In einem interaktiven Referat diskutierte Marco Fernandez, Citirx Certified Instructor, über die Implementierungsvarianten von Citrix XenApp und XenDesktop 7.8.
Unter anderem wurden Themen wie die Multi-Geo-Zonen, proaktive Benachrichtigungen und Warnungen, Citrix-Director-Erweiterungen und AppDisk (Tech Preview) besprochen.
Die Teilnehmer des Referats konnten Best Practices für Ihr Unternehmen aus den Diskussionen mitnehmen.
4. XenApp and XenDesktop Improvements
• Improved flow of database configuration
– Previously could not configure Site to create separate
databases for Site, Logging and Monitor data stores
– This is now possible during the step where the
administrator selects the SQL Server instance to use
• Multiple controllers can be specified during the initial
Site configuration
– Previously would need to add additional controllers
after Site configuration
– This is now possible during the step where the
administrator selects the SQL Server instance to use
• Updated MetaInstaller to install SQL Express 2012 SP2
11. Receiver for HTML5
• Since we expect the web apps to
only be accessed via browser,
configure HTML5 Receiver
• This is a store-level setting; create
multiple stores on the same server
if necessary
13. Create Shortcut URLs – Basic Option
• To create URLs that can be linked from other websites, use the “Add Shortcuts to
Websites” feature of Receiver for Web
14. Create Shortcut URLs – Advanced Option
• For more flexibility, build a
launcher using StoreFront’s Web
API (public download on
citrix.com)
– Faster app launch times
– Custom authentication methods
– Allows more permissive launches (no
need to whitelist source URLs)
19. Connection Leasing
19
Site DBDelivery Controller
StoreFront
XML File
Apps Pooled
Windows Desktop
Linux DesktopPhysical PC Personal
Windows Desktop
Personal
Linux Desktop
21. Azure
(East US)
Data Center A
(Hyper-V)
Azure
(West US)
Azure
(West Europe)
Data Center B
(XenServer)
XenApp Zone 1 XenApp Zone 2 XenApp Zone 3 XenApp Zone 4 XenApp Zone 5
XenApp & XenDesktop
Hybrid deployment
Primary Zone
22. Workspace Cloud
Control Plane
Citrix Workspace Cloud
Applications and Desktop Services
Azure
(East US)
Data Center A
(Hyper-V)
Azure
(West US)
Azure
(West Europe)
Data Center B
(Hyper-V)
XenApp Zone 1 XenApp Zone 2 XenApp Zone 3 XenApp Zone 4 XenApp Zone 5
23. MultiGeo Zones
What does this feature accomplish?
• Divides a Site into separate zones
• A zone contains resources which communicate to other zones via a low latency connection
• Resources can include Controllers, Machine Catalogs, Hypervisor Connectors
• Two types of zones available
• Primary Zone
• Containing at least a Controller and Database. May also contain License Server and Director servers for the Site
• Examples of a Primary Zone: Main office, main datacenter location
• Satellite Zone
• At a minimum, there will be a single VDA in this zone.
• Satellite zones may also include a local Controller
• Example of a Satellite Zone: Remote branch office
25. MultiGeo Zones
Why would a customer use this feature?
• Allows a XenDesktop Site to span multiple branches or datacenters rather than
build a separate site for each
• Allows for centralized management across multiple branches or datacenters
from a single Studio instance
28. Limitations
Limitations, Known Issues & Technical Risks
• Satellite Zones with no local Controller or Storefront server experience a single point of failure if
the WAN connection is interrupted
• Lack of database replication to satellite sites with Local Controllers introduces a reliance on
Connection Leasing to reconnect to applications launched within the past 2 weeks (default
value). The leasing cache value can be modified if required.
• After upgrading from XA/XD 7.6.300 to XA/XD 7.8, the MultiGeo Zones feature does not appear
in Citrix Studio
– To resolve this behavior, in an Elevated rights PowerShell Window, navigate to “C:Program
FilesCitrixXenDesktopPoshSdkModuleCitrix.XenDesktop.Admin.V1Citrix.XenDesktop.Admi
nStudioRoleConfig” and run the following
– Import-AdminRoleConfiguration .RoleConfigSigned.xml
30. Application Limits
What does this feature accomplish?
Application Limits allows for the admin or support team to configure an application
to launch a specific number times, either for the user (single launch) or for the
Delivery Group.
