Hydra therapy

The Windows-based terminal server, codenamed Hydra, adds Unix-style multi-user support to Windows NT. A version of Hydra will be made available for Windows NT 4 server in the summer of 1998 and will then be integrated into Windows NT 5 when that ships in 1998/1999.

Based on the WinFrame technology which Microsoft licensed from Citrix in May, Hydra will enable Windows 3.1, Windows 95 and Windows NT clients to access Windows applications which run entirely on the Windows NT Hydra server. Hydra clients display the applications user interface locally, but all of the application processing takes place on the Hydra server.

Citrix will separately market an enhanced version of the Hydra code, enabling non-Windows desktop clients to run against a Hydra server.

This Citrix product, codenamed Picasso, includes server components such as load balancing and client code for a variety of devices including Dos, Windows, OS/2, Java, Mac and Unix clients.

X-Windows support will also be available.

The principal advantage of Citrix multi-user technology in Hydra, over and above the ability to distribute 32-bit Windows applications to clients who would not otherwise be able to access them, is in cost reduction through centralised application installation configuration and management. The Citrix technology which forms the basis of Hydra has been available for a number of years and is enormously successful, with over a million Citrix client licences sold.

Products are available from Citrix under the WinFrame label and from many OEM vendors of Windows applications server and terminal devices.

Companies can now invest in WinFrame, as Microsoft intends to offer a discounted upgrade path for existing users of Citrix WinFrame when Hydra ships.