Evaluate

Evaluate

Weigh the pros and cons of technologies, products and projects you are considering.

• How application layering reinvents remote app delivery

  VDI shops don't need to install applications within virtual desktops for apps to interact with the host operating system. Instead, they can deliver and manage applications separately using app layering. Continue Reading

• Three ways to guarantee VDI users a top-notch UX

  There's no point in deploying virtual desktops that perform poorly. Luckily, there are several ways to help guarantee a strong user experience. Continue Reading

• Four key components that make Citrix HDX tick

  Citrix HDX is a group of remote display technologies, rather than a single protocol, and IT can get a better handle on its XenApp and XenDesktop deployments by taking a look under the hood. Continue Reading

• How to bake up Raspberry Pi thin clients for VDI

  Raspberry Pis are one of the lowest-cost computing options out there, so it's only natural for IT to wonder whether they're suitable as thin clients for some enterprise use cases. Continue Reading

• Citrix SCOM Management Packs provide holistic XenDesktop monitoring

  Citrix XenDesktop Platinum customers can now benefit from the company's acquisition of management packs for a key Microsoft infrastructure monitoring tool. Continue Reading

• Converged and hyper-converged Infrastructure for VDI

  Using converged and hyper-converged infrastructure for desktop virtualization can reduce hardware compatibility problems and ease management. Converged infrastructure gives IT shops the opportunity to buy their entire hardware stack all at once. ...Continue Reading

• Virtual GPU is nearly ready for the enterprise masses

  GPU virtualization is traditionally only for virtual desktop users that need to run resource-intensive applications, but more competition among vendors could change that paradigm.Continue Reading

• Weigh hyper-converged vs. converged infrastructure systems

  Converged and hyper-converged infrastructure can help IT streamline performance and management of its VDI deployment. Despite similar names, CI and HCI use distinctly different architectures.Continue Reading

• How hyper-converged infrastructure platforms support VDI

  Converged infrastructure gives IT shops the opportunity to buy their entire hardware stack -- storage, networking, compute and server virtualization -- in one SKU. They can also add a software management layer and tightly integrate those components ...Continue Reading

• Liquidware Labs ProfileUnity brings users, apps and data together

  Windows roaming profiles and VDI vendors' user profile management tools often fall short of the user experience and IT control companies want, which is where Liquidware Labs ProfileUnity comes in.Continue Reading

• Don't worry so much about the mobile VDI user experience

  Traditionally, virtual desktops are harder to use on smartphones and tablets, but most endpoints work better now with VDI than in past years. Plus, IT has new products available to ease the pain.Continue Reading

• Four questions to ask before using Chromebook thin client devices

  Using Google Chromebooks as VDI clients can save organizations money and simplify IT management, but they're not the perfect fit for every company.Continue Reading

• Five Citrix news items you might have missed at Synergy 2016

  Citrix's relationship with Microsoft grew closer at Synergy 2016 -- which is no surprise given that CEO Kirill Tatarinov used to work there -- but it also touted several other product updates and strategic alliances.Continue Reading

• Raspberry Pi thin client devices are finally viable for the enterprise

  Citrix partnered with Raspberry Pi to create minimal-cost thin clients optimized for the HDX remote display protocol, providing a new way to lower the price of XenApp and XenDesktop deployments.Continue Reading

• How Liquidware Labs FlexApp tackles application layering

  For all the security and management benefits of delivering applications rather than full virtual desktops, it can often cause too much app isolation. FlexApp tries to find a balance between IT's competing interests.Continue Reading

• Three benefits of using hyper-converged infrastructure systems for VDI

  Hyper-converged infrastructure systems bring all the necessary back-end hardware and software to support a VDI deployment into a tightly-integrated chassis. Discover three ways HCI helps VDI shops, plus a few concerns to keep in mind.Continue Reading

• When single sign-on technology is a good fit for VDI

  As more VDI shops deliver virtual desktops separately from applications, single sign-on provides a way for IT to reduce users' burdens when it comes to multiple logins and remembering passwords.Continue Reading

• NComputing vSpace in focus after company ditches DaaS

  NComputing has been a solid, budget VDI and app virtualization vendor for a while, but it nearly wandered off a cliff while pursuing desktop as a service. Now the company is back to concentrating on what it does best.Continue Reading

• How to shelter users from a VDI boot storm

  Boot storms bring VDI deployments to a grinding halt, but batch booting and network interface card teaming can prevent the problem without having to buy new hardware.Continue Reading