31. Application Limits
Why would a customer use this feature?
Application Limits are beneficial in the following scenarios:
• When used to limit the number of sessions a resource intensive application that
can be launched
• When used to control licensing of an application and prevent users from
launching multiple session, thus, using multiple licenses
• Will assist customers in remaining within their Software License Agreement
32. Application Limits
How do I configure this feature?
Under the Delivery tab in Application
Settings
• Check box Limit to one instance per
user to restrict the users to single
launch
• Set the value under Limit the number
of instances running at the same
time to limit the number of
simultaneous copies of an application
can be used for the Delivery Group
34. Multiple Reboot Warning and Schedules
What does this feature accomplish?
This feature reintroduces the ability for administrators to allow multiple warnings to
users prior to rebooting the server.
35. Multiple Reboot Warning and Schedules
Why would a customer use this feature?
Previously, the Reboot Warning would only occur a single time 5 minutes prior to
the reboot occurring. This could potentially cause lost work if the end-user did not
see the initial warning or quickly dismissed it. With the multiple reboot warnings,
the end-user would be reminded every 5 minutes to save their work.
36. Multiple Reboot Warning and Schedules
How do I configure this feature?
From Citrix Studio:
• Edit the Delivery Group and select
Restart Schedule
• Select desired notification time.
Note: Frequency only available if
you select a 15 minute warning
• Enter desired notification message.
Note: Use %m% to include the
number of minutes in the message
37. Limitations & Technical Risks
• If older VDA remains in updated (XA/XD 7.8) site or if newer VDA is in non-
updated site, repeated reboot warning messages will not work
• Notification frequency is only available in Studio if initial notification is set to 15
minutes
• Only applies to Server OS Delivery Groups
39. Session Recording & Troubleshooting
Improved session activity monitoring
• Powerful activity monitoring
– Capture screen updates to a video file
– Configure monitoring of a specific user, app or server
– Trusted digitally signed recording
• Faster problem resolution
– Replay actual screen activity at exact moment of failure
– Quickly troubleshoot errors through time-stamped visual records
• Enhanced auditing
– Monitor activity involving sensitive data
– Record admin screen for change management of critical systems
– Notify users of recording to help deter potential misdoing
42. Integrated Windows Authentication for Citrix Director
What does this feature accomplish?
This feature allows the use of the currently logged on users’ credentials to pass-
through and log into the Citrix Director site.
43. Integrated Windows Authentication for Citrix Director
Why would a customer use this feature?
One less set of credentials for the administrator to enter when they look to monitor
their environment.
44. Integrated Windows Authentication for Citrix Director
How do I configure this feature?
From IIS on the Citrix Director server:
• Drill down to the Director site folder
• Disable Anonymous
Authentication
• Enable Windows Authentication
• Run IISRESET from a Command
Prompt
46. Integrated Windows Authentication for Citrix Director
What happens if pass-through authentication fails?
If Director is launched by a user that does
not have permission to login, they will see
the standard Director login
In Event Viewer, you will also find the
following Warning advising the account
does not have permission to access this
site
47. Desktop Usage and Reporting
What does this feature accomplish?
• Provides usage insight for the XenApp and XenDesktop Site
• Displays usage of Desktop OS (Remote PC and VDI) as well as Server OS
desktops sorted by
• Capacity Management tab displays historical usage of desktops via the Desktop
OS Usage filter along with displaying the Server OS VDAs that have been
delivered as a service.
• Hosting Application Usage view is dependent upon the XenApp and XenDesktop
licenses that an organization has. This view will provide a graph with peak
concurrent usage as well as application based usage over a given time period
48. Desktop Usage and Reporting
Why would I use this feature?
• Allows a real-time view of operating system usage to quickly assess a Site’s
needs for capacity
50. Hosted App Usage Reporting & Trending
Performance management and network analysis
• Analyse performance trends for
proactive capacity planning and
deployment optimization.
• Network Analysis
51. Desktop and Server Capacity Management reporting
• Added Server OS to Capacity Management reports
– who used which desktop
– when
– for how long
52. Historical performance trending with EdgeSight
Performance management and network analysis
• Analyse performance trends for
proactive capacity planning and
deployment optimization.
