Citrix Acquires Cloud.com, Pledges Interoperability

Citrix Systems has acquired the open source cloud computing platform Cloud.com. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

The acquisition adds Cloud.com's CloudStack product line to the Citrix cloud infrastructure portfolio, which also includes Citrix's cloud-optimized virtualization platform, XenServer. CloudStack is an infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) cloud software platform that helps providers deploy and manage cloud services.

"As the industry moves into the Cloud Era, Citrix is committed to leading the charge with powerful solutions that make the cloud more open, more secure, and more personal," said Mark Templeton, President and CEO of Citrix Systems. "We are delighted to welcome the Cloud.com team to the Citrix family to focus our combined efforts on helping customers of all sizes make a difference in business, and in the lives of their customers and employees."

CloudStack and XenServer, along with XenApp, XenDesktop, and Citrix's line of NetScaler cloud networking products, will become part of Citrix's new Cloud Platforms product group, which includes a complete portfolio of virtualization, orchestration, and networking solutions for the cloud. As part of its stated commitment to openness and interoperability, Citrix has announced that Cloud.com product line will continue to support hypervisors such as XenServer and VMware vSphere, and that it will add support for Microsoft Hyper-V, Microsoft System Center, and a full range of platform-as-a-service development environments, storage systems, and management software.

Cloud.com CEO and Founder Sheng Liang will stay on to lead the design, architecture, and technology of the CloudStack product line and will report to Sameer Dholakia, group vice president and general manager of the Cloud Platforms product group.

"Cloud.com is the platform behind many of the world's most innovative and successful clouds. Joining forces with Citrix will dramatically accelerate our mission to help customers achieve all the promise cloud computing has to offer, in a way that's open, secure and efficient," said Liang.

According to Citrix, the acquisition will help it accelerate its support for the open source cloud infrastructure movement, OpenStack, which includes more than 1,100 developers and 80 member companies. Citrix is a founding member of OpenStack.org, as well as the project's secon- largest contributor and a member of the OpenStack policy board.

Cloud.com CloudStack is available now. Citrix branded versions will be available in a future release. More information about CloudStack is available on the Cloud.com site.

About the Author

Leila Meyer is a technology writer based in British Columbia. She can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • students using digital devices, surrounded by abstract AI motifs and soft geometric design

    Ed Tech Startup Kira Launches AI-Native Learning Platform

    A new K-12 learning platform aims to bring personalized education to every student. Kira, one of the latest ed tech ventures from Andrew Ng, former director of Stanford's AI Lab and co-founder of Coursera and DeepLearning.AI, "integrates artificial intelligence directly into every educational workflow — from lesson planning and instruction to grading, intervention, and reporting," according to a news announcement.

  • toolbox featuring a circuit-like AI symbol and containing a screwdriver, wrench, and hammer

    Microsoft Launches AI Tools for Educators

    Microsoft has introduced a variety of AI tools aimed at helping educators develop personalized learning experiences for their students, create content more efficiently, and increase student engagement.

  • laptop displaying a red padlock icon sits on a wooden desk with a digital network interface background

    Reports Point to Domain Controllers as Prime Ransomware Targets

    A recent report from Microsoft reinforces warns of the critical role Active Directory (AD) domain controllers play in large-scale ransomware attacks, aligning with U.S. government advisories on the persistent threat of AD compromise.

  • Two hands shaking in the center with subtle technology icons, graphs, binary code, and a padlock in the dark blue background

    Two Areas for K-12 Schools to Assess for When to Work with a Managed Services Provider

    The complexity of today’s IT network infrastructure and increased cybersecurity risk are quickly moving beyond many school districts’ ability to manage on their own. But a new technology model, a partnership with a managed services provider, offers a way forward for schools to overcome these challenges.