The document summarizes new features in Project Excalibur, the technology preview of Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp. Key points include: - Unified management of desktops and apps with a single architecture and tools. - Simplified configuration with intelligent wizards and delegated administration. - Support for Windows Server 2012, Windows 8, and mobile access optimization. - Automated personal desktop provisioning and profile management. - Improved monitoring, troubleshooting, and multi-site support capabilities.

1. Was ist neu in XenDesktop / XenApp
Roger Bösch
Citrix Systems International GmbH

2. Project Avalon:
Excalibur & Merlin

3. Windows
as a true
cloud service

4. Where were we today?

5. Hosted
Physical VDI Local
Shared
Heavy 3D Workloads, Scalable, Laptop
XenDesktop
workloads, Personal XenApp
Affordable XenClient
Users
Remote PC Desktops
access

6. Today: Separation of Owners & Roles
Current Desktops & Apps Architecture Receiver
Web Interface
Delivery
EdgeSight PCM PVS Desktop
Services
Console Console Console Studio
Console
IMA
Power &
Controller Capacity Controller
Mgmt
IMA DB WMI CBP DB
Server OS Provisioning Desktop OS
Workers PVS Services Workers
XenApp 6.5 Farm XenDesktop 5.6 FP1 Site
(IMA) (FMA)

7. Where were we tomorrow?

8. Hosted
Physical VDI Local
Shared
Heavy 3D Workloads, Scalable, Laptop
workloads, Excalibur
Personal Affordable XenClient
Users
Remote PC Desktops
access

9. Unification
Future: One Desktops & Apps Team
FlexCast Management Architecture Receiver
Storefront
Director Studio
Delivery
Controller SQL
DB
VDA VDA
Server OS Desktop OS
workers Workers
Desktops & Apps Farm

10. project
Excalibur

11. 3 Pillars
UNIFICATION MISSION-CRITICAL
VALUE
Phase 1
Excalibur and health management
Simplifying IT Operations Proactive risk
(aka Formerly Jasper)

12. 12

13. 13

14. project
Cloud readiness
Tenants

15. 3 Pillars
CLOUD SERVICES
VALUE
Phase 2
Simplifying IT Operations Proactive risk and health management
Merlin
Seamless delivery to any
cloud

16. Avalon Service Delivery Platform
Delivering Desktops, Apps, and Data as a Service
Workflows to design Manager services and allow
CloudPortal Service and create
Self Service Portal
subscribers to consume plans
Partner Self-Service Consoles
Orchestrate and automate the service creation,
FlexCast Orchestration Technology
Orchestration Engine configuration, and maintenance
XenDesktop, XenApp
Deliver services across any FlexCast model and product
Desktop/App Delivery
Cloud Infrastructure Consume infrastructure service offerings from
CloudStack, AWS, Microsoft, traditional hypervisors
private/public cloud as well as traditional virtual
resources

17. Cloud-style
Service Orchestration
XenDesktop
XA XD XD XenApp
VDI-in-a-Box
|NEXT
XA XD XD
v6+ v5+ v5+
CloudStack
Any Cloud
Compute Compute Network Storage

18. Use Case
Multi-site, Multi-datacenter FlexCast management
AG + SF Focus
• Customers to manage XD & XA from single
FlexCast
Orchestration orchestration layer across locations on existing
virtual infrastructure
LS
XD XA Value Delivered
AD • Single pane of glass to manage XA 6.5 farms
and XD.next sites
Pers • Centralized configuration for StoreFront
• Unified help desk functionality
Enterprise Datacenter(s) • Simplify rollout of updated desktop images
• XD.next deployment automation scripts
Traditional Virtual Infrastructure

19. Use Case
Flexing to the cloud for added capacity
AG + SF Focus
Cloud Provider
• Enterprises that want short-term
App Orchestration
use in a public cloud for M&A, DR,
etc.
MPLS
LS Value Delivered
XD XA
XD XA
• Single pane of glass to manage XA
AD 6.5 farms and XD.next sites
• Support complex multi-domain and
Pers multi-forest AD environment
• Provision workloads using
Enterprise Central IT CloudStack or AWS
Virtual Infrastructure

20. Whats in Tech Preview
• Project Avalon Excalibur Technology Preview
Release Date: 10/17/2012 11/01/2012
• New features include:
• Simplified, unified, and expanded FlexCast 2.0 architecture
New unified FlexCast 2.0 architecture combines simplified and integrated provisioning and
personalization tools for both desktops and apps, either VDI-based or Server-based.
• Intelligent configuration tools
New intelligent configuration tools for deploying desktops and apps that proactively check configuration
errors in real time while streamlining the provisioning of profile management and storefront settings.
• Storefront for apps & data
Create centralized enterprise app stores to deliver desktops, applications, and other resources to users
on any device, anywhere with the Citrix StoreFront.
• HDX Mobile, Device Optimized Graphics *SuperCodec
New enhancements to HDX using Deep Compression Codec technology double the visual performance
of desktops and apps to mobile devices dynamically adapting for device type, form factor and network
connection while still leveraging the processing power of modern tablets and smartphones.

