New Citrix XenServer Release To Further Virtualisation Adoption

Citrix Systems has unveiled a new version of Citrix XenServer – an enterprise-class, cloud-proven virtualisation platform – that will be offered free of charge to any user for unlimited production deployment.

This new release adds features like centralised multi-node management, multi-server resource sharing and full live motion. Core features of XenServer include the following:

- Centralised Management enables full multi-node management for an unlimited number of servers and virtual machines; includes easy physical-to-virtual and virtual-to-virtual conversion tools, centralised configuration management and a resilient distributed management architecture

- Live Motion and Multi-Server Resource Sharing incorporates XenMotion technology that allows virtual machines to be moved from server to server without service interruption for zero downtime; also includes optimal initial virtual machine placement and intelligent maintenance mode

- Fast Bare Metal Performance supports an unlimited number of servers and virtual machines with high consolidation ratios, near native performance on the most challenging application workloads, and virtually zero overhead in both Microsoft Windows and Linux environments

- Integrated Storage Management that supports any existing storage system; includes built-in storage management features such as host-based logical volume management, and dynamic multi-pathing capabilities

“This move is all about accelerating the adoption of virtualisation by tearing down the barriers of cost and complexity that have been in place for far too long,” said Simon Crosby, CTO, Virtualisation Management Division, Citrix. “The faster we can help customers virtualise the millions of servers that remain unvirtualised today, the sooner they can start adding significant value on top, transforming static data centres into dynamic delivery centres where every application, desktop and server workload is delivered as an on-demand service.”

Availability

The new free Citrix XenServer release will be available for download from the Citrix website and other download portals by the end of March 2009.