VDI Implementation: Choosing Between Citrix® XenDesktop and VMware® View

Two of the most popular software solutions for a virtual desktop infrastructure are Citrix XenDesktop and VMware View. Both solutions have their strengths, but which is the right choice for your own organization’s VDI implementation? Here are some quick comparisons to help you decide:

Infrastructure Flexibility

• VMware View is designed to work only with ESX and ESXi servers that must be a part of a vCenter server


• Citrix XenDesktop is designed for XenServer, but it is flexible enough to be run on vSphere or Microsoft® Hyper-V

Client Support

• Both VMware and Citrix offer full support for Windows, Mac and Linux clients


• Apple® iOS and Google® Android™ support are available for both VMware and Citrix


• Less popular client types are supported by both platforms: VMware supports Kindle Fire, Citrix supports Java client

Types of Virtual Desktops

• Both VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop support virtual desktop pools in which users are connected to a random desktop from the pool


• Both VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop support dedicated virtual desktops that are assigned to specific users.


• Both VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop support Offline Mode that allows a user's VM to be copied to a physical device so that the virtual desktop can be used offline

Connectivity

• Both VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop support client connectivity via Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP)


• VMware View also supports PCoIP


• XenDesktop also supports Citrix’s HDX (High Definition Experience) protocol

As you can see from the bullets above, VMware View and Citrix XenDesktop share many of the same features, while having a few unique capabilities. Which of these capabilities are the best fit for your own VDI implementation? Let us know here on the blog.