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Citrix Vs VPN

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by jbinner

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Citrix Vs VPN??
We currently use Citrix solutions to access our network. Citrix is a dedicated server, with 5 other servers present. We are investigating a switch to VPN from Citrix. My main concern now is the speed hits of VPN.

The first and foremost reason for switching FROM Citrix is speed. It is in my expereince that VPN would be slightly faster. Am I wrong in this?

Setup is a T-1 Line from the "main" data center, with factional T-1 in our Florida Office, and cable modems in other locations. We also have home users, with either cable or DSL. The solution I am looking at now is SonicWall appliance at the main location, and Sonicwall VPN software for all outlying locations. Thoughts please??

11 replies

by jf555

Yes, that is what I did at most of my clients. Try NetOp (Netop.com), it is several times faster than PCAnywhere. By using the SonicWall solution, you are avoiding the complex managment of the Citrix, good start! Eitehr of of the solutions has to go through the "internet Cloud" which depends on many routers, I generally foound the the Verizon DSL to be the slowest link in the entire circuit, try to avoid it.

by jbinner

I've increased the point total for this, because it's an important move for us, if we go that route.

Thanks in advance.

by claudiocurcio

The answer starts with what is in the other end of the network.

If only need take control of your office workstation, perhaps VPN is cheaper.

But if you need access the ERP of your Organization, the thinks are differente. You will probabily print reports, and this situation need a bit more inteligence in the bandwidth administration that the VPNs dosen't have. Additionaly, Citrix will provide you with processing load balance betwenn your five servers.

Regards,

Claudio

by curlergirl

It's very puzzling why you would think that a straight VPN connection would be faster than Citrix - this is absolutely NOT true. The reason that a Citrix connection is faster is that it is only transmitting a small amount of data over the remote connection. For example, on a straight VPN connection, when a user opens a word processing document, the entire contents of that document is sent over the remote connection and loaded into the memory of the workstation. On a Citrix connection, the contents of the document is loaded into the SERVER's memory, and only the display refresh and any keystrokes generated by the user are transmitted over the remote connection. Logically, then, it's very easy to understand why a VPN connection, even on a T1 line at 1.5MB or better, will be much slower than a local network connection at 10/100mbs. Whereas the Citrix connection is much faster because, even though it is still transmitting at the much slower remote connection rate, it is sending so much less information.

Hope this helps!

by clyde.franklin

Actually a remote desktop solution across VPN will only transmit key strokes and screen changes also.
If you are not using a total thin client solution, the VPN advantage is in using your office desktop rather than an infrequently used thin client farm.
When using this scenario I am not sure of the exact comparisons between VPN and Citrix, but I would imagine that the VPN would not be slower.

by rkuhn040172

Citrix is much faster, however, it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

With Citrix, you have a much more controlled environment as far as what apps are available, settings, etc.

However, we currently use Citrix and are trying to get away from it. Too expensive.

We are turning all necessary apps into either locally run apps or web facing apps.

Once all needed apps can be run locally with a VPN connection or are essentially run in a browser, the need for Citrix goes away along with the licensing, the servers, the maintenace, etc.

If you have an app or apps that can't be run locally well with a VPN or can't be run in a browser window, Citrix is an excellent solution.

It's just expensive. If you have the need or budget, Citrix is great. But if money is tight or you have a longer term vision, VPN solutions while typically slower can greatly reduce costs.

by curacao_dejavu

same arguments as synergy/dlo.

with citrix only the screen change will travel over a link, the actual processing is occuring that the server.
While with a vpn the whole data will travel over the connection.

Leopold

by tamj123

aggree with #2 and 3, in our envirnment even users with 56K dial up modem are able to login to citrix from home and work just like at office without any problem or tell any different.

by zainalb

You can try explore SSL VPN which is clientless vpn. I did POC on my office using F5 Fire Pass access Exchange server with my outlook client (dial-up)i'm not facing any problem with that. What you need only one appliance at your hq and the rest only internet browser. Beside that this equipment can intergrate with your existing AD so don't need to have multiple login id.

by muhammad arshad malik

I have 7 factories on different location. we are going to use ERP Iscala application. i want to know which one is the best for us. for internet we are using wireless 5MG speed dedicated.
Thanks.

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