Citrix boosts HDX technology for VDI and cloud environments

Citrix showed off an improved HDX protocol at Citrix Synergy 2011 and previewed enhanced performance for video, audio, and 3D graphics over a WAN connection

One of the main challenges to VDI and desktop virtualization is delivering a good end-user experience. If the end-user isn't happy, nobody's happy. And if they start complaining about the service (whether they know it's virtual or not), your efforts may be sunk before they even start.

Part of that "good user experience" in a VDI and cloud environment relies on delivering or being able to receive smooth video and audio at the endpoint device. It also means being able to display more complicated graphics beyond those found in a simple 2D application.

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During Citrix Synergy in San Francisco last month, the company announced an update to its Citrix HDX technology, claiming to dramatically enhance performance, fidelity, and bandwidth efficiency for rich media services like video, audio, and 3D graphics, even when delivered over a wide area network (WAN) or from an external cloud environment.

The HDX protocol is a core technology component of Citrix XenDesktop and Citrix XenApp product lines. As consumer and application demands continue to increase, Citrix must advance and enhance its HDX protocol to try and keep up with those demands and do so across further distances with lower network bandwidth and higher latencies. These challenges will only continue to grow as the company moves deeper into VDI and continues to expand into public, private, and "personal" clouds.

"The ability to deliver a rich, high-definition user experience is a critical factor in the success of enterprise desktop virtualization and cloud initiatives," said John Fanelli, vice president, product marketing at Citrix. "Citrix has focused on continually advancing the state-of-the-art in user experience to ensure that users connecting to enterprise resources or personal cloud services from a wide variety of locations and networks will receive a consistent, secure, high-definition experience anytime, anywhere."

So what's new with this latest version of HDX technology previewed at Citrix Synergy?