Host Bill Sutton is joined by Todd Smith of Citrix and XenTegra Solutions Architect Randy Price to unpack Citrix’s move to the License Activation Service and what it means for on-prem environments. They explain who is affected, why Citrix is modernizing licensing, and how to prepare without disruption. You will hear version requirements, air-gapped options, firewall considerations, and what happens if your license server goes down. The team also covers often-overlooked entitlements in Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud and how a quick micro-assessment can surface value you already own.

What you will learn

• What changes on April 15, 2026 and who needs to act
• How LAS reduces license file headaches and improves visibility
• Required versions for CVAD, License Server, NetScaler, PVS, XenServer, and UniCon
• How to register and validate connectivity to Citrix Cloud
• Air-gapped “dark mode” path and when approvals apply
• Local Host Cache behavior if the license server is unreachable
• A practical plan: discovery, version gap analysis, upgrades, testing

Guests

• Todd Smith, Account Technology Strategy Manager, Citrix
• Randy Price, Solutions Architect, XenTegra

Show notes

• Citrix licensing transition overview and deadlines: https://xentegra.com/resources/citrix-licensing-transition-to-las-by-april-15-2026/

In Episode 185 of The Citrix Session, Andy Whiteside, Bill Sutton, and Todd Smith explore how Citrix NetScaler is evolving into a true Swiss Army knife for security—delivering protection not just for Citrix workloads, but for all applications. The conversation dives into the looming challenge of quantum computing and the “harvest now, decrypt later” threat, where bad actors collect encrypted data today to exploit when quantum capabilities emerge.

Todd and Bill unpack how NetScaler is leading the way with post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness, new encryption standards aligned with NIST guidelines, and GA support for quantum-resistant algorithms. They also cover key advancements like HTTP/3 over QUIC, enhanced DNS security, reCAPTCHA v3 integration, and the Netscaler Console for fleet-wide visibility, compliance, and automation.

Whether you’re concerned about securing sensitive data, meeting future compliance requirements, or leveraging cutting-edge application firewall capabilities, this episode will help you understand why now—not later—is the time to prepare for the quantum era.

In Episode 184 of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton is joined by Citrix experts Geremy Meyers and Todd Smith to explore the newly enhanced integration between Citrix DaaS and Amazon WorkSpaces Core Managed Instances.

The team dives into what's new in this “version 2” release, how it enables flexible, cost-effective VDI deployment, and why it’s a game-changer for customers with AWS and Microsoft licensing commitments.

Key topics include:

• What Account Technology Strategists (ATS) really do
• The evolution from WorkSpaces Core to Core Managed Instances
• Support for Machine Creation Services (MCS) and non-persistent desktops
• Hybrid identity management with Intune and Azure AD
• How Citrix maintains a unified admin and user experience across clouds
• AWS savings plans and funding resources for pilots

Whether you're planning a cloud migration or optimizing your existing DaaS strategy, this episode is packed with valuable insights for IT leaders and practitioners alike.

In Episode 183 of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton is joined by Citrix experts Geremy Meyers and Todd Smith to break down how IT leaders can make smarter decisions when rolling out Windows 365. They explore the growing importance of deep visibility, flexible deployment models, and persona-based strategies to support modern hybrid environments. This discussion highlights how Citrix technology enhances Windows 365 with features like HDX optimization, unified access through Workspace, and policy-based control—all while simplifying complex enterprise needs.

What you’ll learn:

• Why a “one-size-fits-all” approach doesn’t work for Windows 365 rollouts
• How Citrix enables seamless access to Windows 365, SaaS, on-prem, and cloud apps
• The role of user personas in right-sizing application delivery
• Where Tech Zone fits into your strategy for technical insights and deployment guides
• How Citrix licenses support unlimited Windows 365 connections

👉 Don’t miss this deep dive into how Citrix helps you modernize IT without compromise.

