4 November 2002 - Today at Citrix iForum(tm) 2002 (www.citrixiforum.com), Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS), a global leader in virtual workplace software and services, announced that it is working with IBM and VMware, Inc. to deliver a highly reliable, interoperable and manageable server and client consolidation solution that helps remote offices simplify their IT environments and reduce desktop administration tasks by centralising application delivery. The solution encompasses Citrix® MetaFrame XP(tm) application serving and management software and VMware ESX Server virtual machine software, which runs on the IBM eServer(tm) xSeries(tm) 440 four- to 16-way Intel-processor based system. The solution will be available to customers by the end of the month.
A powerful technology combination, the new solution stack will allow customers to realise improved application performance, as well as simplified administration and management of application sets, user populations and server farms by optimising the performance of physical servers required to support corporate users and the time spent on hardware provisioning, backups and recovery.
Pairing the x440 with VMware ESX Server gives customers a whole new way to approach 24x7 availability and server consolidation for their Citrix MetaFrame® deployments - creating a more manageable environment. Powered by IBM Enterprise X-Architecture(tm) technology, the x440 offers a "building block" approach to expansion that allows customers to pay for computing power incrementally as they need it, with support for up to 16 processors. ESX Server runs on top of the x440 hardware, providing a virtualisation layer that allows multiple virtual machines running different operating systems on the same system.
Optimised to run on the x440 along with VMware ESX Server, Citrix MetaFrame XP provides a robust infrastructure for the delivery of client applications to any device by transferring management of the local client desktop to the data centre - saving customers significant time and money on application maintenance, hardware upgrades, help desk support and training. Citrix MetaFrame enables server-based access from any device, rapid deployment of applications and seamless business continuity through centralised replication and ubiquitous access.
"Enterprises are constantly challenged to find more effective ways to run varied, conflicting applications on the same server to save space and power, and scale their MetaFrame deployments with minimal hardware investments," said Roger Rose, vice president of enterprise partner sales for Citrix. "Working together with IBM and VMware, we have created a compelling solution that addresses these pain points - taking stress off the physical data centre and the enterprise IT administrator. We believe this joint solution offers customers real benefits for last mile control, while minimising data centre and server administration costs."
"This is an outstanding solution that can help lower implementation costs and improve server utilisation, which is what customers tell us they want to do in 2003," said Deepak Advani, vice president, IBM eServer xSeries. "By enabling customers to scale 'virtually' on one powerful server rather than many smaller physical servers, we believe this solution will provide several benefits, including fewer servers to manage, better utilisation of system resources, and faster and easier provisioning of new 'virtual' servers."
"VMware has worked with IBM and Citrix to establish best practices and some significant advantages to deploying scaled-up Citrix MetaFrame solutions inside VMware virtual machines running on IBM eServer xSeries servers," said Diane Greene, president and chief executive officer of VMware. "The solution offers the benefits of virtualisation in tangible improved return on investment and makes virtual machines a standard enterprise tool for IT managers."
About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. is a global leader in virtual workplace software and services that provide access to applications, information, processes and people on any device, over any network, anywhere, anytime. Citrix makes today's digital office completely virtual - instead of having to go to your office, the office follows you. Working with the world's top industry, integration and consulting partners, Citrix delivers enterprise-ready solutions to business challenges including application deployment, remote office connectivity, workforce mobility and business continuity. More than 120,000 companies worldwide use Citrix Solutions for the Virtual Workplace to give users more mobility, give IT organisations more flexibility and reduce the cost of computing.
Citrix offers two families of products that enable virtual access to
information: Application Server software, including MetaFrame XP for Windows® and MetaFrame for UNIX®; and Access Portal software, including NFuse® Elite and NFuse Classic. The company markets its products through a well-established indirect channel comprising approximately 6,000 resellers, integrators and consultants. In fiscal 2001, the company had net revenues of $591.6 million. Citrix is traded on the Nasdaq Stock MarketSM under the symbol CTXS, and is part of the Standard and Poor's 500 Index. Citrix is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. For more information, please visit the Citrix Web site at http://www.citrix.com.
For Citrix Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release, which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding planned product introductions, management's plans, objectives and strategies, and management's assessment of market factors, constitute forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, acceptance of the company's MetaFrame and portal software product line; the company's product concentration and its ability to develop and commercialise new products and services; the company's success in expanding into new geographic and vertical markets; the company's ability to expand its core business in large enterprise accounts; the size, timing and recognition of revenue from significant orders and other revenue recognition changes; increased competition, including potential competition from Microsoft and other companies; the results of the company's new licensing programmes; changes in the company's pricing policies or those of its competitors, including Microsoft; the costs and risks of developing, acquiring, or integrating new technologies or enhancements to existing products; the risks associated with third party licensing arrangements; the company's reliance upon its strategic relationships with Microsoft and other strategic partners; management of growth and higher operating expenses; the possibility of undetected software errors; dependence on proprietary technology; charges in the event of the impairment of assets; the maintenance of the company's growth rate; as well as risks of downturns in economic conditions generally, and in the software industry specifically, and other risks detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citrix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.