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Boost Performance, Slash Costs with XenServer

XenServer (formerly Citrix Hypervisor) stands at the crossroads of innovation and reliability, powering vast cloud networks like AWS and optimizing Citrix environments. Its unique performance-enhancing features and seamless integration streamline virtual desktops and application delivery while driving down the cost of ownership in virtualization. This makes XenServer a pivotal tool in deploying efficient virtual workspaces.

The XenServer hypervisor has saved Citrix many customers millions of dollars compared to running their virtual apps and desktop environments on VMware vSphere.

Offering a blend of performance, flexibility, security, and cost efficiency, learn how Ferroque and XenServer can help you realize maximum return on your Citrix investment.

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Maximize Efficiency with
Citrix on XenServer

Discover the compelling advantages of XenServer, including its optimization for Citrix, cost-effective virtualization, simplified management, and leading GPU integration. Trusted by leading firms to deliver both value and their most demanding use cases.

Citrix

Optimized for Citrix

XenServer delivers unique enhancements for Citrix environments that other hypervisors lack. This includes deep integration with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Citrix DaaS, superior GPU capabilities, PVS acceleration, optimized resource allocation, and Direct Inspect APIs for enhanced Citrix workload security, data integrity, and compliance.

Cost-Effective Virtualization

XenServer helps lower your total cost of ownership and maximizes IT investments, making it a smart choice for budget-conscious organizations. A drastically less expensive alternative to VMware vSphere, XenServer presents significant cost savings opportunities.

Disaster Recovery Features

XenServer supports VM replication and swift failover for minimal downtime.Integrating with Citrix and third-party solutions to offer tailored DR strategies, ensuring business continuity with flexible RPOs and RTOs.

Simplified Management

XenServer features a user-friendly management console (XenCenter) that simplifies the management of virtual machines and the configuration and patching of hosts. This ease of use reduces the complexity of virtualization management, enabling IT teams to focus on strategic initiatives rather than routine tasks.

Cutting-Edge GPU Delivery

XenServer pioneered vGPU technology in partnership with NVIDIA and remains at the forefront of innovation, making it the hypervisor of choice for graphics or GPU-intensive workloads. XenServer pairs with Citrix’s HDX 3D Pro for hardware-accelerated and bandwidth-efficient delivery of virtualized 3D workstations, trusted by major aerospace and engineering firms.

Zero-Downtime Patching

XenServer allows for zero downtime live patching of the hypervisor, reducing reboots, alerts, and streamlining maintenance and change control processes within your organization.
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Optimize Citrix and Reduce TCO with XenServer and Ferroque

Trust the team who has designed and engineered XenServer platforms that support tens of thousands of users in industries as diverse as financial services, healthcare, and telecom.

Ferroque stands at the forefront of deploying high-performance, secure, and resilient Citrix platforms, with XenServer being a central component in numerous successful projects for world-renowned organizations. Our engagement with XenServer stems from its exceptional integration with Citrix environments, offering dramatic cost savings compared to alternatives like VMware. In addition, it has established itself as the go-to hypervisor for powering graphics-intensive virtual desktop infrastructures.

Our projects have consistently demonstrated the transformative power of XenServer, not just to enhance virtual workspace delivery but also to drive down the total cost of ownership (TCO) for our clients. This success is rooted in our deep technical expertise with both XenServer and Citrix technologies, combined with our strategic relationships with Citrix and XenServer product managers.

By partnering with Ferroque, you gain access to a wealth of knowledge and experience that can pivot your data centre towards unparalleled cost efficiency and performance. Let us help you unlock the full potential of your virtualization infrastructure, maximizing both operational excellence and cost efficiency.

Check out our co-authored VMware to XenServer Guide on Tech Zone.

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Our XenServer Expertise in Action

Explore a selection of past webinars and videos on XenServer

    Services for Each Phase
    of Your XenServer Lifecycle

    Our fully customizable standardized services are derived from decades of experience and vendor best practices. Discover bespoke solutions tailored to your unique requirements.

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    Assessment
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    Gain actionable insights into the health, security, and support of your critical EUI platform components
    Design
    Implement

    Our design services incorporate vendor-leading practices and field experience to align your objectives with technology capabilities
    Deploy
    Implement

    Our deployment services provision infrastructure following specifications, reducing the burden on your teams
    Managed Services
    Manage

    Combine the deep expertise of our consulting team with the structure of an enterprise-class ITIL-aligned managed service provider
    Quick Start Services

    Opt for our Quick Start services for focused, cost-effective engagements with clear, fixed outcomes

    Ferroque’s Growing Success Story with XenServer

    100

    Hypervisor Savings Across our Projects

    50

    XenServer Projects Delivered

    1000

    XenServer hosts deployed

    12

    Years consulting on XenServer

    10

    Use cases with GPU acceleration Deployed

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Have a question we didn’t answer? Contact us!

