Citrix today released a technical preview available for download of version 7.1 of its Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) product XenDesktop. You’ll need to have a Subscription Advantage in order to download the Technical Preview. The final version once released will mainly support the Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012 R2 Operating Systems which will be generally available later this month.
Version 7.1 provides the following new features:
- Delivering virtual desktops and applications from Windows 8.1 and Windows Server 2012R2.
- Hyper-V 3 with local storage support when using Machine Creation Services (MCS)
- Flash redirection with Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2 and 2012
Besides releasing a tech preview of XenDesktop 7.1 Citrix also released a tech preview of XenServer hardware GPU sharing using NVIDIA GRID technology. In order for customers to review this vGPU technology they need compatible hardware, XenServer 6.2 and the Technical Preview of XenDesktop 7.1. Keep in mind that the preview of vGPU is designed for Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 workloads only.
Update: Citrix now has announced that XenDesktop will be released on October 23.