And so I return from Citrix Synergy 2011 in Barcelona. I also attended the Partner Summit - although given the rule changes, its unlikely I'll be attending again: still.. not bitter.

Citrix's focus appeared to be to allow a transition from the "PC Now" to the "Cloud of tomorrow" by capitalizing on the benefits of desktop virtualization, cloud technologies and generally whizzy stuff. While they were on, Citrix announced the eyebrow raising acquisition of App-DNA, VDI-in-a-Box v5, showed off a HDX ready System-on-Chip as well as premiering a cornucopia of interesting technologies around XenDesktop delivery and Citrix service monitoring - in my mind they almost blew it with 'Receiver for Facebook' but every big show needs a bit of Dazzle right?

So, besides learning that @4 hours sleep each day for a week isn't particulary envigorating, what did I learn?

App-DNA Acquisition

App-DNA  focused on tools to ease application migration and management. App-DNA’s AppTitude had the ability to assess your application portfolio and feed into migration plans: a powerful tool. AppTitude could reduce migration/deployment times dramatically if you'd had a wide range of apps. Also, bear in mind that AppDNA  can be used as for BAU: so not just for migration, but as a tool to assess new applications coming into a Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop farm. Very handy. However, App-DNA used to license their product per app. It'll be interesting to see how this fits into the standard/enterprise/platinum model that Citrix has.. and if it fits in any way to the VDI-in-a-box. 

I'd say it becomes integrated into the Tools-as-a-Service offering - and that each product gets a certain amount of 'free goes'. You then subscribe on a per-app basis with feedback on apps that have already been assessed. That sounds good for the customer; its also an additional incentive for using Citrix over competitive products. However, we will see.

Personally - not over surprised at the announcement given Quest bought Changebase. In addition, while AppTitude does a fine job an equally clever science part is the application discovery and resource evaluation. Centrix Software, Lakeside, and Liquidware Labs all have offerings here and were all touting their wares in the showcase.

VDI-in-a-Box 5

Despite being able to scale-out  much further than 1000 instances, the Kaviza acquisition has been focused and markted as VDI-in-a-Box to spearhead of Citrix's SMB initiative.  VDI-in-a-Box 5 will be released in Q4 2012 (preview available as I type). Features wise 5 gets support for Hyper-v and the new HDX 5.5 - there will also be a one-stop support portal with how-to videos on almost every key aspect of the product, product documentation, support forums, and a knowledge base.  You can Access the support portal at  http://community.citrix.com/p/vdi-in-a-box

Licensing is integrated now which is all fine and dandy - but I still don't see a transition method from/to XenDesktop. In addition, if it is to be geared at the SMB market vdi-in-box needs transition tools (similar to how Quest licensed a tool from Liquidware Lab) to allow for migration. I think it'd be handy to have a simplified profile management/migration option as well: possibly utilising the fact that RES Software have their desktop assessment feeding into their workspace management component. Such tools are vital to prevent a poorly managed and uncontrolled traditional desktop environment simply moving to a datacentre.

Citrix CloudGateway

Citrix announced the next stage of their CloudGateway strategy with a unified service broker that aggregates, controls and delivers Windows, web, SaaS and mobile apps along with follow-me data to any user on any device via the Citrix Receiver universal software client. The full versions should be available early 2012, betas are available now.

CloudGateway Express replaces Web Interface - which is going EOL in 2014. Early reports are that it is very slick and easy to use. I've yet to put it in front of users - and we know users tend to have a very unforgiving attitude. 

CloudGateway Enterprise is similar to products already available from Centrix Software and VisionApp - allowing you to aggregate all applications - be they local, XenApp/XenDesktop based of hosted off-premise/in the cloud. Unlike other solutions CloudGateway Enterprise will have the facility to provide single sign-on and account management giving not only easier delivery of applications to the user's workspace, but as its integrated with follow-me data, their data as well. I don't think the PC is dead, or will be dead for a good while - but it is fair to say that it is no longer alone.  CloudGateway Enterprise offers organisations a way of managing the modern IT workspace across platforms. How successful it will be is too early to say - but both VisionApp and Centrix Software have carved a niche in large corporates with a similar model; it will be interesting to see how the suggested /CCU license fee for CloudGateway Enterprise will be justified.

What did I miss? Tools-as-a-service, XenDesktop Accelerator,  HDX on a chip, excellent labs,  great geek speak sessions... many things, but then they can be another post.