• Compare Citrix Provisioning Services and Machine Creation Services

  One of the most important parts of setting up and managing a XenDesktop deployment is choosing which provisioning tool to use. Citrix provides one streaming option and another that creates VM clones.Continue Reading

• Consider using cheap Chromebook and Raspberry Pi devices for VDI

  The benefits of inexpensive VDI endpoints don't end with saving money. These devices, such as low-cost Google Chromebooks, can also improve security and make endpoint management easier.Continue Reading

• Future of Citrix looks clearer after turmoil

  Heading into Citrix Synergy 2016, the company is in much better shape than it was last year. Citrix pared down its product portfolio, but it didn't make any moves that will affect its end-user computing customers.Continue Reading

• Citrix Synergy 2016 conference coverage

  News and analysis from Citrix Synergy 2016, May 24-26 in Las Vegas.Continue Reading

• How to use Citrix AppDisk for application layering

  With Citrix AppDisk, XenApp and XenDesktop customers have another tool for delivering virtualized applications to users. IT administrators might also be able to reduce the amount of time they spend managing base images.Continue Reading

• Take a closer look at what's in VMware Workspace One

  After Citrix released a cloud-based management platform in 2015, VMware answered with Workspace One, which combines enterprise mobility management, user authentication and a virtual desktop platform.Continue Reading

• Which VDI vendors will fill the Dell vWorkspace void?

  Dell is no longer selling licenses to new vWorkspace customers. Other midmarket desktop and app virtualization vendors will be scrambling to earn a piece of vWorkspace's market share.Continue Reading

• Compare Citrix, VMware and Microsoft remote display protocol options

  As desktop and app virtualization technologies advance, the top vendors' remote display protocols are keeping pace. Citrix HDX, Microsoft RemoteFX, VMware Blast and Teradici PCoIP protocol can all support modern end-user computing.Continue Reading

• How Citrix Workspace Cloud compares to XenApp and XenDesktop

  Citrix Workspace Cloud includes XenDesktop and XenApp, but it also contains other features, such as mobile device management capabilities, and it's easier for IT and workers to use.Continue Reading

• Digital workspace products unite user resources

  Digital workspaces provide central access to, and management of, users' corporate resources, making it easier for IT and users to do their jobs. It's no surprise the workspace market is also the latest battle ground for Citrix and VMware.Continue Reading

• Which organizations don't need to deliver virtual workspaces?

  Virtual workspace products make employees' desktops, applications and data available to them in the office or remotely. But not every company is well-suited to reap benefits from workspace products.Continue Reading

• New CEO, unified management take center stage at Citrix Synergy 2016

  New Citrix CEO Kirill Tatarinov will set the tone for Synergy 2016 with his opening keynote, but IT administrators have plenty else to look forward to after recent updates to XenApp, XenDesktop and XenMobile.Continue Reading

• Dell Windows 10 thin clients boost virtual desktop security

  Dell is banking on the success of Microsoft's Windows 10 IoT Enterprise operating system by incorporating it into two of its Wyse 5000 and 7000 series thin clients.Continue Reading

• Why VDI is perfect for managing remote employees

  Organizations trying to support remote employees should look to VDI, which puts users in a controlled environment and makes it easier to provide support, manage licenses and ensure security.Continue Reading

• The rise of virtual workspace management tools

  It seems like every major vendor in the virtual desktop market has a "workspace" tool, designed to give users one portal to all the resources they need and simplify management for IT. But the use cases for workspaces are still emerging. Startups are...Continue Reading

• Four ways mobile VDI access is changing -- and one way it's not

  The mobile device landscape is constantly advancing, and it's altering how IT shops deliver virtual desktops and applications to on-the-go employees. Learn how to keep up with the times.Continue Reading

• Citrix Secure Browser is a new way to deploy Web apps

  Citrix's Secure Browser tool is a smart way for the company to repurpose existing technology to provide IT with full-service, hosted XenApp environments, available as Web applications.Continue Reading

• Three security features to look for in DaaS providers

  Concerns about cloud-hosted virtual desktop security are mostly overblown. IT should be okay as long as it evaluates DaaS providers by how well they ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability.Continue Reading

• What custom services do DaaS vendors offer?

