VDI-in-a-Box 5.3

Full Windows 8 support

VDI-in-a-Box 5.3 now supports HDX connections to Windows 8 virtual desktops. This will provide the best user experience with enhancements in 3D application support, new H.264 SuperCodec, and reduced bandwidth consumption. With the VDI-in-a-Box 5.3 release, personal desktops (PVD) will be available on both Windows 7 and Windows 8, providing a personalized user experience on the latest Windows desktop OS. It also allows users to take advantage of the new Windows 2012 VHDX format by providing native support.

Better supportability

For IT and support organizations, the VDI-in-a-Box login experience is improved with licensing, JGroup, and HV connector. Log collection is also easier – now you can collect logs from all the vdiManagers on any one vdiManager with just the click of a button.

For the end user, VDI-in-a-Box 5.3 provides better, more specific error messages and self-service buttons so that they can identify and troubleshoot issues. Remote users can now perform single sign-on (SSO) to virtual desktops via the NetScaler Access Gateway web interface.

Enhanced IT experience

VDI-in-a-Box 5.3 comes with a new wizard-driven SSL certificate installation and management. IT no longer needs to install a trusted SSL certificate on the vdiManagers for each appliance to avoid security warnings in end user browsers. Version 5.3 allows you to install and manage both trusted and self-signed SSL certificates from the admin console. You can distribute installed certificates to other servers in a grid from the same UI.

VDI-in-a-Box 5.3 is now compatible with the Citrix Universal Print Server. IT no longer needs to install multiple network printer drivers in the golden images. Universal Printing requires no driver install.

Stay current with latest technologies

VDI-in-a-Box 5.3 supports the latest Windows and hypervisor technologies including XenServer 6.2, Microsoft Hyper-V 2012, and VMware vSphere / ESX 5.1. No matter what platform you run, VDI-in-a-Box takes advantage of the best that these platforms have to offer. Version 5.3 also provides Windows Server 2012 as virtual desktop in a Windows 8 skin and allows IT to leverage Microsoft SPLA licensing.