New features in XenServer 7.2

New features in XenServer 7.2

 reference from    https://www.citrix.com/products/xenserver/whats-new.html

 

 Extending XenApp&XenDesktop Integration

XenServer 7.2 extends alignment withXenApp and XenDesktop release cycles while the expanded XenServer Enterpriseentitlement ensures you can leverage unique app and desktop performanceintegrations only available with XenServer.

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Windows Continuum Experience

With patent-pending technology fromXenServer 7.2, XenDesktop is the only VDI platform to enable the WindowsContinuum experience (experimental) on any device with a virtual Windows 10desktop. Now, XenDesktop Windows 10 virtual desktops automatically togglebetween tablet and desktop mode, upon connection and reconnection, depending onthe type of client hardware device.

Accelerate Citrix Provisioning Services performance withXenServer

Introducing new Provisioning Services(PVS) Accelerator technology that results in up to 25% faster desktop boot uptimes, up to 98% lower network bandwidth usage, and up to 93% reduced PVS CPUusage - only available with XenServer. Check out the video below for a quickdemo of PVS Accelerator:

IntroducingPVS-Accelerator, only available with XenServer! (1:38)

First-ever Long Term Service Release (LTSR) of XenServerto align with XenApp and XenDesktop

This XenServer LTSR enables up to 10years of support (5 years mainstream and 5 years of extended support) making itthe only hypervisor to have product lifecycle dates fully aligned with CitrixXenApp and XenDesktop, which can radically simplify infrastructure maintenancefor customers choosing to deploy a full Citrix solution.

Extending the benefits of XenServer Enterprise to allXenApp and XenDesktop deployments

XenApp and XenDesktop customers are nowentitled to all of the features of XenServer Enterprise edition, regardless oftheir XenApp and XenDesktop license type. Additionally, all editions of XenAppand XenDesktop are now entitled to features like Machine Creation Services(MCS) Accelerator technology, previously a platinum-only feature.

Enhancing the integration of Citrix and Nutanix solutionswith XenServer

Positioning XenServer for broaderNutanix integration that will ultimately lead to providing Nutanix with accessto unique XenServer features, such as provisioning services, high performancevirtualized GPU, enhanced security and more. XenServer is the most tightlyintegrated hypervisor with XenApp and XenDesktop, you can now chose Nutanix HCIwith XenServer for XenApp and XenDesktop while leveraging these uniqueintegration benefits while saving money.

Increased Administrative Flexibility

XenServer 7.2 offers new features thatsimplify snapshot lifecycle management, accelerate vSphere migration andgreatly improve the administrative experience.

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Simplified Administration with Snapshot LifecycleManagement

Now you can easily schedule hourly, daily, weekly, ormonthly snapshots on a group of VMs. However, it doesn’t just take thesnapshots, it aids in the management of your snapshot lifecycles. By allowingyou to set the maximum number of snapshots to keep, XenServer deletes theoldest snapshot in a rolling fashion.

 

Live patch hosts without downtime, available only withXenServer

Live patching is an industry-firsthypervisor capability brought to you with XenServer 7.1. It greatly reducesoperational overhead by enabling IT admins to hot-patch (update) their activeXenServers without rebooting. This capability is not found on any othercommercial hypervisor and has been used in production by a large cloudcomputing provider for months.

Simplify administration and reduce overhead with newautomated updates

Simplify patching at scale with newautomated updates. XenServer now supports the automated application of fixes tomultiple hosts. This new automated update technology batch patches multiplehosts by automatically downloading necessary fixes from Citrix, installingthese patches in the correct order, and rebooting the hosts in sequence whileredistributing VMs to prevent outages.

Greater migration flexibility with Linux virtual machineconversion

XenServer Conversion Manager now offersthe ability to migrate Linux VMs from other hypervisors to XenServer. Thisoffers greater migration flexibility for customers wanting to migrate off ofVMware solutions. Customers wanting to deliver secure Linux virtual desktopsand applications from XenDesktop can avoid the vTax by taking advantage ofXenServer.

VM security revolutionized

XenServer Direct Inspect APIs introducea paradigm shift for software-defined infrastructure protection against virusesand malware. For more information on integration and a free demo, visitthe Bitdefender’sHypervisor Introspection page.

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Next-gen software-defined data center protection

Leveraging new APIs within the Xenhypervisor creates a first-to-market commercial solution which security vendorscan then integrate with for “better than physical” protection against maliciousactivity.

VM protection from the hypervisor layer

This innovative approach meansprotection against memory-based malicious activity is moved outside of the VMto the hypervisor layer. Malware that has compromised a VM can at best onlyhide itself within the VM’s OS, but not from outside of the VM.

Hacker and virus techniques

Adopting an innovative approach, thesecurity solution targets the techniques used by hackers and virus writersrather than pre-defined virus or malware signatures. This enables protectionagainst zero-day attacks that would otherwise not be possible.