  It takes a lot of work to learn how to secure and manage cloud-hosted desktops. But, if it's an option financially, organizations could consider some of the upgraded services DaaS vendors offer to make IT's job easier.Continue Reading

• Finding a compliant DaaS platform isn't always easy

  DaaS providers meet most common compliance standards that affect virtual desktops, but IT shops dealing with industry-specific regulations need to find vendors that specialize in those requirements.Continue Reading

• How DaaS providers meet security and compliance requirements

  Desktop as a service (DaaS) lets businesses deliver desktops and applications to users from the cloud. The advantages include less management for IT and a steady, predictable subscription-based cost model. But companies that have to meet security ...Continue Reading

• AppSense-LANDesk marriage leads to a honeymoon for IT

  LANDesk has a product portfolio that includes nearly everything but the type of user environment management AppSense specializes in. The AppSense-LANDesk deal is too good a fit to not go well.Continue Reading

• What hyper-converged appliances can -- and can't -- do for VDI

  Hyper-converged infrastructure and VDI are joined at the hip. VMware vExpert Alastair Cooke explains the link to help VDI shops determine whether HCI is a good fit for their company.Continue Reading

• How well do you know VDI user profile management tools?

  Take this quiz and see if you're a pro when it comes to Citrix User Profile Management, VMware View Persona Management and some of the other top user profile management tools.Continue Reading

• When to support virtual GPU technology

  The debate over the usefulness of virtual graphics processing units is over. Now it's a matter of deciding whether GPU virtualization is worth the price tag and which users need that extra hardware acceleration.Continue Reading

• Explore the ins and outs of Microsoft Azure RemoteApp

  Azure RemoteApp is useful for delivering apps via the cloud, but admins should keep licensing and app compatibility in mind, and learn how apps function differently in the cloud.Continue Reading

• How Citrix USB redirection supports stylus peripherals

  A new feature in XenDesktop and XenApp makes it easier for stylus users, artists and engineers to link USB peripheral devices to their virtual desktops and applications, even when they're far away from the office.Continue Reading

• Remote desktop USB redirection is still a tightrope act

  Workers want to use their USB devices with virtual desktops, but to match the performance of a physical PC, IT has to provide a strong network connection and overcome the various hurdles of VDI software.Continue Reading

• Be picky about which devices USB redirection supports

  Enabling USB redirection can help win over virtual desktop users, but IT has to be smart about how it treats devices that can cause performance issues, such as scanners and webcams.Continue Reading

• Why and how to migrate from Citrix XenApp 6.5

  With all the tumult around XenApp over the last few years, some Citrix shops stuck with version 6.5. But it's time to start planning the switch over to the FlexCast Management Architecture.Continue Reading

• A good VDI pilot gets deployments off the ground

  Countless VDI projects circle the drain because administrators don't test virtual desktop performance thoroughly enough. A good pilot program positions a VDI implementation for success.Continue Reading

• VMware Horizon Air Hybrid-Mode bets big on cloud-based desktops

  VMware finally introduced its competitor to Citrix Workspace Cloud, but the company's new management offering is also a wager that Horizon Air cloud-based desktops will catch on.Continue Reading

• How to handle Windows 10 virtual desktops

  Don't expect the transition to Windows 10 VDI to be a breeze. Admins have to plan the upgrade process and deal with any problems around app compatibility, virtual desktop images and VM density.Continue Reading

• Do you know how to use HTML5 browsers as VDI clients?

  HTML5 clients offer a way for users to access their virtual desktops through a Web browser. Put your HTML5 client knowledge to the test with this quiz.Continue Reading

• VMware Horizon 7 Blast protocol provides a rival for PCoIP

  VMware made a pair of noteworthy changes in Horizon 7, adding its proprietary remote display protocol and the VM cloning feature it developed in Project Fargo.Continue Reading

• Windows usage isn't coming to an end -- it's just changing

  Windows isn't in full decline, but a lot of devices now run other operating systems. That's part of the reason IT administrators should concentrate less on virtual desktops and more on Windows apps.Continue Reading

• Ditch Windows virtual desktops and deliver apps individually

  Windows isn't going anywhere, but its role in desktop virtualization is changing. Users want their apps, and there are plenty of ways to deliver them rather than full Windows virtual desktops.Continue Reading

• Compare top tools for deploying virtualized applications

  Microsoft App-V, Citrix XenApp and VMware ThinApp are among the most tried and tested platforms for virtualizing and publishing apps. Discover the ins and outs of each product to see how they compare to each other.Continue Reading

• What's new in VMware App Volumes 3.0?

  App Volumes was a big addition to VMware's application virtualization portfolio. Learn how new features in version 3.0, such as AppToggle, could fix some of its deficiencies.Continue Reading

• How to nail your VDI migration from pilot to production

  To transition from a VDI pilot program to a full production environment, move users over in waves and keep your old PCs, at least for a while, to handle any unexpected problems.Continue Reading

• Peruse the VDI client showroom to find your style

  Finding the right VDI client is crucial to delivering virtual desktops users will enjoy working with. HTML5 browsers, thin clients, zero clients and repurposed PCs are all viable options.Continue Reading

• How does Citrix HDX 3D Pro support GPU virtualization?

