Citrix product names and functionality

A Handy Guide for people looking to soup up there Knowledge of Citrix products.

Citrix XenDesktop 7 = the product which combines VDI (XenDesktop) and server based computing (XenApp) in a single SKU with various editions. The name XenApp was basically killed by Citrix in last release.  

Citrix XenDesktop = the VDI solution of Citrix. Since XenDesktop 7.5 a separate product for delivering virtual desktops. Citrix un-killed XenApp because the naming XenDesktop for two solutions was very confusing for customers.

Citrix XenApp = the new name for formerly known as WinFrame, MetaFrame and Presentation Server. Does application virtualization (Server Based Computing). The name was killed by Citrix since XenDesktop 7 and XenApp features were added to XenDesktop suite 7.0 However now again available as XenApp 7.5.

Citrix XenApp AppCenter = management console to centrally manage XenApp center using a single console.

Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) = a solution to stream an operating system to a server over the network. The advantage is to be able to use a single image for multiple servers. Originally developed by Ardence.

Citrix Receiver = agent software required to handle published applications or desktops running on Citrix XenApp. Used to be named ICA client in the past.

Citrix Independent Computing Architecture (ICA)  = protocol developed by Citrix to transfers display information, mouse, keyboard and device info over the network between server and client.  

Citrix High Definition eXperience (HDX) = a set of technologies to improve the user experience on XenApp and XenDesktop

Citrix FrameHawk = a technology (not a product) to improve user experience when using WiFi. It will be embedded in HDX in use by XenApp and XenDesktop. More here.

Program Neighborhood Agent or PNagent = old name for Citrix Applications. It was a client used to launch XenApp applications from a launchpad. Did not offer  integration with Windows start menu.

XenApp Plugin = agent installed on client OS which adds published applications to the start menu for seamless integration with local installed applications.

Citrix Web Interface = a web portal which is able to publish applications and desktops to users connecting from the Internet. Announced end of life and does not support recent Citrix software. StoreFront is successor.

Citrix XenMobile Device Manager = software installed on Windows Server to perform mobile device management. Software was acquired from Zenprise. Is used in a MDM scenario where device is owned by organization, Provides full control over device. Apps are pushed to device.

Citrix XenMobile App Controller = an appliance based on Linux running as a virtual machine. It is responsible for application aggregation to mobile devices. It is able to publish mobile apps, SaaS apps, web URLs and XenApp or RDS published desktops and applications.  Requires Citrix NetScaler.

Citrix Secure Gateway = free software solution which offers ICA-proxy connections over SSL. Required to offers applications and desktops to internet users, in combination with Netscaler, Access Gateway and StoreFront/Webinterface. Secure Gateway 3.3 is supported up to 2016(XenApp 6.5)

Citrix NetScaler = application delivery controller. Has many functions like ssl vpn, load balancing, application performance enhancement, application security. Available as hardware and software appliance. Available in three editions.

Citrix NetScaler Gateway, formerly Citrix Access Gateway (CAG) Enterprise Edition.

Citrix StoreFront =  Portal for publishing XenDesktop and XenApp desktops and applications. Successor of Citrix Web Interface which will be end of life 2015.

Citrix Independent Management Architecture (IMA) = Citrix ‘housekeeping’ architecture. IMA is not a product but a protocol and a database which is used to communicate information about licenses, policies, sessions and server loads between servers in a Citrix farm. 

Citrix FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA) =  replacement of IMA. Introduced in XenDesktop 7. XenApp 7.5 will now use FMA instead of IMA. FMA is an architecture to deliver virtual desktops, apps and hosted shared desktops. More info here and here 

Citrix Desktop Studio =  Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (MMC) based management console used to configure and manage XenDesktop 5 sites

Citrix Studio =  Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (MMC) based management console used to configure and manage XenDesktop 7 and 7.5 sites

Citrix Worx Home. An app which is installed on mobile devices. Worx Home connects to XenMobile Device Manager and XenMobile App Controller

Citrix Worx Store = not a product but the name of the apps catalogue available once Worx Home has been installed on a mobile device. Available apps and applications are published by AppController.

Citrix WorxMail = secure mail client for iOS and Android. Uses micro-VPN to communicate with mailserver. Does encryption. IT department can control data (like wipe it when device is stolen)

Citrix WorxWeb = secure webbrowser for iOS and Android.

Citrix ShareFile = Dropbox for the enterprise. IT is able to provide access to files to mobile devices while keeping control.

Citrix CloudGateway = not a product but a bundle of products.

• Citrix CloudGateway Express includes StoreFront Services and Access Gateway
• Citrix CloudGateway Enterprise  includes StoreFront Services, Access Gateway  and  AppController

XenDesktop 7 App edition = the replacement of XenApp 6.5. Server Based Computing. Able to offer desktops and published applications

Citrix AppDNA = analyzes the dependencies of Windows and web applications. Usefull for migration for one Windows Server or Desktop platform to another. Also make clear dependencies on other applications. It reports if an application will run on another platform.

Citrix Profile Management = tool for management of Windows profiles. Available for customers having SA on XenApp or XenDesktop.

Citrix XenDesktop Director = troubleshooting webbased tool for XenDesktop 7 and higher targeted at helpdesks. EdgeSight is part of the solution. More info here

Citrix CloudBridge = WAN optimizer.

Citrix CloudPlatForm = an opensource cloud management platform. Able to manage different hypervisors.

Citrix EdgeSight = Performance analyzer. Included in some editions of XenApp and XenDesktop. Can for example be used to determine cause of slow login times.

Citrix XenServer = the hypervisor of Citrix for Intel and AMD platforms.

Citrix XenClient = a type 1 client hypervisor. Typically installed on desktops and laptops. Images can centrally be managed.

Citrix VDI-in-a-Box =  software appliance deployed as a VM supporting XenServer, Hyper-V and VMware ESXi. Allows for simplified deployment of VDI without the need for shared storage.

Citrix GoToMeeting = service which enables webinars, online meetings with ability to share desktop, presentations, have chats etc.

Citrix Application Streaming = end of life product. Did application streaming like Microsoft App-V.

Citrix Resource Manager = end of life. Part of Presentation server. Resource Manager collects, displays and stores data about system performance, applications or process use.