Citrix to offer 'public cloud scalability' to private customers

Citrix has launched the latest version of its NetScaler internet delivery software, promising give enterprise and carrier networks the "elasticity, simplicity and expandability of the cloud."

NetScaler 10 promises to help companies scale up, scale in or scale out their networks as easily as they would with public cloud, according to Citrix.

It will enable enterprises to embrace a cloud-first network design across all service delivery functions... giving IT the control and confidence to take on the transformation to the cloud network era.

The company said the latest release introduces a new feature called "TriScale" technology, which should deliver the capability to scale up the performance of a single appliance for greater elasticity, scale out to expand capacity by deploying NetScaler appliances in a unified cluster, and scale in by consolidating multiple networking functions into a single NetScaler service delivery platform to simplify network infrastructure.

Citrix claimed the solution would also enable datacentre and cloud managers to provide a comprehensive set of network-based services that are flexible enough to handle the demands of even the most intensive application or service in the most efficient way possible.

The new release brings some 160 new features with it, including built-in cloud connectivity with Citrix CloudBridge, so customers could extend enterprise datacentres into external clouds with security, performance and manageability.

It also boasts new capabilities to deliver virtual desktops with Citrix XenDesktop, including support for smartcard authentication for secure access to virtual desktops, and policy management that separates virtual desktop management from on-going network administration tasks.

"[NetScaler 10 will] enable enterprises to embrace a cloud-first network design across all service delivery functions including cloud connectivity, security and visibility, giving IT the control and confidence to take on the transformation to the cloud network era," said Sunil Potti, vice president and general manager of the NetScaler product group at Citrix.

The software is available immediately, with list prices starting at $2,000 and at no additional charge for existing Citrix NetScaler customers with a valid NetScaler maintenance agreement. Citrix TriScale clustering capabilities are currently offered in controlled availability.