  IT administrators can use Citrix HDX to deliver graphics-intensive applications in XenDesktop and XenApp, but they'll need HDX 3D Pro to optimize the application performance even more and limit bandwidth consumption.Continue Reading

• New remote desktop client offers a shortcut for mobile users

  There's a new remote desktop client on the block, and it integrates with Citrix XenApp. HopTo's Mobile App eXperience uses simple keyboard shortcuts to make Windows apps mobile friendly.Continue Reading

• How does Citrix StoreFront work with XenApp and XenDesktop?

  Citrix's enterprise app store can help VDI shops transition to a mobile-friendly virtual desktop and application strategy by broadening remote access and providing a simpler user interface for employees.Continue Reading

• Pricing adjustments position Citrix Workspace Cloud for success

  Citrix aimed high -- too high -- with its initial Workspace Cloud pricing. The company wisely announced it will lower CWC costs before VMware comes out with its competitor product Project Enzo.Continue Reading

• How GPU cards change the app game for VDI

  Graphics processing units and virtual GPUs (vGPUs) are valuable for workers who use graphics-heavy applications, but they can also provide significant performance improvements for other users, too. Workers who use computer-aided design applications ...Continue Reading

• Predictions revisited: Microsoft DaaS, app refactoring and HPE Moonshot

  Citrix and VMware both ignored application refactoring in 2015, and Microsoft focused on Windows 10 instead of developing a DaaS platform. Learn why things could change on those fronts this year.Continue Reading

• Evaluate SimpliVity vs. Nutanix hyper-converged infrastructure for VDI

  Nutanix and SimpliVity are chief competitors in the hyper-converged infrastructure market. The former has a longer track record, but SimpliVity is turning heads with its resource efficiency.Continue Reading

• How to detect virtual desktop configuration drift

  Checking for configuration compliance is a time-consuming job, but administrators need to make sure virtual desktops don't drift too far away from their organization's preferred settings.Continue Reading

• Smackdown: Citrix User Profile Management vs. VMware View Persona Management

  VMware and Citrix's user profile management tools help secure virtual desktop data and reduce latency during login and logoff better than basic Windows roaming profiles. Learn how the two vendors treat profiles differently.Continue Reading

• Are virtual desktops as vulnerable to malware attacks as PCs?

  Administrators still need to worry about malware on virtual desktops, but common VDI configuration and management practices make them inherently more secure than PCs.Continue Reading

• Do you need malware protection on a VDI thin client?

  There are plenty of options for VDI thin client devices out there, and most are safe to use without antimalware software. Learn which thin client needs extra protection and why.Continue Reading

• Citrix news dominated busy year in desktop virtualization

  Citrix news stole the spotlight in 2015 with an internal struggle that included an activist investor, a revolving door at CEO and several notable product announcements.Continue Reading

• What are the security benefits of using thin client devices?

  Thin clients are useful endpoints for organizations that support VDI, because they provide an extra layer of protection from user-initiated security risks.Continue Reading

• What are the biggest challenges of nonpersistent VDI security?

  It's hard for hackers to cause much long-term damage to a nonpersistent desktop, but good luck trying to audit and investigate security vulnerabilities on those desktops.Continue Reading

• How well do you know virtual GPU technology?

  GPU virtualization offloads graphics rendering from a user's device to the data center. Using a virtual GPU makes VDI possible for graphics-intensive apps.Continue Reading

• Citrix Workspace Cloud pricing is an opportunity for VMware to pounce

  VMware is preparing a cloud-based centralized management product to compete with Citrix Workspace Cloud, and it won't be hard to beat the latter's price.Continue Reading

• Top drivers behind desktop virtualization adoption

  We surveyed about 500 IT and business professionals on why they use desktop virtualization, and more than half of them listed the same four reasons. Find out those results and more with this infographic.Continue Reading

• How do nonpersistent and persistent desktop management differ?

  Persistent virtual desktops might be more like physical PCs, but nonpersistent desktops are easier to manage, because they run from one golden image and don't require as much storage.Continue Reading

• How do AppSense DesktopNow and RES ONE Suite compare?

  AppSense and RES Software started out creating virtual desktop management products. Both vendors now offer well-rounded workspace management suites, but with slightly different areas of focus.Continue Reading

• How do Citrix Workspace Cloud and VMware Project Enzo compare?

