[THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE

  • From: Jan <tinybeetle@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 24 Feb 2009 07:29:29 -0500

So what features are included in the free version? They didn't list
much in the announcement.

On 2/23/09, Greg Reese <gareese@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> looks official now......
>
> http://www.citrix.com/English/NE/news/news.asp?newsID=1687130
>
> the free Xen server, not MS buying anything.
>
> Greg
>
> On Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 9:34 AM, Andrew Wood
> <andrew.wood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>wrote:
>
>>  Microsoft  won't buy Citrix – there's no technology that Citrix have that
>> Microsoft don't already have in-house.  Citrix sales  generate Microsoft
>> revenue – there is no reason that MS needs to take them on board and there
>> never really has been imo
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On
>> Behalf Of *Greg Reese
>> *Sent:* 21 February 2009 18:59
>> *To:* thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Subject:* [THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE
>>
>>
>>
>> So Citrix can give Xen away, erode market share from VMWare, and once
>> Citrix has completed this feat, Microsoft will once and for all break down
>> and buy Citrix after all these years thus solidifying themselves as the
>> leader again.
>>
>> Greg
>>
>> On Sat, Feb 21, 2009 at 11:55 AM, Steve Greenberg <steveg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>
>> A very important factor to consider here is the larger market picture
>> otherwise known as the 800lb Gorilla!!!
>>
>> . Microsoft has made it clear that virtualization will be a feature of the
>> OS going forward. MS fully intends to bundle the hypervisor and sell the
>> managment toolsi that is the new market landscape.
>>
>> In light of that Citrix is best positioned to embrace reality and leverage
>> it to support and sell their whole product line.
>>
>> No XEN is not as mature as VMWare but that only matters if you actually
>> need the additional features. XEN actually is a better hypervisor with not
>> as good tools, but serves a big segment of the market well. Most of all it
>> performs and integrates really well with XenApp and XenDesktop and
>> Provisioning Server.
>>
>> As a result we are delivering amazing integrated solutions with support
>> from a single vendor-without huge and complex storage requirements...
>> .
>> VMWare is great but it ends where people need the most help- Application
>> Delivery!!
>>
>>
>> At one time it was inconceivable that hokey MS products could ever replace
>> Novell or that free LINUX would ever be adopted in the Enterprise.
>>
>> From my point of view in the near future Citrix will rapidly advance in
>> adoption because it saves real money and solves the more painful
>> issues......
>>
>> Steve Greenberg
>>
>> Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
>>  ------------------------------
>>
>> *From*: "Stefan Timmermans"
>> *Date*: Sat, 21 Feb 2009 14:37:55 +0100
>>
>>
>> *To*: <thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> *Subject*: [THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE
>>
>> Dear all,
>>
>>
>>
>> Let me give you a brief feature list of Xen
>>
>>
>>
>> Xenserver uses ext3/LVM of Linux > < Vmware uses propriepary VMFS1/VMFS2
>> volumes with limitations in number of files and file depth and copying to
>> and from other deives (imports/exports)
>>
>> Xenserver has Xenmotion = Vmotion
>>
>> Xenserver has NIC Bonding (since Xen5) = NIC bonding VMware
>>
>> Xenserver has intiuitive Xen commands = Vmware improved on that too in ESX
>> 3.X
>>
>> Xenserver offers performance data = vmwate does that too
>>
>> Xenserver has Xentools = VMware Tools
>>
>> Xenserver was les then 1/3 of the Vmware Price and some suggest that on
>> Vmworld Xen will be offered free
>>
>> Xenserver has Xenapp temlates that are optimised  for Xenserver , only 2
>> to
>> 7 % overhead compared to physical according to Tolly an independent
>> performance report
>>
>> Enclosed
>>
>> Xenserver offers High availability meaning resource pools and hostfailure
>> ,
>> vmware failover !
>>
>> Xenserver offers Datacenter failover beit on another way then VMwares
>> solution to automate the whole stuff and generate report
>>
>> Xenserver has an HCL http://hcl.xensource.com/, surely not as
>> comprenhensive as Vmware !,
>>
>> Xenserver uses paravirtualisation & hardware assist runs only on Intel/AMD
>> supporting 64 bit CPUs VT or alike CPUs (this is no problem anymore
>> eversince august 2006 and later)
>>
>> Xenserver  is working (with HW vendors) / might already have Xenserver
>> from
>> USB/Solid State Drives
>>
>> Xenserver uses the Xenserver diskformat (xva) but you could as easily
>> store
>> your files in VHD (MS Hyper V ) format !
