Citrix XenServer offers a complete line of virtualization solutions for Windows IT professionals. All Citrix XenServer solutions are based upon the latest version of the open source Xen™ hypervisor and are designed to run on any standard x86-64 server with Intel VT or AMD-V processors.
Advanced Xen paravirtualization technology means that Citrix XenServer takes full advantage of Intel® VT and AMD® V enabled x86-64 processors. Unlike competing architectures that "spoof" an operating system via emulation, Xen architecture works with fully aware CPUs below and fully Xen aware operating systems above. Thus both the CPUs and the operating system perform in a superior fashion because they are "virtualization aware." The result is virtualization so fast, lightweight, and efficient that it's nearly as fast as running on "bare metal".
Citrix XenServer supports Windows today, and will maintain a "first to market" interoperability with Windows Server 2008. Citrix XenServer enables a user to create virtual machines or "guests" of Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 Server and Windows XP. Looking ahead, Citrix is the premier virtualization ISV for Microsoft. Together, Citrix and Microsoft will deliver interoperability between XenServer products and the virtualization capabilities that will eventually be released for the forthcoming Windows Server 2008.
Automated step-by-step installers and a comprehensive management tool kit combined into a single package enable customers to get Xen up and running fast. The powerful administrator console allows you to quickly build and manage your virtualization infrastructure.
Citrix XenServer is built on the open source Xen™ hypervisor which benefits from regular innovations and contributions from hundreds of top developers from companies including IBM, HP, Intel, AMD and many others. Because of the open source nature of Xen, new features are made available at a much faster pace than proprietary virtualization offerings or those within operating systems projects with multi-year development cycles.
Citrix and Microsoft have a strategic relationship to build interoperability between their virtualization products. Microsoft has also agreed to provide best effort to support their premier-level customers running Windows on Citrix XenServer products. This means that you can run Windows on Xen today with confidence about interoperability in the future.
Citrix offers three different XenServer editions -- meeting every Windows IT professional's needs:
Citrix XenServer Express Edition: For developers, IT enthusiasts, and other professionals who want to try Xen and the XenSource product family. An on-ramp to Xen for anyone, XenExpress runs both Windows and Linux, up to 4 concurrent virtual machines, 4 GB of physical RAM, and dual CPU sockets. Learn More.
Citrix XenServer Standard Edition: The ideal virtualization platform for most standard Windows server environments. Standard Edition supports unrestricted numbers of virtual machines, up to 128GB RAM, and up to 32 sockets. Learn More.
Citrix XenServer Enterprise Edition: Enterprise Edition offers the highest levels of capacity, combined with enterprise-class features such as resource QoS controls, and delivers them for unified management of server and shared storage pools. Like Standard Edition, Enterprise Edition supports unrestricted numbers of virtual machines, up to 128GB RAM, and up to 32 sockets. Learn More.
All of our products can be quickly upgraded by the simple addition of a license key, with no need to reinstall software or convert guests.
For more pricing and more details... see the overview of Citrix XenServer v4.