• Network Analysis
53. Proactive Notification & Alerting in Director 7.8
• Monitor key conditions in a site
– Session disconnects
– Connection failures
– Logon times
– Server load
• Warning and critical thresholds
• Automatic email alerting
• Closes gap with classic ES 5.4
Configure thresholds
and severity
54. EdgeSight? Director? Insight? What’s what? (Part I)
• Director is…
– the name of our Help Desk Monitoring strategy.
– the component name of the Web Console used to display data.
– the Help Desk feature of XenApp / XenDesktop, i.e. up to 7 full days worth of data.
• EdgeSight is…
– The name of our Performance Analysis Monitoring strategy.
– The technical components that capture, aggregate and store data.
– Two platinum features that enables “long term” persistence of the data (more than 7 days)
– EdgeSight Performance Management
– EdgeSight Network Analysis using the Insight HDX feature from NetScaler
– Data Retention period is set to 90 days by default but can be extended to suit needs.
55. EdgeSight? Director? Insight? What’s what? (Part II)
• All XenDesktop 7.x / XenApp 7.x Editions
– Director – Real-time monitoring and basic troubleshooting (7 full days worth of data)
• XenDesktop 7.x / XenApp 7.x Platinum
– EdgeSight performance management feature
– Above plus historical monitoring (default 90 days but goes way beyond that)
• XenDesktop 7.x / XenApp 7.x Platinum + NetScaler Enterprise
– EdgeSight performance management and network analysis
– Above plus 60 minutes of network data
• XenDesktop 7.x / XenApp 7.x Platinum + NetScaler Platinum
– EdgeSight performance management and network analysis
– Above plus unlimited network data
56. NetScaler Insight Center
User experience network analysis with EdgeSight
Analytics for the virtual desktop
• Gain visibility into end user experience for virtual
applications, desktops, and users for XenDesktop
• Correlate network data with application data with
real-time metrics for effective troubleshooting
• Integrated with Director Console
58. SCOM Management Packs for Citrix Full Stack Monitoring
Performance management and network analysis
• Platinum customers now entitled to the
following SCOM Management Packs
– XenApp, XenDesktop, XenServer
– Storefront, Web Interface, PVS
– License Server, NetScaler, CloudBridge
• Provides true end to end monitoring from a
single console
• Tightens integration with Microsoft System
Center Operations Manager (SCOM).
59. Citrix Connector for System Center Configuration Manager
Provides administrators with an end-to-end solution for managing Citrix deployments
• Deploy software to XenApp & XenDesktop
• Create published apps using Conf Manager
• Operational enhancements like user logoff
• Provisioning Support (PVS and MCS)
• Unified policy control for published app, MSI
and App-V
61. SCOM Integration
What does this feature accomplish?
• This feature introduces the ability of Citrix Director to query the SCOM server for
any health and performance alerts that have been configured
• Allows for filtering and access to a historical view of SCOM alerts and trends
from within Citrix Director
62. SCOM Integration
Why would a customer use this feature?
• Ease of using a single interface (Citrix Director) to view all Microsoft (SCOM)
and Citrix alerts
• Alert details includes relevant knowledge base information
64. SCOM Integration
Limitations and Technical Risks
• No definitive way of mapping
alerts to a site
• Management Pack does not
support a locale requested by
a browser
• Targeted for SCOM 2012 R2
only
• OpsMgr 2012 SDK does not
support querying data by
Management Pack.
• OpsMgr 2012 SDK does not
support sorting of data. This
has to be handled by Director
66. What’s new in StoreFront 3.5
• Updated Deployment Wizard
– Improved Flow
– Additional Settings now available during
initial configuration
• New Store-centric Admin Console
– Simplified configuration
– Settings now apply per Store
– Most options configured through UI
• Other new Features
– Delegated Authentication
– Multi-Site Configuration
– Store and Receiver for Web Advanced
Settings in UI
– Background health checks with brokers
– Configuration Export-Import
– Self Service password reset
– New Updated PowerShell SDK
69. Authentication Service
• Pre StoreFront 3.5
– Authentication service
shared across all stores
– Provides SSON across
multiple stores
• StoreFront 3.5
– Authentication managed
under each store
– Multi-store deployments
can use shared
authentication service
70. New Configuration Flow
• Consolidated
properties
– Integrates separate
dialogs together
– Allows for easier
administration
71. Advanced Store Settings
• Simplifies configuration
settings
• Includes many items
previously only
available via
PowerShell
72. Receiver for Web
• Deploy
– Can disable option to
download Receiver
– Can define Receiver
upgrade requirements
73. Receiver for Web
• Session settings
– Server communication
attempts
– Communication timeout
– Session timeout
– Sign in timeout
74. Receiver for Web
• Workspace Control
– All configurable within
management console
– Logoff action
– Automatic reconnection
– Reconnect and
disconnect button
configuration
75. Receiver for Web
• Client Interface
Settings
– Auto launch desktop
– Show desktop viewer
– Enable Receiver
configuration
– Apps and desktop view
options
76. Receiver for Web
• Advanced Settings
– Numerous settings
configurable in console
– Previously required
PowerShell
78. Gateway Gateway
Data Center A Data Center B
Application
StoreFront
Multi-Site Aggregation
StoreFront
Application
Controller Controller
79. Standard Routing
Gateway Gateway
Data Center A Data Center B
Application
StoreFront
StoreFront
HDX
XML
HDX Optimized Routing
Gateway Gateway
Data Center A Data Center B
Application
StoreFront
StoreFront
HDX
XML
80. NetScaler gateway use cases
• Authentication and HDX routing
– Netscaler will be used for authentication
and access policy filter.