>>
>> XenServer is linked to XenDesktop & Citrix Provisioning server allowing to
>> store VHD
>>
>> Xenserver adds in paravirutalisation for older Redhad (Entreprise Server
>> 3)
>>  & Suse versions (Suse 9/10) or just as well directly deploy
>>
>> Native Linux virtualisation embedded in te Linux distribution
>>
>> Xenserver is very tightly integrated with NetApp (NAS , Network attached
>> storage) and the latter supports de-deplucation, meaning that if you store
>>
>> 10 windows images of windows, it optmises storage that if it findes a file
>> on 10 systems, only one file will be kept. The NETAPP add-on allows
>>
>> to keep track of files on the storage block level ! (no-one can better
>> compare files then on blocklevel, consider the way Acronis TrueImage &
>> Ghost
>> made backup on block level)
>>
>> Xenserver initially supported NAS, SAN over HBS but no High Availibility
>> in
>> Xen 4/4.1 (has change though from Xen 4 to Xen 5) and  Iscsi exists as
>> well
>> (though not sure if this one supports HA).
>>
>> Xenserver DOES not need an standard/entreprise edition of some DB vendor.
>> Actually all its data is tored on all XenServers. One being the master,
>> all
>> the other ones are standby slaves
>>
>> That guanatee the operations .Should the master fail, you can't add an Xen
>> to the cluster, but need to run 2 commands basically telling that the
>> master
>> is dead and nominate a new candidate
>>
>> As the master .Basically the good old Windows NT PDC and BDC stuff .If the
>> PDC broke , you could logon on but can't make changes. All without
>> performance hit.
>>
>> Xen can be configured to work with a spare Xenserver (an empty Xenserver)
>> making it the preferred choice to failover.
>>
>> Xenserver is tighly integrated with Xendesktop (a broker front-end with
>> NOT
>> based on RDP and ICA (and this upports more device redirection then any
>> RDP
>> based solution !!!!!)
>>
>> XenServer is integrated with Xitrix Provisioning servern this one van
>> stream application to you Xenapp/Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 /5 farms
>> and
>> auto load Desktops/Server on your Xenserver !
>>
>> All you needto do is make several windows/OS builds and set Windows ACLs
>> on
>> it. One user is member of finance and loads on a vmware its Windows XP
>> with
>> his office & Finance apps
>>
>> Another guy , belongin to another Global Group has an ERP profiles, starts
>> its virtual workstation and loads his ERP desktop. Amazing, it really is.
>>
>> Moreover, you could even operate Diskless Servers (or blades) all over the
>> world, and provision those to run  an image (Windows XP only requires
>> 150MB
>> to travel the network, Vista 250MB)
>>
>> Which are executed on the diskless device making use of the remote devices
>> mem/CPU and NICs, but writing/caching over the wire.
>>
>> VMware is still ahead as it comes to DRP (restore) business. On the HA
>> level Xen is up to Vmware.
>>
>> Xen has NFS/CIF support allowing to create SMB/CIFS NFS mount of your ISO
>> builds of Linux/Windows from within XenCenter
>>
>> Xen has the xe command line util allowing from a windows device connected
>> to the server/xencenter to launch xen (linux) administration commands just
>> as
>>
>> You can in the Xen linux console !
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> AND still
>>
>>
>>
>> IT people tend to have problems to absorb all the technology is coming
>> out.
>> We all work in our corners believe me .
>>
>> Once you know Vmware very well , are you going to concede your knowledge
>> and go for another vendors solution do you think ?
>>
>> Many won't. But in these economic climat we might be forced … so the
>> current climat is kind of an Citrix/Xen opportunity.
>>
>>
>>
>> I work for an major IT company and see that storage technology refreshes,
>> network technology refreshed ad
>>
>> Platform technology refreshes could easiliy run your design that you
>> propose if you don't have the complete picture.
>>
>>
>>
>> I feel that the Citrix organisation is very smart in developing new
>> technologies and makes smart acquisitions, but when it comes to market
>> their
>> stuff ???
>>
>> I went initially to an Partner Exchange event and saw all this in action !
>> I really said, Vmware is off the market. Vmware will be the second Novell…
>> but no it isn't.
>>
>> Actually Xen suffers from the strong footprint of Vmware and its channels
>>  , just as Linux (on corporate level) suffered form the Marketing of
>> Microsoft.
>>
>> I fear that Citrix might decide to burry XenServer it customers are not
>> soon stepping in. I think the free price is their last attempt.
>>
>>
>>
>> However making it free is not a good idea in these economic circumstances,
>> it offers other IT service companies arms to sell in these hardtimes, but
>> it
>> doesn't bring
>>
>> money to Citrix does it ? They'd better spend their money in commercials
>> and distribution channel support and contact hardware vendors to get their
>> stuff tested and certified and offer possibilities. To buy the product in
>> a
>> single package with the Hardware vendors box !
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> So they still have some work to do, but does it pay off ? Is the whole
>> acquisition of Xensource merely a cashdrain ?
>>
>> We soon find out if this last attempt will pay off… If I was the CIO I
>> would do otherwise. I would  aggressively attack the ITproviders and
>> Hardware vendors
>>
>> And offer integrated solution.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Stefan Timmermans
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On
>> Behalf Of *Berny Stapleton
>> *Sent:* vrijdag 20 februari 2009 16:48
>> *To:* thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Subject:* [THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE
>>
>>
>>
>> I know shared storage is available in ESX, I have it and am using it now.
