Citrix is raising its virtualization battle with VMware to a whole other level. The company recently released the latest version of its server virtualization platform, XenServer 6.1. But instead of just focusing on new hypervisor features and functionality that would directly compete with vSphere, Citrix is leveling up its virtualization data center product to create a next-generation platform for IaaS (infrastructure as a service) cloud computing.

XenServer 6.1 is an enhanced version of the Citrix server virtualization platform that moves further up the stack by offering tighter integration with the Apache CloudStack and Citrix CloudPlatform. New cloud-related capabilities will help users easily partition firewalls, balance workloads, and prevent attacks on systems in both public and private cloud environments, according to Citrix.

"The tight integration between XenServer and CloudPlatform demonstrated in XenServer 6.1 will provide a new level of manageability and security that will provide a strategic advantage for our cloud customers," said Peder Ulander, vice president of product marketing for the Cloud Platforms Group at Citrix.

After acquiring Cloud.com in July 2011, Citrix made a strategic decision to change course and remove itself from the OpenStack equation earlier this year and instead contribute the CloudStack code to the Apache Foundation, establishing a new open source alternative to OpenStack.

While things are still in the relatively early stages for both cloud groups, OpenStack has been getting much more media attention, most recently because of the group's newest board member: VMware. It remains to be seen whether VMware's joining OpenStack will have a positive or negative effect on the open source cloud group.

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