FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 11, 1998--
Includes New Server and Client Features
to Extend Thin-Client/Server Computing Platform
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) today announced the second
beta release of the "pICAsso" Project thin-client/server system
software for Microsoft's Windows Terminal Server for Windows NT 4.0.
Beta 2 includes new server administration tools as well as client
features that further extend and enhance Windows Terminal Server,
making it a valuable addition for organizations seeking a
high-performance, cost-effective solution for deploying and managing
Windows-based applications throughout the enterprise.
"Citrix has a long history and expertise in thin-client/server
computing, but we never forget that users have the last word
regarding our new products," said David Weiss, director of product
management for Citrix. "We developed the "pICAsso" Project
hand-in-hand with our customers, and as a result, the feedback from
the first beta has been excellent. In beta 2, we have strengthened
the "pICAsso" Project even further by adding additional enterprise
management tools to help organizations reduce the total cost of
computing, while significantly enriching the computing experience for
end-users."
"By enabling deployment of Windows-based applications from
Windows NT Server to non-Windows desktops, anywhere, Citrix's
"pICAsso" Project extends the reach of Windows Terminal Server
across the enterprise," said John Frederiksen, group product manager
at Microsoft Corporation.
The "pICAsso" Project thin-client/server software is being
tested by organizations like Harcourt Brace, Home Shopping Network,
Harris Corporation, CSX Railroad and Gundersen Lutheran Hospital, to
extend Windows Terminal Server with additional client- and
server-side functionality in the following key areas:
Heterogeneous Computing. The "pICAsso" Project supports
virtually all types of client hardware, operating platforms (Windows
3.x, Windows for Workgroups, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows CE, DOS,
UNIX, Macintosh, Java and many Web browsers), network connections and
LAN protocols. As a result, organizations can deliver the same set
of Windows-based applications to virtually any client device,
anywhere, with exceptional performance.
Enterprise Management. The "pICAsso" Project provides
additional management tools that enable administrators to scale
systems, deploy applications and support end-users across the
enterprise from a single point. As a result, the "pICAsso" Project
delivers a robust solution for lowering the total cost of ownership
for mission-critical enterprise computing.
Seamless Desktop Integration. With the "pICAsso" Project,
end-users of both Windows and non-Windows desktops gain a true
Windows experience, even though applications are running remotely
from the server. Users also benefit from broadened application
access, bandwidth-independent performance, and complete access to
local system resources.
The Citrix "pICAsso" Project Beta 2 thin-client/server system
software includes new server, client and ICA protocol enhancements,
including:
New Server Features
Load Balancing Administrator. Load balancing allows
administrators to cost-effectively group multiple Citrix servers into
a scaleable "server farm" to support large numbers of users across
multiple servers. Load balancing automatically routes users to the
"least busy" server, optimizing server utilization and application
performance. The Load Balancing Administrator allows management and
configuration of load balancing parameters across all load-balanced
Citrix WinFrame(R) or "pICAsso" server farms from a single location.
Automatic Client Update. Administrators can now schedule the
automatic download and installation of new ICA client software to the
end-user's device when the user logs on to the server, reducing the
time and expense associated with physically "touching" every client
machine to install updated client software.
ALE Wizard. Citrix's Application Launching & Embedding (ALE)
technology -- which allows full-function Windows-based applications
to be launched from, or embedded into, HTML pages without rewriting
applications -- now features a simple guide for generating HTML code
and sample Web pages. As a result, IS professionals can easily
extend the reach of business applications across the Web quickly and
cost-effectively.
New Client Features
Macintosh and UNIX ICA Clients. Citrix's ICA clients for
Macintosh and UNIX extend the reach of Windows-based applications to
a broader range of client devices within heterogeneous computing
environments. These clients can be freely downloaded from the Citrix
website, located at citrix.com, for use with
"pICAsso" server software.
Seamless Windows Integration. Users no longer need to start an
entire remote desktop in order to run multiple remote applications
within the same session. As a result, each remote application
appears as a true local window; the remote application window looks
and behaves just like a local application window. Within a single
"pICAsso" session, users can independently size remote application
windows, have fully functional local windows navigational keystrokes
(such as ALT-TAB), and switch between local and remote applications
on the local taskbar.
Audio Support. The "pICAsso" Project delivers a rich end-user
experience through Sound Blaster-compatible audio support. Beta 2
allows administrators to control the bandwidth consumption of audio
through compression.
ReadyConnect Client. The "pICAsso" Project features a
configurable ICA client that can be predefined with phone numbers, IP
addresses, server names and connection options prior to first-time
installation, accelerating the mass deployment of applications
throughout the enterprise.
ICA Client Enhancements. The "pICAsso" Project now provides
telephony applications programming interface (TAPI) support for
dial-up application access; a Windows COM port redirector, so users
can access locally connected peripherals such as printers and
scanners; international keyboard support for Microsoft Internet
Explorer and Netscape Navigator; and 256-color support for DOS
clients.
"SpeedScreen." The ICA protocol includes a new intelligent agent
to reduce the transmission of frequently painted screens. This
capability reduces network traffic that can be generated by
applications that repaint the same data or images with each screen
update. Preliminary benchmarks demonstrate up to four-time
performance gains over low-bandwidth connections.
Pricing and Availability
Citrix's "pICAsso" Project thin-client/server software will be
timed to ship with Microsoft's Windows Terminal Server. Pricing and
packaging of the "pICAsso" project has not been announced. |
