements to improve user productivity, reduce operational costs, and provide businesses the flexibility and agility they need to operate. These include, IPv6 support, ClearType Font smoothing, Special Folder Redirection, a new Installation Manager on Windows Server 2008, Single Sign-on enhancements, and many others. Download the XenApp Feature Matrix for more details.

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