Citrix XenServer

Citrix XenServer™ is the only enterprise-class, cloud-proven server virtualization platform that delivers the critical features of live migration and centralized multi-server management at no cost. XenServer is an open and powerful server virtualization solution that radically reduces datacenter costs by transforming static and complex datacenter environments into more dynamic, easy to manage IT service delivery centers. XenServer is powered by the industry-standard Xen® hypervisor, and created by the inventors of Xen.

Server virtualization with XenServer. Free.

Citrix announces XenServer 5.5

By providing features like live migration, shared storage support, centralized multi-server management plus P2V and V2V conversion tools in the free version, XenServer enables any organization, no matter the size or budget, to immediately benefit from the power of virtualization for server consolidation, business continuity, and agility.

Features included at no cost	Citrix XenServer	VMware ESXi
Windows® and Linux® guests
Unlimited servers, virtual machines, memory
P2V & V2V conversion
Shared SAN and NAS storage
Centralized multi-server management
Resilient distributed management architecture
Live motion
Shared virtual machine template library
Centralized configuration management
Virtual infrastructure patch management
Intelligent server maintenance mode

More information on the differences between XenServer and VMware can be found in this white paper.

Key benefits of XenServer for server virtualization

XenServer has fast become a leading server virtualization technology with over 5,000 customers and enterprise-class features that rival leading virtualization platforms.  XenServer, as recently reviewed by Allan Stevens of ZDnet, “is very much a production-class virtualization solution with features that match, and in some cases exceed, what’s available on rival platforms.”

• Best virtualization value – Starting with the virtualization power of the industry-leading Xenhypervisor at no cost, users can extend their server consolidation savings into capital equipment, space, power and cooling costs.
• Enterprise-class features – Centralized multi-server management and live virtual machine migration using XenMotion enables users to manage the virtualized environment easily and intelligently while optimizing resource with zero-downtime to users.
• Easy setup and administration – Being easy to use is just one reason XenServer was named the Most Innovative Product of the Year for virtualization in 2008 by VARBusiness.  XenServer can be installed and running in minutes (”10 to Xen“) and also has a unique management architecture that eliminates single points of failure.  Easily manage hundreds of virtual machines with the included XenCenter management console that installs with only 4 megabytes of storage.

Available at no cost, Citrix XenServer gives organizations a way to widely adopt an enterprise-class, cloud-proven server virtualization platform — to leverage server consolidation and dramatically affect the economics of delivering IT.  

Free hypervisors with limited functionality have been around for a long time. We see this move as substantially different because it offers a competitive, enterprise-ready virtual infrastructure platform with full centralized management, live motion and support for unlimited virtual machines and servers—with no strings attached. Anyone who dismissed XenServer in the past as a legitimate player in the enterprise virtualization space clearly owes it to themselves to take a look at this offering.” - Mark Bowker, analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group.