Citrix has released a Technical Preview of a new connector for XenDesktop. This connector will enable customers to use System Center Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) to deploy application to a XenDesktop Server OS Farm ensuring that if you are using PVS or MCS for provisioning that clones do not get caught in install/reboot issues and that the master VM of the PVS/MCS catalog get correctly updated. The connector does not support XenDesktop Client OS scenario’s (VDI).
Once the application is deployed ConfigMgr can then be used to publish the application in Citrix StoreFront where it can be selected for use by users on any device that has Receiver installed (iPad, Android, Mac, PC, Windows Phone etc). Its also possible to selectively deploy an applications as an App-V, MSI OR XenDesktop Published Application to Managed PCs
The following scenario’s are supported in this Tech Preview:
- Use a single System Center 2012 SP1 Configuration Manager Site to manage a XenDesktop Site
- Use a single System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager Site to manage a XenDesktop Site
- Deploy MSI or App-V apps to XenDesktop 7.1 Server OS Instances (workers)
- Deploy apps to PVS managed Server OS catalogs
- Enable SCCM to deploy XenApp Deployment Type to Managed Clients
Citrix also already provides a XenApp Connector for ConfigMgr as well, the XenApp 6.5 connector SP1 was released in September this year, as reported by virtualization.info