In Episode 182 of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton and Citrix’s Todd Smith dive into the expanded capabilities of XenServer 8.4, Citrix’s enterprise-grade hypervisor. No longer just for Citrix workloads, XenServer is now fully supported for all workloads under both Citrix Platform Licensing and UHMC—making it a strong contender for organizations exploring alternatives to VMware and Hyper-V.

💡 In This Episode:

• Why Citrix is extending XenServer support to general-purpose workloads
• What’s new in XenServer 8.4: high performance, built-in HA, live migration, and automation
• The power of streaming and rapid provisioning with minimal hardware
• Simplicity of XenCenter and robust APIs for modern management
• Real-world tips for migrating from VMware using the built-in Conversion Manager
• Hardware compatibility resources and insights for planning ahead
• What to expect from the upcoming XenServer 9

🎧 Listen in to learn why XenServer’s evolution matters—and how it can help you optimize your infrastructure for flexibility, performance, and cost-efficiency.

In Episode 181 of The Citrix Session, hosts Bill Sutton and Todd Smith dive into the key takeaways from the blog “What’s New and Next with Citrix: Q&A from our May 2025 Webinar.” From release cadence updates and licensing clarity to enhanced integration with Windows 365 and Nutanix, this episode is packed with forward-looking insights for Citrix admins and tech leaders.

🔍 What You’ll Learn:

• Why Citrix is moving to annual LTSR releases
• How UHMC licensing simplifies multi-cloud deployment
• The difference between the Secure Browser and Enterprise Browser
• How Citrix is integrating with Chrome Enterprise Premium, Unicon, and Elux
• Upcoming SSO and identity access changes using Entra ID
• PVS + Nutanix integrations and what’s coming in Web Studio
• What Citrix is doing to enable zero-trust browser access and secure SaaS use
• Real-world endpoint strategies including BYOD, thin clients, and USB redirection

Whether you’re catching up during your commute or tuning in to stay ahead of the curve, this episode offers a deep but approachable breakdown of what’s shaping the future of Citrix.

Managing virtual desktops doesn’t have to be hard. In Episode 180 of The Citrix Session, Bill Sutton is joined by Citrix’s Todd Smith and Geremy Meyers—and special guest Phil Sellers from XenTegra—to break down the latest innovations from the Citrix + Nutanix partnership.

What’s New & Why It Matters:

• One Integration Point: Citrix now supports Prism Central, giving you seamless access to multiple Nutanix clusters—on-prem or in the cloud
• Hybrid Cloud Ready: Simplify and scale across data centers and hyperscalers with Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2)
• Image Management at Scale: Clone and replicate Citrix golden images across clusters effortlessly
• NetScaler VPX Now on AHV: Official support eliminates hardware and hypervisor lock-in
• Faster, Simpler Admin Experience: Unified visibility, better resiliency, and zero image refactoring

Bottom Line:
Citrix and Nutanix just made managing and scaling VDI a whole lot easier—and more cost-effective.

 🎙️ Hosted by: Bill Sutton, XenTegra
 👥 Guests: Todd Smith & Geremy Meyers (Citrix), Phil Sellers (XenTegra)

🔗 Read the blog

As hardware costs climb and Windows 11 migration looms, IT leaders face a tough choice: upgrade or optimize. In Episode 179 of The Citrix Session, Bill Sutton (XenTegra) and Todd Smith (Citrix) unpack a smarter path—repurposing aging hardware with Citrix Elux and Scout.

Why Listen:

• Learn how tariffs and supply chain delays are impacting endpoint strategies
• Discover how Citrix Elux enables secure, seamless access to Windows 11 on old devices
• Understand how Citrix's Scout tool simplifies endpoint management
• Explore flexible deployment options, including boot-to-VDI and Imprivata tap-and-go
• Hear how NetScaler and Win365 fit into a hybrid IT model—no rip and replace required

Key Takeaway:
You don’t need new hardware to modernize your workspace. Citrix’s built-in solutions help you do more with what you already have.

🔗 Read the original blog
📅 Recorded: June 5, 2025
🎙️ Hosted by: Bill Sutton, Director of Modern Workspaces, XenTegra
👥 Guest: Todd Smith, Citrix

In Episode 178, the Citrix Session team dives into the latest on-premises release—Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 2503. Join Bill Sutton, Geremy Meyers, and Todd Smith as they break down the top new features, including auto-scale insights, a redesigned Web Studio, enhanced storage load balancing, dynamic display rendering with Build-to-Lossless, and expanded integration of UberAgent with Director. Whether you're an admin optimizing cloud costs or an IT leader tracking app usage, this update brings serious power to your Citrix toolkit.

In this episode of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton is joined by Todd Smith, recently promoted Senior Manager for Account Technology Strategists (ATS) in the public sector at Citrix. Together, they dive into a pivotal blog article released at Citrix UNITE in New Orleans—“Citrix and NVIDIA Partner to Deliver AI Virtual Workstations.”

What’s Inside:

• What the ATS role really means—and why it matters more than ever
• How Citrix is evolving to support AI workloads using NVIDIA RTX virtual workstations
• The security, scalability, and flexibility of Citrix’s new AI integration
• Why protecting your data from public LLMs is now mission-critical
• Real-world AI use cases in enablement, call centers, and endpoint acceleration

Whether you’re a Citrix veteran or just exploring virtual desktops for AI development, this episode unpacks how Citrix is helping organizations innovate securely and efficiently—with existing infrastructure, enhanced GPU value, and powerful NVIDIA partnerships.

Key takeaway: AI isn’t just for “the nerds in the back room” anymore. Citrix is making it accessible, secure, and scalable—right at the edge of innovation.

In episode 176 of The Citrix Session, host Andy Whiteside, along with guest Geremy Meyers, dives into the transformative integration of Chrome Enterprise Premium into the Citrix platform. This episode explores how Citrix is enhancing browser management and security for enterprise environments, making it easier than ever for businesses to handle web and SaaS applications securely. Geremy, who oversees account technology specialists in the US, shares insights on the strategic partnership between Citrix and Google and the significant benefits it brings, such as improved malware detection, data loss prevention, and policy control within the Chrome browser. Tune in to learn how Citrix's latest move with Google can streamline operations and bolster security for companies leveraging Chrome Enterprise.

Join hosts Bill Sutton, Todd Smith, and Geremy Meyers for episode 175 of the Citrix Session Podcast as they dive into the critical aspects of upgrading to XenServer 8. In this episode, they discuss the impending end-of-life status of Citrix Hypervisor 8.2 cu1, scheduled for June 25th, 2025, highlighting the necessity for users to transition to the newer XenServer 8. The team outlines the enhanced features, including support for Windows 11 with VTPM, integrated PvS accelerator, added support for Nagios and SNMP, and the revolutionary Xen Conversion Manager which eases VM conversions. They also navigate through operational tips, such as leveraging a content delivery network for updates and the benefits of infrastructure as code with Terraform support. Whether you’re planning a migration or looking to optimize your Citrix workloads, this episode offers invaluable insights into making the most of XenServer 8's capabilities.

In this episode of the Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton and a panel of experts, including Andy Whiteside, Geremy Meyers, and Todd Smith, delve into the latest enhancements Citrix has made to improve both security and operational efficiency. They discuss the new feature, Session Remote Start, which enables faster logons and boosts productivity by allowing physical security measures like badge scans to initiate and prepare Citrix sessions even before the user reaches their desk.

The team explores how this integration not only speeds up the login process but also aligns with Citrix’s commitment to enhancing the user experience and administrative visibility. They cover technical aspects, potential use cases, and the implications of API-driven session management for various industries, especially those with high-security needs like healthcare and public sectors.

Tune in to learn how Citrix continues to innovate by merging physical security with digital access, aiming to transform how we approach workspace efficiency and user satisfaction.

Join us in episode 173 of the Citrix Session where host Bill Sutton, Director of Modern Workspace at XenTegra, and guest Geremy Meyers, ATS Director at Citrix, delve into Citrix’s latest strategic move—the acquisition of Unicon. In this episode, they explore how this acquisition integrates with Citrix’s current offerings, particularly focusing on Unicon's thin client operating system and cloud-based management stack. Discover the implications for enhanced security and management in VDI environments and how this aligns with Citrix’s goal to simplify access to both cloud and SAS-based apps. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or a professional navigating the Citrix ecosystem, this discussion will provide you with valuable insights into the future of workspace technology.