21. Whats in Tech Preview continued
• Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8
Host Windows 8 VDI desktops or VM hosted applications in addition to Windows Server 2012 RDS-based
desktops and applications. This tech preview also supports Windows 2008R2/SP1 and Windows 7.
• Delegated Administration
Enterprise-class administration model includes role-based access, custom roles with configurable
permissions, and fine-grained, object-based control.
• Advanced Configuration Logging
Capture site configuration changes and administrative activities within a single tool, Desktop Studio. Use
Desktop Studio to diagnose and troubleshoot problems after configuration changes are made, assist
change management, track configurations, and report administration activity.
• Personal vDisk Improvements
Improve scalability with performance enhancements designed to optimize resource utilization, deliver
updates faster with the newly enhanced personal vDisk update process, and experience how an
improved architecture increases the number of apps compatible with personal vDisk technology.

22. Demo / Screenshots
Excalibur Installation

23. Terminology Changes
• XenDesktop Controller == Delivery Controller
• VDA == Delivery Agent (DA)
• Desktop Studio == Studio
• Desktop Director == Director
• Catalog == Machine Catalog
• Desktop Group == Delivery Group
• RDS Machine == Windows Server OS Machine
• VDI Machine == Windows Desktop OS Machine
• XenDesktop Logo == Citrix Logo

24. Scenario based Deployment Guide
http://www.citrix.com/techpreview/projectavalonexcalibur

25. Excalibur TP - Installation

26. Excalibur TP – Full Deploy

27. VDA Installation

28. Excalibur TP – Machine Catalog

29. Delivery Groups

30. Excalibur Management
Role and Workflow Specific Experience
Studio Director

31. • Configure & Manage
• Provision/Update workers !!
• Deliver Apps & Desktops
• Track Changes & Admins
• Automated Support

32. (Desktop) Studio Overview

33. Demo Studio

34. Excalibur Management
Role and Workflow Specific Experience
Studio Director

35. • Operational support
• Helpdesk centric
• Supports Delegated Admin
• Reduce TTR
• Multisite support

37. Demo Director

38. Director - Trends (not in TP2)

45. Project Excalibur Tech Preview
Core service delivery for desktops and apps…
Preferences
Data
Apps
OS
FlexCast Intuitive Simplified,
Integration Configuration Automated
Personal Desktops
• XenApp & XenDesktop shares a • New wizards simplify configuration, • Automate desktop creation
common architecture policies, licensing • Storefront Svcs.
• Virtual Delivery Agent for • Configuration Logging & Delegated • Profile Mgmt.
delivering desktops and apps Admin • Folder Redirection
from servers and desktops OS’es • Personal vDisk

46. Project Excalibur Tech Preview
Improving user experience & admin support
Hi Definition Next-generation Predictive global
Experience platforms monitoring
• Network condition-based adaptive • Windows 8 & Server 2012 • Improved Director UI &
Flash redirection (inc 2K8R2 + Win7/XP/Vista) expanded support capacity
• Improved server & client-rendered • Hyper-V 3.0 • Multi-site monitoring
graphics for Win7 & Win8 • SCCM/SCVMM 2012 SP1
• Transcoding to H.264 & adaptive • SQL Server 2012
display for better mobile device • IPv6
support
• HDX 3D Pro & Flash re-direction on
Win8

47. Project Excalibur Tech Preview
Real-time Multimedia Transcoding
Windows Media Client-Side content Fetching (CSF)
Windows Media Multicast Support via CSF
Improved Webcam Video
Compression
UDP Audio for Hosted Shared Desktops

48. Controllers & Workers
• Controllers
ᵒ Windows Server 2008 R2
ᵒ Windows Server 2012
• Workers
ᵒ Windows XP / Windows Vista
ᵒ Windows 7 / Windows 8
ᵒ Windows Server 2008 R2 / Windows Server 2012

49. Work better. Live better.