Citrix Application Streaming vs Softgrid, in the Application Streaming forum on BrianMadden.com

I heard from an industry colleague that version 4.5 of Softgrid, will introduce functionality allowing virtual aplications to communicate with each other, and that softgrids system guard will allow you specify other virtual applications as dependencies for specified applications.
Also the softgrid VFS will be going the same route as virtual pc, along with X64 platform support.
Pretty cool stuff...

I wonder if Citrix intends on making an import tool to allow softgrid customers to import softgrid applications into CAS?
Now that would be a great selling tool...

I have notes from MMS that suggested that but I've been getting some buzz that context support (linking sequences together) may not be available in the 4.5 release. Also if you need x64 support please beat up your Microsoft reps. They don't have this functionality slated until 2009! I personally think that they are missing the boat by not having these features in the product sooner. Thinstall currently does x64 support and is slated to have their version of conext support in the product in the near future. I mean there are some downsides to the Thinstall product such as not having DDE support and missing the reporting / license management capabilities that SoftGrid has but if Microsoft does not keep their eyes open they might end up playing more of a game of catch up as competing products evolve.

I kinda jacked the thread but it appears there is enough non-microsoft knowedge out there to export the essentials out of a SFT.

http://www.virtualapp.net/sft-explorer.html

I would say that making a conversion tool is possible. Unfortunately I am not a CAS fan and belive that SoftGrid is the most advanced true application virtualization tool on the market and I think Thinstall is set to be a very strong competitor. Anyway that's my bias.

Thanks for the info Kevin...

I have not tried Thinstall as of yet, it does look promising with the ability to run apps via a USB key.
I see big potential there, just hand your users a secure 8GB datakey with thinstall apps, vpn software, etc etc.
Then they can work from anywhere there is a connected pc.
Alot cheaper than handing out $2k corporate laptops, that you have to worry about updating, and if it gets stolen, well you get my point.

I have been in the softgrid camp for a couple years now, and quite honestly I wish Citrix would hurry up and play catchup with their application streaming.
It is alot easier to convince clients to integrate a Single vendor solution ie. CPS 4.5 with application streaming, vice CPS 4.5 + Microsoft Softgrid.
This includes the benefits of licensing costs on the Citrix end.

Anyways thats my 2 cents.

R

If you want to play with some demo apps go to thindownload.com. I've used the virtual Firefox on all sorts of locked down corporate PCs (unofficially :P) and it just works. I honestly wish Citrix the best of luck but I think they may have missed the boat. That being said I think there is plenty of competition and this market space is still immature so this could change.

Just a quick follow up from Kevin's reply that indeed the public beta of Softgrid 4.5 does have sequence to sequence communication possibilities. :-)

Hi,

This function is called 'Dynamic Suiting'

Dynamic Suiting, enhanced virtual application interaction, is a new feature that will prove to be very useful in the near future. This will give secondary applications access to the Virtual Environment of the primary application. There is no communication restriction between two Virtual Environments. Dynamic Suiting is (easily) configured within the OSD file and the dependency is set with in the OSD file. Re-sequencing of applications is not necessary. Applications Sequenced with 4.2 can be used.

This feature is very useful for Middleware applications (JRE, Oracle, MDAC,..) or plug-ins like Microsoft Office plug-ins. The Microsoft Application Virtualization team worked closely with the Office team and tested 400+ plug-ins with the Dynamic Suiting functionality. Integration of two large applications like Microsoft Office and the Autodesk Suite is even possible (but is not yet a wise idea due to performance problems).

With regards,
Ruben

Once again, SoftGrid kicks the competition in the head. They have always been so far ahead of the game, that I have to agree with Kevin's comment... I wish Citrix the best of luck. I think THEY should have bought up Softricity while the opportunity was still there. My only regret was that Softricity never went public before they were bought out. :)

I would like to add that the management bit is actually better in Citrix than in SoftGrid. Microsoft still has some work to do on consoles and client management, I think !
But the technology rocks and will continue to do so with version 4.5.

The Dynamic Suiting part will add to the value, but will not be the answer to all challenges related to interpacket communication. Now I think this is a good thing, because maybe the best thing with SoftGrid has always been the strong bubble that surrounds the virtual environment, and I am glad they walk slowly and carefully down this new road of opening up bubbles ...

One comment on ThinStall is that the virtualization technology is really cool, but they are having challenges related scaling into really large installations ... And they still have a way to go on management and on streaming. But the product has potential !