Citrix and Cisco

Cisco and Citrix have deployed tens of thousands of new virtual desktops to small and large customers across the globe through the successful implementation of Cisco’s Virtualization Experience Infrastructure (VXI) Smart Solution with Citrix XenDesktop.

Cisco and Citrix recognize the transformation taking place in enterprise networks as companies support more mobile, anytime, anywhere access to enterprise applications. As a result, we’re capitalizing on the opportunity to align and deliver unique solutions for mobile workstyles and cloud services. By combining Cisco’s industry leading compute, networking and collaboration capabilities with Citrix’s desktop virtualization software, the companies are delivering the industry’s first true rich-media virtual desktop solution.

Desktop Virtualization

Cisco VXI Smart Solution with Citrix XenDesktop incorporates the most cost-effective and scalable platform for desktop virtualization. Deployed on the UCS platform, which was built from the ground up to support virtualized environments, the solution delivers an uncompromised user experience for every user in the enterprise, helps IT organizations improve compliance with centralized and secured desktops and their associated operations, and better supports the lifeblood of business: people.

Learn more about how Cisco and XenDesktop can accelerate your deployment of desktop virtualization

Cloud Networking

Cisco and Citrix intend to jointly integrate the Citrix NetScaler application delivery controller (ADC) to seamlessly coexist with other Cisco network and security services, such as Cisco Wide Area Application Services (WAAS) and Cisco Adaptive Security Appliance (ASA). The companies also intend to integrate Cisco Nexus 1000V with Citrix XenServer to enable enterprise and service provider customers to build clouds based in part on key open source technology. Cisco will continue to fully support existing customers of its Application Control Engine (ACE) product line and will recommend Citrix NetScaler as an alternative to customers who want to deploy a next-generation ADC.

Learn more about Cisco and NetScaler integration

Cloud Orchestration

Cisco and Citrix intend to develop an integrated cloud solution for enterprise and service provider deployments based on the companies’ best-in-class portfolios. This will include the Cisco Unified Computing System (UCS), Cisco Nexus Series switching, and Cisco Open Network Environment (ONE) components, as well as Citrix’s leading cloud orchestration solution — Citrix CloudPlatform, powered by Apache CloudStack. When developed, this integrated solution will help enterprise and service provider customers deliver highly efficient public, private and hybrid clouds.

Mobile Workstyles

Cisco and Citrix intend to develop “mobile workstyle and BYOD” solutions that give mobile users a unified way to securely access business apps, data, voice and collaboration services from any device, anywhere. The joint solution, when developed, will link Cisco collaboration technology, including tighter integration of the Cisco Jabber client, with the Citrix Receiver self-service mobile access client and Citrix Mobile Solutions Bundle for enterprise mobility management. The joint solution will also include Citrix ShareFile for secure, cloud-based “follow-me data” services across any mix of user devices. To enable an optimized, monitored and managed rich-media experience for accessing virtual Windows apps and desktops from mobile devices, Citrix will incorporate Cisco MediaNet into Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp. To secure mobile workers, Cisco and Citrix will link Citrix Receiver, Citrix Access Gateway, and Citrix Mobile Solutions Bundle with the Cisco secure access portfolio including Cisco AnyConnect, Cisco ASA, and the Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE).