Citrix Presentation Server has left the building, XenApp is the new name

Remember how awesome NFuse was? That turned into NFuse Elite and NFuse classic. And then there was the awesome "MetaFrame" name, which spawned "MetaFrame Password Manager," "MetaFrame Presentation Server," "MetaFrame Conferencing Manager," and "MetaFrame Secure Access Manager."

So I guess "Xen" is the new name for everything application-oriented? Or virtualization-oriented maybe? 

> So I guess "Xen" is the new name for everything application-oriented

Why stop there? What's wrong with XenToMyPC and XenScaler :-)

Gus Pinto is pointing out that this move makes a lot of sense, and that even though it was difficult, it's better in the long run. He also said that the crowd was very enthusiastic about it.

My only comment to Citrix is that regardless of the name, people are going to call these XenApp servers "Citrix" servers for a long time. The "Citrix" name is what people know, because it's the only thing that's stayed consistant over the WinFrame/MetaFrame/Presentation Server/XenApp lifecycle. By the way, do other major vendors do this name game? Exchange, Windows, SQL?

1. It's a lot shorter than their other product name changes that ended up being an ill-descriptive phrase rather than a true identifying tag name.

2. It's not an acronym. The tech industry has long been saturated with acronyms because we hate having to say more than two syllables when mentioning a product. Even acronyms get shortened to two syllables like S-Q-L becoming "sequel" and M-S-A-M becoming "em-sam". "XenApp" falls within the two syllable limit and actually categorizes/describes the product very well.

I never thought I'd ever hear myself say this, but way to go Citrix marketing department!

I am not even sure how to say it "XenApp" do I just say zenapp. I hate words like that.

I guess when you have names like it... its easy to tell the difference from a Novice and a seasoned veteran.

 I loved it when people called Novell... novel.

citrites will soon become xentrites ...

right i'm off for a xencoffee :-)

Call me old fashion, but since when is it a good move to rename your flagship product for the umpteenth time.  I may even go so far as to say that this event will mark the beginning of the end for Citrix.

Such a crazy move may mean that Citrix is rebranding in preparation for a buyout.

Citrix may have fumbled around in the dark with some weird names in the past, but this one actually makes a lot of sense to me. I don't think they're renaming all their products, just the three that are doing virtualization. Makes a lot more sense than Presentation Server or MetaFrame.

WinFrame was a cool name, but that was 10 years ago. The product has changed massively since then as has the market. It's now about application virtualization. Not bad.

In Chinese I think that Xenapp would be pronounced 'shen-app', and chien in French means Dog, so any French speaking Chinese might think twice about buying the product.  Just killed at least 63 possible sales leads.

I'm not 100% sure about the name XenApp, it'll probably grow on me. When all is said and done 'Presentation Server' was also a bit naff, 'MetaFrame' was a proper geeky name, felt like you were really working with cool technology. Now I'll just feel like a Buddhist techno freak!!

H4C.

<rant>I don't mean to get officious here, but this information was released under NDA to Channel partners, and as such has no place here.

When it is properly announced and explained it will make sense to people, until then it is really not helpful to the community to publicise one small piece of the jigsaw puzzle. </rant>

For what it's worth it is a very positive message, just wait til you know the full story before commenting!

What is great about the Xen name change is that it is exactly the same day that VMware misses their number.  VMware has only been public for three quarters now (not even a year!) and already has misguided Wall Street.

Looks like the Microsoft and the Citrix alliance is already making headway with customers (contrary to what VMware says!!!!!)

Nico, like the Guest stated above

"...When it is properly announced and explained it will make sense to people..."

Brian, can you remove this thread from your blog and co-operate with the NDA.  I know its public now (no thanks to your website), but by removing the thread we can stop the confusion about what is going to happen to this product and that, etc...

Because a NDA is valid only to those who signed it.

If the Brian madden company, or maybe Ruben, did not sign any NDA regarding citrix product naming annonces ... well, we shall all keep commenting on the news, and maybe joking on the new Xennda or xenda ... now that's a cool name !

Relax - Citrix wants the word out to all our customers. They are really pushing this.

Citrix will change this name in another 2 years. It is totally crazy to build a name recognition in the market place and then change the name. Citrix is growing at a healthy pace but Mark Templeton flunks in marketing 101 with all of these name changes. He is fortunate he has some great technology or he would have killed his customer base with confusion. He even admitted that when he came to Citrix he wanted to change the name from "Citrix Systems" to just "Citrix." He is obviously not on the front lines with customers or with partners to know what a challenge name changes can be.

I would think this would be a bit offensive to the Buddhist community. 

