(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) — Less than three months after making the full XenServer platform available for unlimited production deployment at no charge, enterprise-class virtualization software provider Citrix Systems (www.citrix.com) has released XenServer 5.5, which adds a wide range of new features that enable easier virtualization management and broader integration with enterprise systems, as well as an online support community for the rapidly expanding XenServer user base.
According to Citrix’s announcement this week, the new XenServer release provides all the functionality of similar virtualization products that typically cost up to $5,000 per server. Unlike basic hypervisors that have been free for years, however, XenServer includes powerful features such as centralized multi-node management, built-in storage and full live motion.
“Making XenServer free was not a one-time publicity move; it was an integral part of our strategy to accelerate the rate of virtualization adoption and address the more than 75 percent of servers that still have not been virtualized today,” Citrix Systems virtualization management division senior vice president and general manager Peter Levine said in a statement. “The new XenServer 5.5 release is a clear demonstration that Citrix will continue investing heavily in making XenServer the most compelling open virtualization platform on the market today.”
Since its release, XenServer has been downloaded more than 100,000 times in more than 50 countries. The latest version of XenServer includes features such as consolidated backup, enhanced conversion and search tools, Active Directory integration and expanded guest support for virtually every version of Windows and Linux operating systems.
Citrix also released version 5.5 of Citrix Essentials for XenServer and Hyper-V this week, which provides advanced virtualization management capabilities for customers using Citrix XenServer or Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. Citrix Essentials 5.5 enhances both of these high-growth virtualization platforms by adding expanded storage integration, automated lab and stage management and dynamic workload balancing.
“By combining the free XenServer with the advanced management capabilities in Citrix Essentials,” Levine said, “customers now have a proven alternative that meets all the requirements for enterprise-class virtualization at a fraction of the cost.”
In support of its new releases, Citrix has also launched a new XenServer online community. XenServer Central (www.citrix.com/xenservercentral) is a resource to help XenServer users enhance their use of the XenServer platform, featuring the latest product information, tips and tricks, access to the Citrix KnowledgeCenter and web-based support forums.
