What Does Presentation Server 4.5 Offer Over Windows Server 2008?
Monday, 03 March 2008 by Michel Roth
Since about the time that Windows Server 2008 was getting out of the alpha stage, I've been getting questions about whether or not people would still need Citrix when Windows Server 2008 came out. Well, since Windows Server 2008 has officially been launched and all the features of Terminal Services are known, it's now possible to compare the two.

This comparing can be made simple by using Citrix' Feature Comparison document. This is the document that compares the current features of Citrix Presentation Server XenApp 4.5 to Windows Server 2008 and good ol' Windows Server 2008. I know I've used this document, in it's earlier incarnations, quite a few times to compare the functionality of Citrix Presentation Server to "plain Terminal server". To be honest, I've had to use the document to justify the cost for Citrix as well.

The document does a great job of comparing the features between Terminal Services and XenApp. It's hard enough too make this document given the nature of Citrix' and Microsoft's relationship. I did however not agree with everything that is mentioned in the comparison document.

For example on page 4 the document states that Proximity Printing only is available with XenApp 4.5. I would tend to disagree. When you use Group Policy Preferences (available in all version of Windows Server 2008), you can achieve the very same functionality.

The same goes for something the document states on page 6 in that only XenApp provides integration with Sharepoint and IBM Websphere. This is only half true. It is true that Microsoft does not integrate with IBM Webshere out of the box but they do offer a webpart that allows for easy integration in Microsoft Sharepoint (it's a part of the TS Web Access installation).

Take a look at Citrix XenApp on Microsoft Windows Terminal Services:A Feature Analysis.  

 


Related Items:

Changes In Functionality From Windows Server 2003 With SP1 To Windows Server 2008 (3 July 2007)
Citrix XenApp Vs. Windows 2008 Terminal Services (1 April 2008)
Citrix XenApp 5.0 Delayed, Possible Release Somewhere In Second Half Of 2008 (25 May 2008)
Terminal Services 2008 Infrastructure Planning Beta (5 February 2008)
Using TS Web Access With TS Web Access With SharePoint (28 February 2008)
Future Presentation Server Group Policy Support (29 January 2008)
Complete Windows Server 2008 Feature List (15 February 2008)
Group Policy Preferences in a Windows 2003 Domain (and a Windows 2008 Domain) (4 June 2008)
Citrix Presentation Server Renamed to XenApp Server (28 January 2008)
BriForum USA 2008 Lineup (23 April 2008)
Comments (4)
written by Bryon Thomas, March 03, 2008
Michel-
Thanks for the comments. I will pass them along to the Citrix Technical Marketing Team, who created the XenApp/Windows Server 2008 Feature Analysis doc. Stay tuned for the Project Delaware version of this doc. Project Delaware is the next version of XenApp (the new name for Citrix Presentation Server).
written by Michel, March 03, 2008
Hi Bryon,

Thanks for the swift feedback, good to see that you guys monitor the community blogs.
You mention XenApp as the current version. You'd probably be able to set the record straight: Is XenApp the name for all versions of Presentation Server AFTER 4.5 or does this apply to Presentation Server 4.5 and onwards (until the next namechange ;-) )?
written by Vinny Sosa, March 03, 2008
Hi guys,

Thanks for the comments Michel. I wrote the document in question and appreciate the input. We'll be separating the Sharepoint and IBM line into two items to adequately represent what Microsoft has to offer there. We also have a more extensive research project underway to evaluate Windows Server 2008 RTM and a planned update of this document for the May timeframe so stay tuned on the Group Policy bit. Thanks for the suggestion and for keeping us honest. We know that people trust this document a lot and want to keep it that way.

Regards,
Vinny Sosa
Sr. Technical Marketing Manager - Citrix

P.S. XenApp is the name for PS 4.5 and onwards. We made it retroactive because we want the name to get out to the market faster (Otherwise we'd have to wait for the next release of the product to start making more noise). We've been told to use the following at least once in our documents "XenApp 4.5 (formerly Presentation Server 4.5)".
written by Michel, March 04, 2008
Hi Vinny,

Thanks. Looking forward to see the updated document. It is indeed a much document. Is the guy that told you to use "XenApp 4.5 (formerly Presentation Server 4.5)" the same guy that keeps changing the name of products?

If so, I'd know a couple of people that would like to have a word or two with him ;-)
Show/Hide comment form