Here at Citrix, we know that maintaining predictable and updated environments are top priority for organizations. As we continue to meet organizations where they are on their hybrid journeys, we are continuing to bring more on-premises. And with the holidays just around the corner, we found it only fitting to gift you with an exciting announcement. We are extremely excited to announce that the next Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Long Term Service Release (LTSR) is scheduled to be released early next year! With all the new features we have released over the past two years, you won’t want to miss our latest LTSR for even better support for your on-premises and cloud resources. 

The LTSR is about predictability and making sure you’re getting the most out of your on-premises and cloud investments. Below are important questions on how the LTSR works and what is included: 

What is the Citrix Long Term Service Release? 

The Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops product line has three different servicing options:

  • Cloud release
  • Current Release (CR)
  • Long Term Service Release (LTSR)

The LTSR typically comes out once every two to three years and is targeted for applications in industries that tend to require a long test or certification process before deploying. This release pattern offers a predictable maintenance cadence for ongoing fixes in the form of Cumulative Updates. Additionally, the LTSR reaches end of life five years after the release date. For more information, take a look at our servicing options page.

What are the components of the LTSR? 

Here are some terms you need to know when prepping your LTSR environment:

  • Long Term Service Release (LTSR): A release vehicle offered for on-premises Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops deployments delivered every two to three years. The LTSR offers an extended lifecycle, predictable maintenance, and meets high compliance standards.
  • Cumulative Update (CU): A software release that provides maintenance corrections and/or fixes to the LTSR. CUs can be downloaded from citrix.com for Customer Success Services customers. Generally, CUs include fixes and no new functionality.
  • Extended Lifecycle: The LTSR remains supported and compliant for longer than a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Current Release (CR), which remains compliant for 18 months. Once an LTSR is made publicly available, new lifecycle milestones for that release will be established that target five years of mainstream support.

What’s new in the upcoming LTSR?

Many of our customers love the LTSR not only for its predictability but also for the wealth of capabilities available in one release. Two-plus years of feature innovations, fixes, and performance improvements make for a better user and admin experience when leveraging the upcoming LTSR. This includes Web studio, Secure Private Access, and Autoscale for on-premises deployments to make the most of your on-premises and cloud investments. We’ve also added bandwidth optimizations to HDX so you get better graphics with a lower CPU utilization and more. 

What VDA and server operating systems are planned to be supported in the upcoming Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR?

In the upcoming Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR, we plan to support Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server 2016 (with Microsoft extended support), 2019, and 2022 for our VDAs. For our platform, we also plan to support Server 2016 (with Microsoft extended support), 2019, and 2022. For Linux VDAs, we are offering support for Amazon Linux 2, Debian 11.7, RHEL 9.0-.2, RHEL 8.6-.8, RHEL 7.9, CentOS 7.9, Rocky Linux 8.6-.8, Rocky Linux 9.0-.2, SUSE 15.5, Ubuntu 22.04 and 20.04. The charts below outline the support included across our LTSRs: \

Will the new LTSR meet my needed compliance?

For customers in industries like finance, healthcare, and government, compliance and industry certifications are of utmost importance. With the upcoming LTSR, we intend to gain FIPS, Common Criteria, and federal accessibility certifications soon after release. Highly regulated organizations worldwide count on Citrix to help their users get their work done securely while protecting sensitive data, so we make compliance a top priority in our LTSR. Take a closer look at our compliance across Citrix products on our Trust Center page.

Will there be a Citrix Workspace app LTSR for Windows?

Yes, the Citrix Workspace app LTSR for Windows is scheduled to ship along with the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR in early 2024.

The Citrix Workspace app for Windows has its own release cycle, separate from the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops releases. Customers may choose to use the LTSR client, which has a typical 18-month maintenance cycle or stay always up to date with Citrix Workspace app current releases. Citrix clients for mobile and desktop clients on other, non-Windows platforms follow the standard Current Release cadence.

How do I prepare for the upcoming LTSR?

The Citrix team sees this new LTSR, targeted for Q1 2024, as coming at the perfect time. Our Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912 LTSR will reach end of life in December of 2024. For customers leveraging the 1912 LTSR who intend to stay on the LTSR track and gain the latest on-premises features, preparing today to make the move to the upcoming LTSR is an excellent choice.

The best way to start preparing for the upcoming LTSR is to test the latest CR. Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 2308 is available now and is a great starting point for your deployment. The most important thing you can do to prepare for the next LTSR is to deploy the 2308 CR into your pre-production environments today.

Learn More

Stay on the lookout for even more exciting announcements and information around the LTSR. Start testing the latest CR today to make sure your environment is ready for the move. We know the end of the year is a busy time for IT, with annual projects in full force and 2024 planning underway, but we hope this gives you a head start on your next Citrix deployment.

Disclaimer: This publication may include references to the planned testing, release and/or availability of Cloud Software Group, Inc. products and services. The information provided in this publication is for informational purposes only, its contents are subject to change without notice, and it should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision. The information is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code, or functionality. The development, release, and timing of any features or functionality described for products remains at the sole discretion of Cloud Software Group, Inc.