XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 Features and Release Date Announced!

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Citrix has finally announced that XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 will be released on September 29th.  XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 will be bring new features such as VM Hosted Apps, Power and Capacity Management, and HDX to XenApp 5. Read more to see what all new features are included in XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2. 

The official release and features for XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 was announced earlier this morning.  This new feature pack adds some very nice features to XenApp 5.  Some features of XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 are only available on XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 and not XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008.  I guess Citrix is waiting to update XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 functionality in XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 R2 Tech Preview which will be out soon.

What’s all included in XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2?

VM Hosted Apps – Now you can deliver Windows applications from centrally hosted virtual machines or physical machines running Windows XP, Windows Vista, and/or Windows 7.  This feature is great for applications that don’t work or are not supported on Terminal Services, causes performance issues/are resource intensive, and adds additional device compatibility.  One thing to be aware of is that VM Hosted Apps require Microsoft VECD licenses and not Terminal Services/Remote Desktop Services CALs.

Windows 7 and Windows Mobile Support – Windows 7 and Windows Mobile devices are now supported.  Windows 7 devices are supported for online and offline apps.  An updated Windows Mobile client will be released as well.

New Application Streaming Components  – New application streaming components to support Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2.  The new application streaming components greatly improve performance for initial application launches and subsequent application launches.  The new application streaming components also addresses and fixes issues seen in current application streaming components.  I have been testing the beta components and they work very well.  I am very happy Citrix did this.  I hope they add support for services and printers soon.

Power and Capacity Management (XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 Only) – Now you can install an agent on your XenApp servers and have them turned on or off depending on when capacity is needed based on rules defined by you. 

Workflow Studio – Workflow Studio 2.0 has been improved and updated giving you greatly control over your Citrix infrastructure.  New API’s are included to expose custom workflows.  Some new key features are – Native XenApp activity libraries, Simplified Management Interface, and Simplified Workflow Designer.  For more information on Workflow Studio 2.o see the Citrix Blog – Workflow Studio 2.o Released.   Powershell Commandlets for XenApp that is currently in tech preview didn’t make into the feature pack but will be released shortly to give you even more greater control of your XenApp farm.

HDX – High Definition Experience for XenApp!  HDX MediaStream for Flash (XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 Only) – Now processing power for Flash content and applications is offloaded from the server and onto the users Windows device to improve performance for the user.  HDX Plug and Play for USB storage devices (XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 Only) – Now USB storage devices can be mapped automatically while in a session without having to restart the session.  The HDX features are available for Advanced, Enterprise, and Platinum licences on XenApp running Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.

I don’t know about you but I am pumped about these new features in XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2.  I like the direction Citrix has gone and continues to go with their product line.  For more information on XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 see the Citrix Blog – What’s in XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 in plain English.  Also make sure to check out the section – Learn more about Citrix XenApp Feature Pack 2 – at the bottom of the Citrix Blog for links to more information on XenApp 5.0 Feature Pack 2.

If you have found this article interesting or if you have any other insights, please feel free to leave comments on this article.

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