In this episode of The Citrix Session, Bill Sutton and guests delve into Citrix's recent strategic acquisitions of Device Trust and Strong Network, examining how these integrate with Citrix's security framework and enhance hybrid work environments. Join Andy Whiteside, Aaron Banner, Todd Smith, and Geremy Meyers as they explore the implications of these new capabilities on zero-trust architecture and secure private access. Discover how Citrix is not just improving security measures but also facilitating app development within its platform to adapt to the evolving needs of modern enterprises. Whether you're a security professional or involved in enterprise IT, this discussion will provide deep insights into how Citrix's latest enhancements can streamline operations and fortify security protocols in your organization.

In this episode of The Citrix Session, host Bill Sutton and guests dive deep into the latest advancements in hardware and device security, with a special focus on Netscaler disk encryption. Our experts, including Jeremy Myers and Todd Smith, discuss how these innovations originated from financial and public sectors and are now setting a standard for security across industries. Discover how encryption not only protects sensitive data but also ensures compliance with stringent regulations. Join us as we explore how these technologies are being implemented to safeguard decommissioned devices and prevent unauthorized data retrieval, making a significant impact in the finance and government sectors.

In this episode of The Citrix Session (Episode 170), host Bill Sutton is joined by Andy Whiteside, CEO of XenTegra, Citrix experts Jeremy Myers and Todd Smith, to discuss the exciting new capabilities of Citrix Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) for macOS. Dive into how this game-changing feature enables Mac environments to be remotely accessed with the same efficiency as other platforms, perfect for developers, video professionals, and education institutions.

Tune in to learn:

• How Citrix VDA for macOS brings Macs into the fold of remote desktop solutions
• Key use cases, including developer environments, multimedia professionals, and education
• Integration with platforms like MacStadium and Amazon EC2 Mac instances
• Licensing models and platform compatibility
• How this innovation highlights Citrix's continued investment in cutting-edge technology

Explore how Citrix is meeting customer demands while setting the standard for the future of remote access!

In this episode of The Citrix Session, Bill Sutton, Andy Whiteside, and the team delve into the exciting integration between Citrix DaaS and Amazon Workspaces Core. Discover how this powerful combination simplifies virtual desktop delivery, enables the use of Microsoft 365 applications, and leverages Citrix's HDX protocol for optimized user experiences. From cost-effective deployment options to automation via Terraform, the team discusses how Citrix and AWS are better together in revolutionizing cloud-based VDI solutions. Tune in to explore the latest in virtual desktop innovation!

In this episode of The Citrix Session, episode 168, host Bill Sutton from XenTegra is joined by Citrix experts Geremy Myers and Todd Smith for an engaging discussion on the latest updates and insights into Citrix solutions. Andy Whiteside also joins in, sharing his humorous take on recent Citrix topics and providing a lighthearted but informative atmosphere.

Key highlights of the episode include:

• The latest Citrix updates that IT professionals need to know.
• Deep dives into provisioning services and their real-world applications.
• Expert tips on optimizing Citrix environments for better performance.

Whether you're a seasoned Citrix user or new to the platform, this episode offers valuable perspectives and actionable takeaways to enhance your Citrix experience.

Don't miss out on the practical insights shared by these industry leaders!

Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) is one of the two image management technologies available in Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Citrix DaaS.  Historically PVS has been used to deliver Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop workloads (VDA's) to servers and virtual machines from a single image over the network.  However, it can also be used without CVAD/DaaS as a standalone product, physically streaming the OS disk to an endpoint device. These endpoint devices can be “dummy terminals” with no hard drives at all, zero/thin clients, high-end compute and graphics devices, and everything in between.  This can include additional use cases for Security and locations with devices without hard drives.