>>
>> I didn't know Citrix had shared storage on XenServer, what are they using
>> for a filesystem?
>>
>> Berny
>>
>> 2009/2/20 Joe Shonk <joe.shonk@xxxxxxxxx>
>>
>> What do you mean?  Shared storage is available now with VMware ESX and
>> XenServer.  Microsoft is slated to have shared cluster support in Win 2008
>> R2.
>>
>>
>>
>> Joe
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]*On
>> Behalf Of *Berny Stapleton
>> *Sent:* Friday, February 20, 2009 7:44 AM
>>
>>
>> *To:* thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Subject:* [THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE
>>
>>
>>
>> Oh one more thing, lets see who gets their finger out first to do shared
>> storage out of the box. (Yes, I know RedHat has it with GFS, but I haven't
>> exactly heard of a lot of people using it)
>>
>> VMWare supports this now with their FS (VMFS) on EMC and NetApp.
>>
>> 2009/2/20 Berny Stapleton <berny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>
>> Xen in different flavours can be gotten from anywhere. MS is giving it
>> away
>> with Windows 2003 R2, Xen is available in multiple Linux kernels and
>> distributions. So effectively, yes, it is free now.
>>
>> VMWare have given out ESXi for nothing, but it's the management tools that
>> cost (VMotion etc)
>>
>> If Citrix release all their management tools and everything else for
>> nothing, then the problem for VMWare then becomes "What are you guys
>> selling, and why should I buy it?". Mind you, that would effectively
>> destroy
>> the market.
>>
>> Berny
>>
>> 2009/2/20 Andrew Wood <andrew.wood@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>
>>
>>
>> But essentially its free **now** isn't it – its free for servers if you're
>> not going to do any management on them?
>>
>>
>>
>> The hypervisor component is a mere bagatelle imo .. all the major players
>> are looking to support the same image type – its essentially 'all cars run
>> on petrol' –it's the management of the virtual services, the feeding and
>> the
>> watering of them for enterprise solutions – that's where the development
>> and
>> license cost is going to go ... as well as services obviously.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]*On
>> Behalf Of *Greg Reese
>> *Sent:* 20 February 2009 12:39
>> *To:* Thin
>>
>>
>> *Subject:* [THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE
>>
>>
>>
>> Microsoft is going to love watching a price war.
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Feb 20, 2009, at 1:47 AM, Berny Stapleton <berny@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>   Umm, I think EMC still own part of them, but they were seperated and
>> floated.
>>
>> > How come I get the feeling that VMWare is the next Novell!
>>
>> I hadn't thought about that, but everyone seems to be rallying around Xen,
>> and if VMWare don't drop their price, it could well be a right thrashing
>> for
>> them.
>>
>> Berny
>>
>> 2009/2/20 Greg Reese <gareese@xxxxxxxxx>
>>
>> Vmware is still an emc company right?
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>> On Feb 19, 2009, at 10:57 PM, "Steve Greenberg" <steveg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
>>   Not  a bad choice this week but after next week the rumors are strong
>> that not only is Citrix going to give away the hypervisor, but also the
>> Enterprise features such as Xen Motion and storage repositories. It will
>> get
>> very interesting, very quickly if this really happens!!
>>
>>
>>
>> How come I get the feeling that VMWare is the next Novell!?!!?!  J
>>
>>
>>
>> *Steve Greenberg*
>>
>> Thin Client Computing
>>
>> 34522 N. Scottsdale Rd D8453
>>
>> Scottsdale, AZ 85266
>>
>> *(602) 432-8649*
>>
>> www.thinclient.net
>>
>> *steveg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx*
>>
>>
>>  ------------------------------
>>
>> *From:* thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx<thin-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> ]*On Behalf Of *Jan
>> *Sent:* Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:24 PM
>> *To:* thin@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> *Subject:* [THIN] Re: Citrix to give away XenServer FREE
>>
>>
>>
>> Wow... we recently bought VMware ESX for 7 servers. I'm wondering if that
>> was a bad fiscal choice in light of this.
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 5:04 PM, Tim <timothylanderson@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> *Error! Filename not specified.*
>>
>>
>>   Free XenServer virtualization hypervisor helps Citrix, partners say
>>
>> *Error! Filename not specified.*
>>
>>
>>
>> By Colin Steele, Site Editor
>> 19 Feb 2009 | SearchSystemsChannel.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> The server virtualization hypervisor wars are heating up. Citrix plans to
>> give away XenServer
>> 5<http://citrix.com/English/ps2/products/product.asp?contentID=683148>--
>> its Xen hypervisor, along with live migration, native Windows and Linux
>> support and other advanced features -- for free.
>>
>> Rest of article at....
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://searchsystemschannel.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid99_gci1348572,00.html?track=NL-738&ad=690018&Offer=CHSYunsc219&asrc=EM_USC_5906881&uid=1857222
>>
>>
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>>
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>
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