Citrix Products 2010: A Wish List (continued) +1

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This week Helge Klein started a Citrix products 2010 wish listTim Arenz expanded on Helge’s wish list on his blog earlier today.  I want to expand on both Helge’s and Tim’s additions with my own wishes as well.  I’m sure they both don’t mind since Tim encourages other bloggers to continue adding to this list.  Like Tim, I encourage other bloggers to keep this wish list going.  Helge’s are in black and Tim’s are in red.  So here on are my additions in orange.

XenApp

  • A version of XenApp that runs on Windows Server 2008 R2
  • One console only, at least for XenApp
  • PowerShell SDK for managing XenApp
  • Realtime audio/video so that, for example, Microsoft Office Communication Server can be used well
  • Migration tool that exports an old farm’s settings and imports them after optional transformation into a new far
  • Consistent feature set among the XenApp versions (2003 / 2008 / 2008 R2)
    • Special folder redirection, power management, HDX Flash, etc
  • A revamped Installation Manager on Windows 2008
  • Report Center in Access Management Console/Delivery Services Console that links to EdgeSight/pull reports from XenApp management console
  • XenApp Setup Wizard similar to XenDesktop Setup Wizard
  • Integration with hypervisors similar to XenDesktop power on, power off, reboot, etc
  • Folder inheritance of published applications in a folder- add a new server to a folder in the console and have applications automatically published on that server that are published to other servers in that folder
  • Content redirection/file type association between seamless hosted and seamless streamed applications

Support for XenApp in SCCM (Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager)

  • XenApp collections
  • Add application hosting information to SCCM package
  • Autonomic server load management to allow SCCM software distribution

VM Hosted Apps

  • Session sharing (multiple applications per session/VM)
  • Real application publishin
  • Integration in XenApp management console

XenClient

  • Release a first version, if only for enterprise volume laptops initially
  • Make it run on any system that supports VT-D and TXT (trusted execution technology)
  • Provide a private image mode: copy a VM to a client initially and then sync back differentially by creating snapshots that are stored on a server. A user would “own” a VM in this scenario and could store data and install applications in it, but updates/application installs could not be easily centrally managed.
  • Provide a shared image mode: copy a VM to a client initially that is reset to its original state when powering off. Provide a second disk (VHD file) for persistent user data. In this scenario, users could not install applications, since the OS VHD gets reset constantly, but administrators could manage updates to the OS VHD centrally by distributing snapshots containing new applications or patches to the clients. All user data would have to be stored on a second partition.
  • Optionally encrypt VHD files on the client (we are talking about laptops)
  • Map the GPU to any VM. That way we could use a private VM (with GPU, for games, etc.) and a more secure business VM.
  • Run applications from one VM seamlessly in the other VM (over ICA)

XenDesktop

  • Make HDX media stream for Flash optionally work in such a way that we do not need internet access in the client’s site. Stream Flash through ICA from the server to the client and only render it on the client.
  • PowerShell SDK for managing all aspects for XenDesktop
  • Merge the XenDesktop Setup Wizard into the “Create Desktop Group” Wizard
  • Windows Server 2008 support

Provisioning Server

  • Give us a tool for automating the management/patching of PVS images
  • Make it run in one of three modes:
    • Monitoring: Monitor external ESD server to determine if updates have been assigned to a machine
    • Scheduled: Periodically start the VM and allow the machine to update itself
    • Manual: Admin initiates VM start/stop for manually updating
  • Give the tool a PowerShell SDK so we can program it
  • Easy way to upgrade virtualization tools (VMware Tools, XenTools, etc) and Provisioning Server Target Device of a vDisk
  • Provisioning Services Database Replication and or Mirroring

XenServer

  • VM-based snapshot and not disk-based snapshot
  • Easy way to revert to taken snapshots
  • Memory sharing / ballooning / over commitment (for VDI)
  • Thin provisioning for block-based storage repositories
  • Possibility to separate management and XenMotion network interface
  • Advanced template management
    • Integration of Sysprep, possibility to change hostname, ip, etc
  • Administrative Delegation
  • Wake On LAN of XenServer VMs
  • Move VMs/VDIs to storage repository without having to turn off VM and copy – Storage XenMotion

Workflow Studio

  • More development/example workflows
  • More integration with Citrix products – XenDesktop, etc

Various

  • Release Branch Repeater as a virtual appliance. Better make it available for all three important hypervisors.
  • Release a virtual appliance version of Access Gateway that can serve as a true replacement for CSG (Secure Gateway). For that, it needs to be free or very cheap at least. And better make it available for all three important hypervisors.
  • Consistent management console for all versions of Access Gateway
  • Citrix Receiver framework for the Mac and Linux platform
  • Integration of all Citrix agents/clients/plug-ins into Merchandising Server
  • NetScaler VPX virtual appliance for Hyper-V
  • Merchandising Server virtual appliance for ESX

Please keep this wish list going.

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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  1. Victor MartinezVictor Martinez02-04-2010

    SESSION MOTION: (an instant hibernation file move)
    It’s great to have VM motion, but since like the second iForum I brought up the ability to have session motion between hosts. The only area of concern would be for statefull applications, that could have a conduit proxy server to manage those statefull sessions or now internal use of VPX.

    With session migration you could take better care of the OS’s and guest machines and minimize user disruption by moving thier sessions and taking care of the guests they occupy. A server that has developed instability could be emptied and remediated without users becoming aware that their was an issue.

  2. NotMeNotMe11-25-2009

    Guys,
    Regarding Citrix and 2008, did you know that Citrix just managed to slip by their kernel hacks by means of an old deal that expired soon after RTM of 2008 (vanilla), thus the problems, thus nothing real from Citrix part, just pure damage control to handle the situation. With 2008 R2 Citrix has been shut down from the kernel tampering. Instead of using what Microsoft provides via API or Hooks, Citrix decided to rebuild/reinvent their multiuser stack as side-by-side replacement. It doesn’t take an insider to point out the utter failure in this attempt. Too bad noone cares to talk about this in the open. Hush baby, hush?

  3. MaxBMaxB11-24-2009

    A citrix windows update like.
    A program with each citrix product/edition/rollup version or with autodetection that download citrix products installation files and updates. It’s boring to get eauch update manualy on the download.citrix.com site.

  4. Rick RohneRick Rohne11-17-2009

    AGEE
    – 64 bit SSLVPN client (coming soon)
    – support for more browsers
    – Ability to have different HTML pages for different VServers
    – %username% variable passing in the file transfer tool
    – Expand the File Transfer tool to the subfolders (Not the root folder)
    – Integration with new WI dual STA config

    Netscaler
    – More/Better integration into popular apps
    – AAA Vserver for Active Sync and PDA’s
    – Command Center historic Charts on HTTP req per second etc with nice graphs etc.

    AppFW

    – App Firewall Templates / Convert to AppTemplate for easy transfer
    – More AppFirewall integration with Command Center

    XENServer
    – Ability to specify a primary and secondary XENServer Master in the farm
    – Wake on lan (You already said it, but it has to be said again)

    PVS / XENDesktop / XENserver
    – Central configuration between XD, XS, and PVS.

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