Citrix goes beyond the network with XenClient

Citrix is planning to release an application that puts the company's hypervisor client outside the network, letting organisations run systems over a much broader area.

Citrix chief executive Mark Templeton said at the Citrix Synergy 2010 conference in San Francisco that the company had to adapt to changing working patterns and job structures, and offer virtualisation everywhere, not just within the corporate network.

"Virtual computing is the future. It unblocks computing," he told delegates. "If we don't deal with it, it's going to run us over. Do you guess what device will win? I don't think so. We need to use a virtual work style that includes every device."

Citrix XenClient runs a virtual operating system on a standard laptop, allowing an employee to keep work and private accounts separate, using different security protocols but including synchronising capabilities to a central server.

The application has won the backing of Intel, which announced that its vPro management system will support the application.

"Citrix and Intel deliver no-compromise desktop virtualisation solutions with intelligent performance, cost-saving manageability and smart security," said Rick Echevarria, vice president of Intel's architecture group.

"Citrix XenClient on Intel Core vPro processor-based PCs offers extraordinary levels of protection and control for IT, while providing workers with a great user experience for maximum productivity anytime and anywhere."

Templeton also announced a deal with security firm McAfee called Project Moon, which will screen traffic centrally without requiring major scanning to be conducted on each device, saving on processor load.

"Leveraging traditional security practices such as in-guest virus scans to secure virtualised workloads results in an excessive performance tax that reduces consolidation densities while inflating capital and operational expenses," said Chris Wolf, a senior analyst at the Burton Group.

"The technical nuances of the virtual desktop, such as shared operating system images, make legacy endpoint security solutions impractical.

"Instead, open solutions that intelligently leverage hypervisor and guest-level resources as needed, while providing required insight into complex shared virtual infrastructures, are best positioned for long-term success."