Citrix XenApp 6.0 or 6.5 FP1 and XenDesktop 5.6 are supported.
Traditionally, applications like Autodesk programs are installed on each user's machine. Typically, these are powerful, and subsequently, expensive workstations designed for CAD and 3D work. When hotfixes, service packs, or extensions are released, the software on each machine must be updated individually. By delivering applications via Citrix XenApp or XenDesktop, in theory, the company can purchase a single powerful server (or server farm), and spend less for individual users workstations as the bulk of the resources needed to run the applications come from the server. Software updates are applied once, on the server, so all users are guaranteed to be using the same product version with the same updates. See the Citrix web site for an overview of XenApp and XenDesktop.
A user will need a PC or Mac with the appropriate Citrix receiver installed and an internet connection.
A company's business applications are installed directly onto the server (or server farm). XenApp and XenDesktop provide a Web Interface Management console that the company's IT person will use to set up a web site where users will access published applications. Installed applications are published via the Delivery Services console where IT will manage users' access. For more information on these consoles, please see the XenApp 6.0 or 6.5 FP1 or XenDesktop 5.6 documentation.
For XenApp and XenDesktop, users (clients) must install a receiver that is provided (free) by Citrix in order to access the web site where applications have been published. Then they simply connect to the URL provided by the IT manager and log in. Icons representing the applications the user has permissions for are displayed on the web site. The user clicks an icon to launch the desired application and that app is streamed to the user's desktop. The application is presented in a window that can be minimized/maximized/resized like any other application window.
The License Administration console in XenApp and XenDesktop is for managing Citrix licenses, and the Server Role Manager helps in deploying XenApp and XenDesktop server roles in Windows 2008 r2. Please refer to the XenApp 6.0 or 6.5 FP1 or XenDesktop documentation for further information on installing XenApp and XenDesktop and configuring applications for delivery.
Citrix virtualizes the application and runs it in a parallel process on the server. Graphics are streamed to the user's machine and user mouse clicks and keyboard input is streamed back to the server. In the case of a server farm, Citrix will even manage server resources, bumping subsequent users to another server machine when a pre-defined performance threshold has been reached.