Citrix targets VMware with new virtualization strategy

Citrix has used its customer event in the US to talk up its virtualisation plans.

At Citrix's iForum in Las Vegas, the application delivery vendor announced its end-to-end virtualisation strategy, including new products - Citrix XenServer and Citrix XenDesktop were built on technology integrated from the firm's XenSource acquisition, which Citrix said closed today.

The other announcements were tied to its application delivery product, Citrix Presentation Server (CPS), which has been upgraded in several areas. Its new EasyCall feature will allow the embedding of communications capabilities into enterprise applications delivered through CPS using the Citrix NetScaler web application delivery hardware.

Another new CPS feature will be SmartAuditor, which will allow enterprises to record specific application sessions that can be stored and played back later. Citrix said that SmartAuditor will allow firms to demonstrate "that employees are meeting established guidelines for information access, transaction integrity and intellectual property protection."

The final upgrade to CPS, PowerSmart, addresses data centre managers energy efficiency concerns, by enabling firms to set policies which can automatically reduce server power when application traffic levels fall during non-peak hours.

Citrix XenServer is available now from resellers, whilst Citrix XenDesktop should be available in H1 2008, although firms interested in the system now, can already download a free preview kit.