Citrix optimises XenServer 6 for the cloud

Citrix has released the latest version of its XenServer server virtualisation platform, offering key new features including baked-in support for network virtualisation and the ability to link into Microsoft's upcoming System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SC-VMM) 2012 console.

Available immediately, XenServer 6 brings a new focus on cloud infrastructure with improved scalability and performance for networking and desktop virtualisation, according to Citrix.

XenServer 6 is based on the latest Xen 4.1 hypervisor, but possibly the most important new feature for enterprise users is full integration of Open vSwitch, which is now the default network stack and brings support for distributed virtual networking with features such as NetFlow, RSpan and security ACLs.

This support will enable organisations to more easily build scale-out cloud environments, Citrix said, especially as it includes tight integration with the firm's NetScaler WAN optimisation appliances.

XenServer 6 also adds the ability for XenServer hosts and virtual machines to be managed by SC-VMM 2012, which Microsoft is positioning as its answer to VMware's vSphere with the ability to create and manage private clouds built on a mix of hypervisors.

Citrix is also gunning for VMware, claiming that its solution is more cost-effective.

"With every release of XenServer, more customers are realising that the vast majority of their workloads do not require the expense and complexity of VMware vSphere," said Peder Ulander, vice president of marketing for Citrix's cloud platforms group.

Citrix has added HDX enhancements to XenServer 6 to improve the user experience in virtual desktop environments.

Now, physical GPUs at the server end can be mapped to individual virtual client machines, accelerating the graphics and number-crunching performance for customers with demanding applications.

With the Xen 4.1 hypervisor, XenServer can now make use of up to 1TB of memory on the host machine, and support virtual machines with up to 16 virtual CPUs and 128GB memory each.

Citrix XenServer 6 is available for download now.