Citrix VDI-in-a-Box
Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is a virtualization solution from Citrix Systems based on the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure .
History and more details
Citrix VDI-in-a-Box was originally by the company Kaviza developed that in the course of 2011 by Citrix Systems was acquired and has since been used as a substitute for simple VDI - multi-function devices to solve Citrix XenDesktop offered. With Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is a solution for desktop virtualization , which significantly minimizes the otherwise usually high cost and complexity iS installation, configuration and maintenance. One of the most noteworthy features of Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is that the solution can do without the shared storage usually used in VDI implementations and still offer the company the option of complete redundancy of the VDI environment. In terms of its approach, this is of interest to many companies that are thinking of using a solution for the virtualization of desktops in the future.
With Citrix VDI-in-a-Box, the simplification approach becomes apparent first when the solution is installed. What is usually only offered by software manufacturers in the field of test systems for a PoC in the company is normally the case with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box. Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is offered as a virtual appliance for Citrix XenServer, VMware vSphere and Microsoft Hyper-V (Hyper-V since version 5). The virtual appliance provides everything that is required to operate Citrix VDI-in-a-Box, i.e. to set up a virtual desktop infrastructure. If, after introduction, greater resources are required than those that the virtual appliance is able to provide in combination with the physical hardware on which it was put into operation, or if redundancy is required, the 1-server structure that has existed to date is used simply added a second server. With Citrix VDI-in-a-Box, adding a second server results in a Citrix VDI-in-a-Box Grid (VDI-in-a-Box Server Farm) being formed. Each additional server is then also added to this Citrix VDI-in-a-Box grid, thus ensuring that the solution is still managed centrally. Separate administration of the individual servers is not necessary. This all in all very simple handling makes the Citrix VDI-in-a-Box solution interesting for projects in which the use of virtual desktops, i.e. the concept itself, is to be piloted in principle.
Range of functions
Basics
- Integrated connection broker (component for managing the connections to the virtual desktops)
- Integrated, resource-based load balancer (component for load balancing)
- Integrated HA (high availability, component for implementing redundancy)
- Shared storage is not absolutely necessary
- Works i. V. m. the Active Directory or a workgroup
- No SQL database or other separate database required
Handling and Integration
- Just an installation package
- One management console only
- Linked clones save space
- Integrated profile management
- Low demands on the administrators (no data center knowledge required)
- Support of all common hypervisors on the market (Citrix XenServer, VMware vSphere or Microsoft Hyper-V)
- Demand-oriented scaling
Access options
Access to Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is via the
- Citrix HDX protocol and the
- Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)
possible. About this is a
- high resolution user experience on almost any network as well as a
- extensive support of end devices
required.
Versions
Kaviza VDI-in-a-Box 4.1
The version Kaviza VDI-in-a-box 4.1 is the last version that was published before the product and company takeover by Citrix Systems.
VDI-in-a-Box 5.0
The version VDI-in-a-Box 5.0 is the first version fully published under Citrix Systems. Since then, the licenses can be obtained using the same ordering system as the other Citrix products and support has been fully integrated into the existing support structure of Citrix Systems. It is important to know that software maintenance is mandatory for the product in the year of purchase, even though, according to the catalog, these are two separate items.
In the course of the publication of VDI-in-a-Box 5.0, the partner program was expanded accordingly by Citrix Systems. In the Citrix Solution Advisor program , specializing place since SMB Specialist for the Citrix partners can certify in January 2012 found.
The newly added support for Microsoft Hyper-V is the most notable addition to the product version. Apart from that, VDI-in-a-Box has supported version 5.5 of the Citrix HDX protocol since then, which has made some improvements in the multimedia area, such as: B. Flash redirection and optimized audio quality for VoIP were achieved.
VDI-in-a-Box 5.1
Version VDI-in-a-Box 5.1 was published by Citrix Systems on August 21, 2012 and continues to focus on providing companies of all sizes with the most cost-effective and simple solution for operating a virtual infrastructure.
The main focus of the further development of the product was placed on greater end-user friendliness, higher reliability and further simplification of administration. The integration with other products from Citrix Systems was also pushed forward. Particularly noteworthy is the integration of the vDisk technology purchased from Ringcube and the latest NetScaler Access Gateway.
The new features of version in a short overview: Personalized virtual desktops ( Personalized Virtual desktops ), Active Directory reliability ( Active Directory failover ), indicating the complete machine name ( Ability to specify virtual desktop names ), support a virtual IP address for the farm ( Grid -wide virtual IP address ), Citrix HDX 5.6 Feature Pack 1 support, Active Directory search for users and groups ( Active Directory services search for users and groups ), Assignment of more than 1 vCPU ( Multiple virtual CPU ), Different domains for users and computers ( separate user and computer domains ), use of two data stores ( dual data stores ), remote desktop gateway, NTP time synchronization ( Network Time Protocol ) and improved Google Earth display ( Optimization for Google Earth ).
installation
The complete installation of Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is roughly summarized in three simple steps:
- Download and import the Citrix VDI-in-a-Box virtual appliance into the hypervisor.
- Login to the Citrix VDI-in-a-Box management console, the so-called vdiManager, for the purpose of importing the Windows master image and defining the number of desktops to be used.
- Configuration of Citrix VDI-in-a-Box for use with the Active Directory or a workgroup in order to define the access rights to the environment.
The virtual desktops can then be accessed via Citrix Receiver, Citrix HDX protocol, or Microsoft Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
literature
Web links
- Citrix VDI-in-a-Box - official homepage
- VDI-in-a-Box (English) - official site at Citrix Systems
Individual evidence
- ↑ Citrix takes over Kaviza - Article in IT-Business , from May 24, 2011
- ↑ Product overview for Citrix VDI-in-a-Box. (No longer available online.) Vdiinabox.net, July 29, 2012, archived from the original on August 13, 2012 ; Retrieved August 30, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Kaviza releases version 4.1 of VDI-in-a-box. firmenpresse.de, April 14, 2011, accessed on August 30, 2012 .
- ↑ Citrix Launches New SMB Business for Desktop Virtualization. (No longer available online.) Citrix Systems, October 24, 2011, archived from the original on August 29, 2012 ; Retrieved August 30, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Citrix VDI-in-a-Box 5.1 is available. (No longer available online.) Vdiinabox.net, August 25, 2012, archived from the original on January 16, 2014 ; Retrieved August 30, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ New Citrix VDI-in-a-Box Release Makes Simple, Affordable Virtual Desktops More Personal. (No longer available online.) Citrix Systems, August 21, 2012, formerly the original ; Retrieved August 30, 2012 . ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