Might get confusng during conversation at a Novell house that uses Zen

Maybe more confusing if that Novell site happens to be a budhist monastery, or a budhist monastery that fears foreigners (Xenophobes)

They bought Xen Enterprise, not Xen project or whatever it's called. I think rebranding your image after some Opensource product is a big mistake. What about Nokia rebranding Symbian as Qtopia o Qt Mobile Platform after buying Trolltech, or Novell droping it's name calling eveything Suse Directory Services and so on. Name sounds awfully in Spanish.

Ahhhhhhhhhh, the sky is falling........

If everyone started to inform everyone about items under NDA then no company would release any information up front, thus removing the unique insight we get at these events........

The problem is, if Citrix does not enforce the NDA then what good is it?  Gus will have to made an example otherwise Citrix's NDA mean nothing.

I understand the name changed has caused lots of noise or excitement, but these topics should be removed until Citrix formally announces to the public detailing the name change.  Once this occurs it will create a clearer picture to most.

I have to admit when I first heard the name change I thought the same thing that most others here - "what are they doing?"  After some thought I can see why Citrix would make this move, and I believe for them, it makes sense.

First, Presentation Server as a name was a bad idea - and was hardly representative of what the product does.  I cannot tell you how many times I have been asked if Presentation Server is something like LiveMeeting or something to assist with presentations. 

Second, Citrix made a huge investment in XenSource not only to compete in the Server Virtualization market but to be the out of the gate leader in the Virtual Desktop Market.  In order to do this they need to build value around the name Xen - and make it the most recognized name in virtualization.  What better way to do this then rename the world's most popular virtualization product (Presentation Server) to include the Xen name.  In the process they have also made things simpler.... when you are talking about Application virutalization (server or client side) you are talking about XenApp, when you are talking about Server virtualization you are talking about XenServer, and when you discuss virtualized Desktops you are taling about XenDesktop.

 In the end it's a marketing thing - building a brand around Xen. 

A shame to see that Ruben, who seems to be working for a large Citrix partner, doesn't know that posting NDA info, regardless of the source, is "not done". Then again I can understand the urge to post such a scoop, as it's all about beeing "First!"... :/

People have a problem with the fact that your source of this information - Gus Pinto removed his blog entry regarding the subject.  Its a shame that you have not done likewise.

I actually respect you as a Citrix/MS expert, but will think twice about reading your articles in the future. 

I have been using Citrix technology for about 8 years now and find this website and others very useful.  But I am also loyal to my company (who are also a Citrix partner) and find this type of commentry unhelpful. 

As Mark mentioned in his speech, all will be revealed on Feb 11th, so why provide a platform for people to "guess" what Citrix will reveal.  It just makes no sense to me.

Its all ready in the public domain so stop whimpering you clown

"Its all ready in the public domain so stop whimpering you clown"

That's an intelligent reply you fool! It's not in the public domain, its only useless websites like this which make an attempt to speculate and in the process confuse people.

If you want to keep something secret don't say it on stage in front of a crowd, even if all their badges say that they are under NDA.

I owe my last two promotions to the forums on this website. It is defintely not useless. I don't see how a leak about the upteenth name change in 10 years is really going affect Citrix at all.

I am going to log out now so I can reply with my tough guy comments as a "Guest"

At first I didn't like the new name - but know it's kinda grown on me and I like it. And I've said it on the Thin List and I'll say it here - they should rename CCIA to XenMaster...

agree - that should be CCXM - Citrix Certifiied Xen Master, has a nice ring to it.

Brian:

I appreciate your web site and these informational blogs.....and the exchange of friendly fire. We all learn from many perspectives represented here.

Another point is....Do any of us think Citrix actually trusts 3000 sales people to keep this quiet?

This Citrix Summit NDA is a psychology strategy game Citrix is playing. 

It makes the attendees feel special that they are getting priviledged information. It broadcasts their message to all their customers through their partners. The partners give value add to their customers by sharing the latest information from Citrix.

Hi Brian, et al...

Generally speaking, there appear to be no issues from Citrix. I know they respect you as a partner and technologist. In the interest of "first scoop", you guys got the goods.

But, there are always cases where it is best to ask first. You have MANY contacts inside the companies that are represented here. Use them to everyone's advantage.

I do have to say that in all interest of fairness, there was a lot more presented at Summit than was reported here. Many items were already showcased at iForum last year. As you mentioned, the robes will open and more will be revealed very soon.

Regards,

XenMaster (Coming to an XBox soon!)

OMG! I was lmao on this one:

"Why stop there? What's wrong with XenToMyPC and XenScaler :-)"

hysterical!!!!!

OMG! I was lmao on this one:

"Why stop there? What's wrong with XenToMyPC and XenScaler :-)"

hysterical!!!!!