Citrix Xen Based Client Hypervisor - Local Desktop Virtualization

[hilarytop]

บักควย

[enish4ever]

AHAAA, So the truth finally comes out...

CITRIX IS SEEKING WORLD DOMINATION!

[ClientHypervisor]

very cool, but this is almost identical to Virtual Computer's product which is available and shipping today!

[blech95]

Actually no.

If it was a Virtual Compurter's product, how does this man could see an HD video AND a 3D product at the same time? This is just amazing!

[CitrixDemo]

It's Big Buck Bunny from the open movie project.

[ClownrockerChris]

What is that awesome HD video playing? Because it was really funny and I want to see that actual video :)

[jabberwolf]

Whats even cooler.. you can start up your VM session from the Xenserver, have it streamed down to you.

Then once done, it switches over so the processing is done locally!

So major up time if you have to switch computers out for a user!

[xNAgff]

Impressive. Can I accomplish this with just the free (as in freedom) parts of Xen?

[gr4tuitou5]

This is exactly the sort of thing I was hoping to find when I recently invested in a shiny new PC with VT enabled CPU: a baremetal hypervisor with great desktop support for DOM Us on the same machine. Guess I have to wait a little longer...

[pipedragon]

Another thing I just thought of. Citrix is really shooting themselves in the foot here. They are making a client hypervisor to run off-line desktops right?

So how will you access their XenApps/Citrix apps when you are offline? Vmware uses thinstalled apps that can run on the off-line desktop so those are available off-line. Humm... will this client hypervisor put presentation server out of business? Citrix should really focus on what they are good at before Windows server 2008 takes them out!

[CitrixDemo]

Sorry, Actually XenApp has had the ability to stream apps and run them offline in an isloated environment for offline use for some time. The great thing is that you can use the same application definition on the backend to stream or deliver (via ICA) the application.

[rjtd]

And how about 3d, video and HD access on the "business" desktop of the demo? Is it nonexistant?

[CitrixDemo]

You can do video, etc on the business desktop as well. Just a little less need to watch highdef video for work :).

[isitaboat]

I think rjtd means is the video hardware available to both instances?

I'd add - is it available to both at the same time?

[CitrixDemo]

There are multiple projects going on with Xen to handle this in different ways. One is to pass the GPU right into the guest so you can have multple GPUs on a system one for each guest the other is to do 3D acceleration up to the guest in which case their is a layer of software involved to share the underlying video hardware.

[simonh2665]

They are not copying VMware they are leading and working with Intel. No proprietary drivers like VMware direct to Intel-V. Get your facts right!

[pipedragon]

Leading hugh? Show me a press release that Citrix announced their VDI plans before Vmware. Citrix bought XEN out of fear that Vmware would take them out. Citrix has no vision of the future without Vmware announcing it first. These are just the facts.

[pipedragon]

How long is Citrix going to be able to copy Vmware?

Go ahead, delete my comment since you can't handle the truth!

[Phisnarus68]

Pipedream, read the commentary below - VMWare just has a PR statement almost 6 months old and nothing to back it up... nada.

[thinclientcomputing]

Outstanding, this is a powerful new tool- looking forward to general availability. The direct access to video is impressive

[CitrixDemo]

Dom0 is still in there handling the network and storage I/O but we can actually allow the Windows VM to have much more direct access to the video hardware now.

[kw4096]

Intriguing - any more details about how this works? Normally the Xen hypervisor uses a Linux kernel (dom0) to handle low-level hardware access, I'd be surprised though if that's what's happening here.

[fraleyl]

Looks pretty impressive. I'll take 5, please. :)

[cathundrr]

You should see VMware's (Client Hypervisor)! It is much more mature than this Citrix offering. These guys seem to be always following in VMware's footsteps...

[fraleyl]

where can i get a look at the vmware client hypervisor? i've read up a bunch on their vClient initiative, but haven't seen anything in the way of a product demo yet or a deeper dive.

[CitrixDemo]

Check with VMware :). It's not yet shipping.

[CitrixDemo]

What you see here is actually a true bare metal client hypervisor. Its much more complex to build but provides much higher levels of performance and a high definition user experience. Plus it provides very high levels of security. VMware is using their existing workstation technology. Check it out its not a real hypervisor just workstation running on a small Linux install.

[omapere]

ummm ... VMware don't have one. Like a lot of their VDI initiative it hasn't shipped yet! What you see about will change the game ...

[Phisnarus68]

Nice try cathundrr, take your VMWare paycheck and spend it wisely. We're not betting our careers on yet another non-credible statement... give us a demo, a prototype, a slideshow... anything but another vaporware PR release.

[cathundrr]

Yes, because VMware never releases a decent product - those 14 + million ESX servers must be just lucky I guess...VMware is just vaporware...that's funny...I'm guessing you didn't really read the Brian Madden link (but hey, you must be right dude - VMware must just be announcing and releasing a Client Hypervisor for grins :).

BTW, I don't work for VMware, I just know a better product when I see it

Enjoy the world through your rose colored glasses my friend...

[Phisnarus68]

To my point before - the only thing VMWare has released is a PR statement about client-based hypervisor... in September '08. Nothing to bet your career on. So, if you 'know a better product when you see it', redeem yourself and pop up a video showing their client based hypervisor in action.

[pipedragon]

Those who have gold do not need to show it off.