    Why choose XenServer over VMware?

    XenServer presents a compelling alternative to VMware, particularly for organizations concerned with rising costs. It offers competitive virtualization features, robust security, and excellent Citrix integration, at a lower total cost of ownership (TCO). XenServer has saved many organizations millions of dollars each by transitioning their fleet of hypervisor hosts to XenServer.

    For customers evaluating a switch from VMware for Citrix workloads on their existing hardware, XenServer presents an economical value proposition to drastically reduce operating costs. Be sure to review the XenServer HCL as part of the evaluation process or reach out to us and we will gladly assist.

    What editions is XenServer available in?

    XenServer is available in Standard Edition, Premium Edition, and a Trial edition. Premium offers dynamic workload balancing, SR-IOV network card support, enhanced storage support, and numerous Citrix optimizations. For more details, please visit here.

    Does XenServer support my hardware?

    XenServer maintains a hardware compatibility list (HCL) for CPUs, GPUs, NICs, servers, storage controllers, and storage platforms available here. The list is continually updated. Should you have any questions regarding hardware support, please do not hesitate to reach out to us, and we will work to get you the answer.

    Can XenServer handle graphics or GPU intensive applications?

    Yes, XenServer is well-equipped to handle graphics-intensive applications and pioneered GPU virtualization in partnership with NVIDIA. It supports GPU passthrough and vGPU technologies, allowing for efficient sharing of GPU resources among virtual machines while supporting live migration (XenMotion) between hosts. This capability makes XenServer ideal for deploying virtual desktops that require high-end graphics performance, such as those used in design, engineering, and multimedia applications. This capability has allowed organizations to centrally locate their 3D design workstations to reduce costs, increase security, and reduce the risks of data leakage.

    What enhancements does XenServer have for Citrix workloads?

    XenServer has been tailored to enhance Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Citrix DaaS environments with the following features:

    • Intellicache: Enhances Citrix Virtual Desktop deployments by utilizing both shared and local storage, reducing storage array load and network traffic while boosting performance.
    • Read Caching: Boosts VM disk performance by caching data in the host’s memory, significantly improving efficiency in environments with many cloned VMs.
    • PVS-Accelerator: Improves Citrix Provisioning with features like faster VM boots, enhanced user experience, and reduced TCO by promoting data locality and simplifying infrastructure.
    • Tablet Mode Roaming: Offers a seamless Windows 10 Continuum experience in virtualized environments, enhancing mobility and flexibility for tablet users.
    • Graphics Virtualization: Delivers professional 3D graphics applications via virtual desktops using GPU Pass-through and hardware-based GPU sharing for superior performance and compatibility.
    My Citrix licenses entitle me to Citrix Hypervisor. Is this the same as XenServer?

    Several Citrix license editions provide an entitlement to Citrix Hypervisor (a rebranded version of XenServer), supporting up to Citrix Hypervisor 8.2 LTSR which goes end-of-support June 25th, 2025. XenServer 8 and onward is a newer, separate product and is not included in Citrix license entitlements and must be purchased. XenServer 8 Premium is presently on offer until December 1, 2024 free of charge, for customers to trial and transition to the next generation hypervisor. For more details, please visit here.

    I’m a user of Citrix Hypervisor. Do I need to upgrade to XenServer?

    Environments running Citrix Hypervisor will continue to remain under support until the end-date of the published product lifecycle. Customers who elect to remain with XenServer will want to upgrade prior to this date and purchase a XenServer Premium subscription. Until December 1, 2024, XenServer 8 Premium is available as a free upgrade up until the end-of-support date of Citrix Hypervisor 8.2. For more details, please visit here. Ferroque is available to discuss options, pricing, and provide migration support. Please do not hesitate to book a chat.

    What does XenServer cost?

    XenServer 8 Premium has tiered SRP of $440-$875 per CPU socket per year as of March 2024. Please refer to official vendor pricing documentation here for the latest information. Ferroque is available to discuss options, pricing, and provide migration support. This pricing represents significant savings over other hypervisors. Please do not hesitate to book a chat.

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