 In this episode we discuss the history of PVS and some of its applicable use cases.  We also cover some technical aspects of PVS and the benefits enabled by the roll-forward and roll-back of images. 

Host:  Bill Sutton

Co-Host:  Geremy Myers

Co-Host:  Todd Smith

In this episode of our podcast, Bill Sutton, Andy Whiteside, and Geremy Myers discuss the importance of resource centralization for IT advantage in incident recovery, inspired by a blog post by Adam Lotz, Director of Product Marketing at Citrix. We'll dive into the benefits and strategies of centralizing resources, explaining how this approach can streamline IT operations and enhance resilience during disruptions.

Resource centralization is key for maintaining operational continuity and minimizing downtime, which can have significant financial implications. We'll explore real-world examples and practical tips for leveraging centralization to ensure your IT environment remains robust and responsive, even in the face of unexpected incidents.

Ensuring business continuity through centralized resources allows IT teams to respond swiftly and effectively during disruptions. By prioritizing centralization, businesses can significantly reduce the impact of system outages and maintain seamless access to critical applications and data.

In this episode of our podcast, Bill Sutton, Andy Whiteside, and Geremy Myers explore key resiliency features in Citrix DaaS that are critical yet often overlooked, misunderstood, or misconfigured by administrators. We'll delve deep into the Local Host Cache (LHC) and Service Continuity features, discussing how they enable highly available environments capable of tolerating infrastructure outages while maintaining continuous user access to critical applications and desktops.

Ensuring business continuity through a resilient environment is crucial. It allows users to access highly available resources during disruptions, such as power outages or unexpected downtime. This capability is vital as every minute of inactivity due to system outages can translate to significant financial losses. By prioritizing a highly available and resilient environment, businesses can greatly minimize the financial impact of downtime.

Host:  Bill Sutton
Co-host:  Andy Whiteside
Co-host:  Geremy Myers

XenServer has been a part of the Citrix family since the acquisition of XenSource in 2007.  It is a solid player in the virtualization market particularly for running Citrix workloads.  With purpose built features for improving the performance of virtual desktops such as Intellicache, Read Caching, PVS-Accelerator, and GPU virtualization many organizations leverage XenServer to host and deliver their Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Citrix DaaS workloads.

Citrix recently announced that XenServer 8 is now included with their new subscription options:  Citrix for Private Cloud, Citrix Universal Hybrid Multi-Cloud, and Citrix Platform License.  In this episode we discuss XenServer generally as well as these new offerings and how they can be leveraged by customers. 

Host:  Bill Sutton
Co-host:  Andy Whiteside
Co-host:  Geremy Myers

In today’s rapidly evolving cloud computing environment, balancing operational costs, user experience, and environmental sustainability is challenging and time-consuming for IT organizations. The recent general availability (GA) of Azure Hibernation with Citrix DaaS addresses these challenges. Since its initial tech preview, over 160 customers have successfully trialed this feature, transforming the management of their Azure virtual desktop infrastructure.

Technology that drives actual cloud cost reduction

Azure Hibernation allows businesses to pause virtual machines (VMs) when not in use, significantly reducing compute costs. It saves the VM’s memory contents to the OS disk and deallocates the machine, stopping billing for compute resources and only charging for storage. Combined with Citrix AutoScale, this feature helps organizations manage VMs efficiently based on user demand, ensuring that resources are used only when necessary.

Host: Bill Sutton
Co-Host: Geremy Meyers

Building upon the robust security of Linux thin clients, Citrix is thrilled to announce the expansion of its Enterprise Browser offerings to Linux, marking a significant step in our access security platform expansion strategy. This empowers organizations to further secure access to web and SaaS applications, particularly for environments reliant on Linux thin clients, which are already locked down by design and managed by thin client vendors.

This release, currently available as a private tech preview, comes packed with powerful features that are waiting for you to explore. As part of this preview, let’s dive into its advanced capabilities, particularly in the context of enhanced security for Linux thin clients:

Host: Andy Whiteside
Co-host: Bill Sutton
Co-host: Geremy Meyers
Co-host: Monica Griesemer