Citrix Metaframe is a commercial product for using remote computing resources from your desktop. Applications can be set up so that they appear to run on your computer, but the actual processing is done on a server somewhere else. All your local machine is doing is providing a display.
Citrix offers several advantages. First, Citrix allows for low speed processors to “run” high-end applications that require a fast new computer. You can get more use out of your older systems, as long as there is one powerful shared computer on your network.
Second, Citrix provides easy administration. Instead of upgrading software on many machines in an office, using Citrix makes it necessary to upgrade only the shared server running Metaframe.
Third, Citrix enables the use of cross-platform applications. Mac, Unix, and DOS machines can all use Windows applications through the use of the Citrix client. For example, everyone can use Internet Explorer for the PC by installing and configuring the Citrix client.
NACS uses Citrix to allow Macintoshes around the office to connect to the new telephone billing program (called Mysoft.net). Mysoft.net uses Microsoft’s ActiveX system which will not run on Macs. With Citrix, NACS’s Macintoshes have the ability to access the billing system.
For more information on Citrix Metaframe, please refer to the vendor’s web site: http://www.citrix.com/products/