What's New in XenClient 2.1

Enterprise deployment

The Synchronizer, the centralized deployment and management application for XenClient, can now scale XenClient deployments for larger and more complex environments.

Give IT better control

• NEW in 2.1! Simplified Windows image management with dynamic layering provides an easier, more reliable, and more cost effective way of managing system updates with minimal impact to end users and more control and agility for IT. With this new feature, IT defined images can be continually enforced and updates can be applied to a single image in the datacenter and automatically pushed out to XenClient devices.
• Complex Active Directory trust support in large environments ensures that XenClient devices, users and groups are properly authenticated and managed. A setup wizard streamlines the creation and assignment of user policies.
• Operational enhancements simplify Synchronizer setup and maintenance, including more detailed environment reporting and new device filtering capabilities for better management of multiple XenClient-powered computers. A simplified operations console provides easy visibility into the current Synchronizer configuration along with simple configuration management, including networking, AD connections and SSL certificates.
• Automated iSCSI deployment enables hand-off deployment of XenClient to Lenovo desktop systems by hosting the XenClient installer system and automated answer files on a Lenovo Storage Array.

Scale to new heights

• Pre-cached VM downloads enable faster local VM deployment on XenClient. For remote workers with limited network capacity, IT can provide a secure VM image pre-cached on USB/DVD media, eliminating the need to download a large image file over the wire.
• Automatic connection throttling protects users and infrastructure during heavy loads so VM image delivery or automatic data backups can be effectively handled without taxing available resources.

Protect business data

• User profile virtualization enables the user's profile to be backed up and recovered selectively and independently from the rest of the VM to maximize system resources, including storage, network and CPU. Image layering technology supports static, hybrid and dynamic (experimental) image modes that protect different layers of a VM, including user (profile, settings, data), application or OS profiles.
• Smart filtering removes non-essential files (Windows pagefile, temp, hibernate) and unused disk blocks from the backup processes to reduce backup storage and CPU consumption while ensuring mission-critical data is backed up with better use of infrastructure resources.

Simplified user experience

A new GUI provides a seamless flow to enhance user productivity.

Support global employees

• NEW in 2.1! Multiple language support enables enterprises to deploy the XenClient User Interface in English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Simplified Chinese languages.

Smooth and streamlined user experience

• Simplified GUI makes it easier to create, run and maintain local virtual desktops on XenClient. Streamlined workflows deliver a highly responsive user experience.

Be more productive

• Automatic operations let non-technical users automatically boot into predefined VMs to start working more quickly. XenClient power operations are linked to the power state of a Windows VM to allow device autoboot, autosleep and autoshutdown.
• Over-the-air upgrade delivers the latest version of XenClient in the shortest time to keep users productive.
• Usability enhancements include the ability to reorder switching hotkeys for fast access to specific virtual desktops or applications, offline usage and the option to keep local unmanaged VMs on a laptop after a user has unregistered from the central management application.

Improve security

• Secure application sharing allows safe access to specific applications across different VMs with no data movement between VMs. Desktop isolation and encrypted data communications ensure full security.

VDI and beyond with FlexCast

The right virtual desktop for each worker profile

• FlexCast provides flexible delivery options include local VM, streamed VHD, personalized VDI and hosted shared desktops to meet the requirements of each user type in your organization—guest, remote, mobile, office and task workers—through a single solution. Discover FlexCast

On-demand VDI with XenDesktop

• Citrix XenDesktop lets you deliver on-demand virtual desktops and applications anywhere your users work, anywhere your business takes you, to any type of device, bringing unprecedented flexibility and mobility to your workforce. View video

Expanded platform ecosystem

An expanded hardware compatibility list (HCL) lets XenClient run on up to 45 million working systems in enterprises.

Choose from more systems

• NEW in 2.1! XenClient XT laptop support enables customers in highly regulated industries to expand the high security benefits of XenClient XT to mobile users.
• Expanded hardware compatibility includes support for the latest Intel® 2nd Generation Core™ Processors with vPro™ Technology as well as non-vPro based Intel workstations and value enterprise systems from Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Lenovo and Panasonic.
• Non-vPro system support enables a great 2D graphics experience on non-vPro value enterprise systems with Intel integrated graphics.

Expand the visual experience

• Expanded 3D graphics architecture support provides a high-definition experience based on direct access to local graphics hardware and Intel vPro Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (Intel VT-d). Expanded hardware compatibility includes support for the latest Intel integrated GPUs (Intel HD 2000 805/and HD 3000) and AMD discrete GPUs (AMD FirePro and Radeon). Support for Windows Aero, OpenGL and DirectX ensures a rich visual experience for the most demanding video and graphics applications.