Citrix Virtualization Infrastructure to Support Microsoft Windows Server 2008

Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), the global leader in application delivery infrastructure, today announced details of its expanded alliance with Microsoft Corp. to offer full support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. This will help ensure interoperability and cross compatibility with the Windows platform for both desktop virtualization solutions with Citrix XenDesktop™ as well as for server virtualization solutions with Citrix XenServer™.

Today’s announcement further extends the company’s long-standing support for the Windows Server platform as the foundation for its flagship product Citrix Presentation Server™. Presentation Server provides a complete system for delivering Windows-based applications in the enterprise. The 18-year relationship between the companies, as well as the commitment to continual innovation on the Windows platform has vastly expanded interoperability and further extends the array of Citrix dynamic virtualization services for Microsoft customers.

“We’ve built a tremendous partnership with Microsoft by helping customers gain greater value from their investments in Microsoft technologies. Extending our innovations to Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V enables us to continue to deliver the industry’s broadest virtualization infrastructure that leverages the Windows platform,” said Mark Templeton, president and CEO, Citrix Systems. “The datacenter is rapidly becoming the head-end for delivering applications and desktops from a dynamic server infrastructure. Providing expanded choice and powerful solutions for desktop, application and server virtualization demonstrates Citrix leadership and our shared vision with Microsoft.”

Adding Value to Windows Server 2008
Citrix virtualization infrastructure products leverage a broad array of “dynamic virtualization services” that provide core components of an end-to-end virtual infrastructure — from servers to applications to desktops. These enabling technologies range from core innovation in virtual delivery protocols to breakthroughs in application workload streaming. Upcoming dynamic virtualization services such as real-time virtual machine (VM) streaming, VM interoperability, high-performance VM storage and VM high availability will allow Citrix to further extend Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V in the future through XenServer for server virtualization and XenDesktop for desktop virtualization.

As part of the company’s VM interoperability services, Citrix is also developing technology to enable the portability of virtual machines between XenServer and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V. By supporting both the Xen hypervisor and Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V, Citrix will allow IT organizations to leverage heterogeneous virtualization environments for different workloads, datacenters, or business units within an organization.

“Microsoft and Citrix share a common vision with a focus on developing an end-to-end computing environment that is flexible, dynamic and responsive to business change,” said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. “By helping to ensure interoperability of existing and new technology platforms such as Windows Server 2008, we move beyond technical and total cost of ownership value to delivering greater business agility and strategic value for all of industry partners.”

Citrix End-to-End Virtualization Solution
Citrix offers the industry’s most comprehensive end-to-end virtualization portfolio:

* Virtualizing Windows-based servers with XenServer. The XenServer product line is an enterprise-class server solution for virtualizing servers in the datacenter as a flexible aggregated pool of computing and storage resources. XenServer combines comprehensive server virtualization capabilities with unparalleled scalability, performance and ease-of-use. The product line ranges from XenServer Express Edition, an easy-to-use single-server solution available for free download, to the more comprehensive XenServer Enterprise Edition.
* Delivering Windows-based applications with Presentation Server. With 99 percent of the global Fortune 500 as customers, Presentation Server is the industry’s de facto standard for delivering Windows-based applications with the best performance, security and cost savings. Presentation Server stores all Windows-based applications in a single central store in the datacenter and then delivers them to end users on demand via innovative application virtualization technology. This technology eliminates the need to install or manage applications on individual user devices, making application testing, provisioning, management and support easier and less costly. This application delivery system automatically selects the best delivery method for the user, the application and the location.
* Virtualizing Windows-based desktops with XenDesktop. XenDesktop is the industry’s first complete Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) system – moving beyond the limitations of existing products to ensure the simple, secure and cost effective delivery of Windows desktops to any office worker. By integrating three key technologies required for VDI – an enterprise-class virtual machine infrastructure, a high-speed desktop delivery controller and on-demand desktop image provisioning – XenDesktop will enable the delivery of virtual desktops from the datacenter to all office workers at the lowest total cost of ownership and the best user experience.
For Citrix Investors
This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The forward-looking statements in this release do not constitute guarantees of future performance. Investors are cautioned that statements in this press release, which are not strictly historical statements, including, without limitation, statements by management, statements concerning virtualization technology and Citrix XenDesktop, and statements regarding management’s plans, objectives and strategies, constitute forward-looking statements. Those statements involve a number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks associated with revenue growth and recognition of revenue, products, their development and distribution, product demand and pipeline, economic and competitive factors, the Company’s key strategic relationships, acquisitions and related integration risks as well as other risks detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Citrix assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release or with respect to the announcements described herein.