Leading provider of virtualization technology deploys Scale’s Starter Cluster to enhance hosted channel partner training program
Scale Computing, a developer and manufacturer of complete, end-to-end midmarket clustered storage solutions, announces that Citrix Systems, Inc. has deployed Scale’s commodity-based clustered storage solutions as the primary storage solution for its Citrix University eLabs program. Utilizing Scale’s Starter Cluster solution in the hosted Citrix University program enables Citrix to utilize their XenServer™ virtualization technology for the channel partner training program.
Citrix University eLabs are online, instructor-led courses providing informative and interactive discussions, through hands-on labs, to the Citrix partner community. In order to access the online labs, students connect to virtual machines running on XenServer hosts. Citrix has implemented three Scale SN1000’s which connect to the XenServers to store virtual machines and snapshots.
“Our Citrix University eLabs environment generates a lot of data from our users, so we needed fast, easy-to-administrate, modular storage capability as the programs continued to grow,” said Craig Stilwell, vice president, Americas channel and field marketing. “Scale’s clustered and parallel architecture seamlessly scales to multi-petabytes of high performance and highly available storage as we need it. The Scale storage solutions work incredibly well with XenServer, and since it runs on commodity hardware, it offers an extensive set of enterprise-class features at an extremely reasonable price.”
“As more companies are looking to reduce costs, increase control and add convenience to planning and managing storage, they need a more complete, end-to-end storage solution for their expanding data growth,” said Jeff Ready, CEO of Scale Computing. “By combining Scale’s StorageNode1000 with Citrix XenServer, Citrix is able to benefit from the power of virtualization for server consolidation, business continuity, and agility within their Citrix University program.”
Scale’s storage portfolio is based on the company’s Intelligent Clustered Storage (ICS) technology, which enables users to add storage hardware, known as storage nodes, as necessary without suspending services or migrating data. IT managers are able to build out storage clusters, starting with just six terabytes (raw) up to the multiple petabyte range on a single file system. As a unified storage platform, Scale’s Starter Cluster line of products provides for simultaneous SAN and NAS services from a single pool of storage, providing enterprise-class, truly clustered and highly scalable storage. Scale’s storage portfolio aims to reduce costs while increasing control, as well as make storage management more convenient for IT administrators.
About Scale Computing Scale Computing is a developer and manufacturer of complete, end-to-end midmarket clustered storage solutions. Based on Scale’s Intelligent Clustered Storage™ (ICS) technology, Scale’s storage portfolio aims to reduce costs while increasing control, as well as make storage management more convenient for IT administrators. The Starter Cluster line of products provides enterprise-class, truly clustered storage features at a fraction of the price of comparable solutions. IT managers are able to build out storage clusters, starting with just 6 terabytes (raw) up to the multiple petabyte range on a single file system using commodity hardware. One hundred percent channel, Scale’s Generation 3.0 storage solution is protocol and density agnostic. Based in Indianapolis, IN, Scale Computing was named one of Forbes’ Most Promising Companies in 2009. For more information, visit http://www.scalecomputing.com. Follow Scale management personal blogs and Twitter. Jeff Ready, CEO: @McStartup, http://www.mcstartup.com; Peter Fuller, VP of Marketing: @pioniq, http://www.pioniq.com.
Temporary login credentials will be assigned at the time of the scheduled eLab for which you have registered. These login credentials are only good at the time of the event and cannot be used in the future.
When you log in to Citrix University, you will be connected to a Web Interface page. From this page, you will be able to launch a XenDesktop from which you will do your lab work in Citrix University.
If Web Interface cannot detect a suitable XenApp or XenDesktop client or plugin, Web Interface will present you with a page with a Download button. This button will take you to the Citrix website where you can download a suitable XenApp or XenDesktop client.
If you already have a XenApp or XenDesktop client and you receive the page with the Download button, click the Already Installed link on the right side of the page.
If you are using Microsoft Windows, the best client to use for Citrix University is the Desktop Receiver v11.100. This client will give you the XenDesktop toolbar which allows you to resize your XenDesktop in a window.
The Desktop Receiver will not install on a machine that already has the XenApp plugin (11.0 or earlier). Either you can remove the XenApp plugin first and then install the Desktop Receiver, or, you can use the XenApp plug-in you already have.
If you use the XenApp plugin, your XenDesktop will be presented to you in full-screen mode. You can use the function key combination of Shift-F2 to allow you to resize the XenDesktop so that you can access your local operating system.
If you are using a Macintosh, install the XenApp client for Mac OS X, v10.00.603. This will allow you to launch your XenDesktop in full-screen mode, but you can access your local operating system by placing your mouse over the Dock at the bottom of the screen, or over the Menu at the top of the screen.
Citrix University eLabs are online hands on workshops that can be accessed from anywhere. Citrix eLabs offer the following benefits to our partners:
- Training without the inconveniences of traveling to a facility. - Experience full exposure to Citrix technologies. - Learn from the comfort of your own home or place of work. - Free training for Citrix partners. - Interact with Citrix online trainers. - Easy sign up powered by GoToWebinar ™. - Training is always available.
Whether or not you were in Las Vegas last October, you’ve probably seen the uptick in news stories and analyst reports about application delivery. It’s a market that’s predicted to be worth billions in the coming years—which will create seismic shifts in the way organizations think about applications.
“Application delivery is rapidly becoming one of the defining issues of this generation,” said Wes Wasson, Citrix VP of worldwide marketing. “Companies that are fluent in app delivery will thrive, while those who fail to make it a strategic priority will struggle to keep pace with the rate of change in today’s increasingly dynamic world.”
Application delivery is all about getting applications from the data center to the user as efficiently as possible, with technology that improves performance, availability and security. Here are three reasons why it’s important to your business:
The Citrix Evaluation Virtual Appliance (EVA) is a new pre-configured, ready-to-go, virtual machine system for evaluating Citrix Presentation Server Platinum Edition™. Based on a Microsoft .VHD Test Drive base image of Windows 2003 Server R2, the Citrix EVA will enable evaluators to interact with the Citrix management interface, and evaluate our application delivery infrastructure from both the administrative and end-user perspectives within as little as 10 minutes after completing the download.
Evaluation Virtual Appliance Contents
The EVA includes all of the components needed to evaluate Presentation Server Platinum Edition. These components include:
A Support Forum ”XenDesktop Quick PoC Kit” under the new category “Proof of Concept Kits” has been created specifically for reporting issues, providing feedback and support to citrites and partners. WWTR will work together with Technical Support for reported issues and how these can be supported by the teams.
In addition, the usage of the site and content will be tracked through My Citrix reporting tools that will provide an overview about partners who download the kit.