  Cloud-based management platforms could make it faster and easier for admins to deploy and manage virtual desktops, apps and files. It's easy to see why Citrix and VMware are both getting in on the game.Continue Reading

• Prove your knowledge of VMware Horizon 6 remote app publishing

  Put your knowledge of VMware Horizon 6 Remote Desktop Session Host to the test, including how to publish remote apps and how to set up an RDSH farm.Continue Reading

• Compare Citrix XenApp 7.6 and VMware Horizon 6 RDSH

  Citrix XenApp still rules the roost among app remoting products, but VMware has made up a lot of ground since it began supporting RDSH in its Horizon 6 suite.Continue Reading

• Which VDI client has the best long-term viability?

  Using physical desktops, thin clients and HTML5 browsers are all good options for delivering VDI. Organizations are best off choosing the most cost-effective approach.Continue Reading

• Should businesses use HTML5 remote desktop clients?

  HTML5 clients can serve as a widely accessible, mobile friendly way for users to access virtual desktops, but there are still a few security kinks to work out.Continue Reading

• How does virtual desktop performance compare to PCs?

  Virtual desktops need to perform similar to physical desktops, or else users become frustrated. Most companies now have enough back-end resources to support speedy VDI connections.Continue Reading

• Pros and cons of using an HTML5 browser as a VDI client

  Although HTML5 clients don't provide enough security for some organizations, they're one of the easiest and most widely available options for delivering remote desktops to employees.Continue Reading

• Why now is the time to consider application refactoring

  Desktop virtualization on mobile devices often proves frustrating for end users. But with app refactoring, you can deliver mobile-friendly versions of the Windows apps workers need.Continue Reading

• Parallels Desktop makes virtualizing Windows on a Mac easy

  Plenty of companies use a mix of Windows and Mac computers. IT administrators can use Parallels Desktop Business Edition to provide employees with access to Windows on any computer.Continue Reading

• What does the Dell-EMC deal mean for vWorkspace?

  Dell's acquisition of EMC will also make it the largest stakeholder in desktop virtualization leader VMware. So what happens to Dell vWorkspace, the company's own VDI platform?Continue Reading

• Everything you need to know about GPU virtualization

  GPU virtualization makes virtual desktops a strong option for users who need graphics-intensive apps, because this technology moves graphics rendering to the data center.Continue Reading

• Test your knowledge of hyper-converged infrastructure for VDI

  Prove how well you know hyper-converged infrastructure with our quiz on vendor offerings, hardware upgrades, the contents of an HCI stack and more.Continue Reading

• What's new with VMware Horizon 6.2, EVO SDDC and Project Enzo?

  VMworld may have been a letdown in terms of desktop virtualization news, but VMware did announce Horizon 6.2 and update its EVO:RACK plans, which should interest large VDI shops.Continue Reading

• What are the benefits of deploying Linux virtual desktops?

  Not everyone will need Linux virtual desktops, but one bonus that could sway organizations is not dealing with Windows VDI licensing costs.Continue Reading

• Why the Type 2 hypervisor is making a comeback

  Type 1 hypervisors used to provide a superior user experience, but advances in desktop and laptop technology have erased that advantage, and Type 2 client hypervisors are now back en vogue.Continue Reading

• Citrix XenClient is going away, but what will replace it?

  Citrix's announcement that it will stop selling XenClient didn't include any plans to replace its Type 1 hypervisor. VDI shops are left wondering what's next.Continue Reading

• Differences between EVO:RAIL, Virtual SAN Ready Nodes and Rapid Desktop Appliance

  VMware offers three converged and hyper-converged products that may appeal to VDI shops, but each one works a little bit differently.Continue Reading

• What's the difference between a VM clone and a template?

  Creating virtual machine templates and clones are quick-and-easy ways to deploy multiple VMs, but for your VDI environment to thrive, you should know the best use cases for each method.Continue Reading

• What VMware certification program changes affect VDI admins?

  VMware certificate holders should get ready to do their homework. Nearly all VMware certification programs include new, more strenuous requirements.Continue Reading

• DaaS providers stack deck in their favor with SLAs

  Cloud and desktop-as-a-service providers have ways to keep your money once you subscribe to their offerings. When you sign on the dotted line, you get the assurance of a service-level agreement (SLA) that guarantees uptime for your hosted desktops, ...Continue Reading

• Which hyper-converged systems are best for VDI?

  Hyper-converged systems provide an opportunity for IT departments to streamline the data center, but VDI shops need to make sure their system meets virtualization-specific parameters.Continue Reading