If you have built a XenApp or XenDesktop implementation, you have already built an Application Delivery Network (ADN). The Application Centric Infrastructure (ACI) is the same thing with a different name. There are a few more components to consider in order to complete the picture such as high availability, transport security, load balancing, and WAN optimization. An ADN is the complete end-to-end view of the application's delivery infrastructure, whereas ADC is only one piece. An ADN with all of the components included provides a complete system for application delivery, high availability, security, and optimization.

The two Citrix components that complete the XenDesktop ADN are Citrix NetScaler and Citrix CloudBridge, formerly Branch Repeater and WANScaler, respectively. NetScaler provides TCP multiplexing, load balancing, compression, caching, security, and high availability. CloudBridge provides data deduplication and the acceleration of data delivery. If...