Throughout this book, we have mainly focused on the server side of XenDesktop. Now, we will take a moment to look at the other side of the equation: the client. Arguably, this chapter should come first, but having navigated your way through the complex server-side components, this final piece will be a downhill run for you.

Citrix Receiver provides users with secure, self-service access to virtual desktops and applications. A user can also use Receiver to access apps through the stores managed by Citrix StoreFront and the legacy web pages managed by the web interface.

Citrix Receiver is device agnostic, so you can conceivably run a Windows 8 desktop from XenDesktop using Receiver on a Linux, Android, or Apple device without having to install the Windows 8 operating system on it. What is more likely is that you will be running Windows 8 via the Receiver on a thin client to drive down the costs. As we move forward in the mobility revolution...