CITRIX ACCESS SUITE 4

Citrix Access Suite 4 is the latest version from Citrix. Access Suite 4 is the fifth generation of access solutions from Citrix over the last 16 years ( please see the previous version of this book, Citrix Access Suite for Windows Server 2003: The Official Guide, for more details on Citrix's history). The Citrix Access Suite includes Citrix Presentation Server for virtu-alized application delivery Citrix Access Gateway for universal SSL VPN remote access, and Citrix Password Manager for enterprise single sign-on.

New Features in Access Suite 4

Citrix Access Suite 4 adds new features that significantly extend the value of Microsoft Windows 2003 and Windows 2000 Server environments. This section will provide some detail on the new features and benefits of version 4.

Broader Application Support

Many applications were not originally designed for server-based deployment. Some conflict with others when installed on the same server. Some require dedicated IP addresses to run. Access Suite offers a new Access Gateway appliance, and Presentation Server offers new features, including application isolation environments and virtual IP address support. Now IT can deploy more applications to a more ubiquitous group of users on fewer servers, reducing IT costs and simplifying deployment and management.

Increased User Density

Organizations continue to strive for lower costs and higher return on their technology investments. These goals drive many IT initiatives including server consolidation. Presentation Server is the best solution to centralize applications and consolidate servers, while still offering access from anywhere , on any device. With new features like CPU utilization management and virtual memory optimization, organizations can have more applications installed on each server and realize up to 25 percent more users per server.

Improved Printing

Users need to be able to quickly and easily print where they are and leverage the capabilities of new printers. IT needs to reduce network congestion. Presentation Server's new universal print driver (UPD) makes printing up to four times faster, while reducing bandwidth and memory. Users can use almost any printer and leverage advanced printer functionality like trays and stapling. Users can more easily print to the closest printer while roaming from device to device, as in a hospital or manufacturing plant.

Windows and UNIX Together

For the first time in Citrix history, customers who purchase Presentation Server, whether as part of the Access Suite, or stand-alone, can choose to install on either UNIX or Windows platforms, or mix and match.

Many IT organizations manage multiple application platforms including Windows and UNIX. Citrix Presentation Server, Enterprise Edition, now combines the Windows product and the UNIX product into a single product offering with unified licensing.