Autodesk is in the process of releasing the 2012 versions of various software packages and one of the new features for eight of the products is that they are “Citrix Ready”. This is a major feature that will benefit many organizations that are currently utilizing Citrix Systems solutions in other portions of their organization. By utilizing Citrix solutions, Autodesk users can reduce hardware costs and central management of the software. Many I.T. managers will be excited about this capability. Smaller organizations may not realize any benefit to this feature, but many mid-size and larger firms will really benefit from it.
Citrix Systems is a major player in the extended desktop market through networking, cloud computing, and remote access market. As the AEC market moves more toward collaboration, utilizing Citrix solutions because more important. While I have no stake in Citrix Systems, I believe Autodesk configuring its products to work with Citrix is beneficial to users. I have talked with many users who wanted to host their Autodesk application through Centrix and then accessing the applications remotely. It really does open the door to more mobile computing.
The products that are specified as Citrix Ready are:
- AutoCAD 2012
- AutoCAD Architecture 2012
- AutoCAD MEP 2012
- AutoCAD Mechanical 2012
- Revit Architecture 2012
- Revit Structure 2012
- Revit MEP 2012
- Map 3D
- Map 3D Enterprise 2012
It is important to note that this is a new feature added to the 2012 products, and does not make the previous versions Citrix Ready. Don’t expect your AutoCAD 2011 or Revit 2011 to be made Citrix Ready; howver, AutoCAD MEP 3D and AutoCAD Raster Design were made Citrix Ready in 2008.
See Autodesk’s press release about it at:
Press release