– HDX ICA Proxy are used for the same
FQDN
– Common configuration for most users
• HDX routing only
– HDX ICA Proxy will be used only
– Used for customer who requires HDX
insight to force user traffic through a
NetScaler gateway
•Authentication only
– User authentication processed on
NetScaler gateway no HDX ICA Proxy
feature will be used.
81. Optimal Gateway configuration and use case
1. Assign Optimal gateway based on
XenDesktop 7.8 Zone, not based on
Site.
2. All internal and external HDX
connections must pass through
assigned gateway. (Used for HDX
insight and enhanced security with
SSL)
3. Assign a gateway to a Delivery
Controller for external user only.
89. App Management
Step 3: Sequence and layer apps
Create
App-V Sequence
Create
AppDisk Layer
App Manual Install
• App-V
– Automated sequence creation
– Supports app isolation
– No extra infrastructure required
– 1 sequence to many targets
• AppDisk
– Integrated layer interoperability analysis
– No extra infrastructure required
– 1 layer to many targets
• Manual Install
– Traditional approach
– App part of the desktop image
AppDNA
90. App Management
Step 4: Publish & deliver apps
Create
App-V Sequence
App Manual Install
Windows 7, 8 and 10 App
Pooled VDI
Personal VDI
Windows 2008R2 and
2012R2 App
Create
AppDisk Layer
AppDNA
91. Limitations & Technical Risks
• Limit of 15 AppDisks per VM
• AppDisks cannot be used in conjunction with PVD at this time
• AppDisks cannot be attached while VMs are running
• AppDisks created from 64-bit VMs will not work on 32-bit VMs
• Currently do not support applications from the Windows Store
93. The Traditional Approach to Images
Traditional Golden Image
Operating system and
apps added to image
94. The Traditional Approach to Images
• Image sprawl
• Duplicate application deployments
• Increased management time
• Patch same app hundreds of times
Engineering image
IT image
Finance image
Finance mgmt image
95. What is App Layering
Manage discrete layers
Operating System
Corporate Layer
App Layer
App Layer
96. Common application management beliefs
1. Managing base image and separate app layers is more time and cost efficient
2. Allows more modular assembling of desktops for multiple service offerings
3. App layers make provisioning desktops faster and easier
4. Managing app layers is easier than managing lots of traditional golden images
5. Snapping together a base image with a bunch of app layers will be reliable
6. I will have one way to package all apps for physical or virtual machines
97. Citrix AppDisk
Application layers for easy and efficient management
Manage applications and base
image separately
• Faster and reliable application delivery
• Fast and easy provisioning of desktops
• Fewer/cleaner golden images
• Time and cost efficient
• Assessment and guidance with AppDNA
99. Microsoft App-V
Manage applications and base
image separately
• Isolates applications from conflicts
• Fewer/cleaner golden images
• Assessment and guidance with AppDNA
100. • Disks “merged” with base OS at
startup
• Disk attach are up to the hypervisor
• No isolation
• Sequences delivered when needed
• Streamed to target devices
• Based on isolation of apps
AppDisk App-V
101. Why multiple technologies?
• Every app is unique
– Apps are the weak point … some apps are better than others
– Some apps conflict and need to be isolated
– Some apps don’t work if they are isolated
– App dependencies vary -- .NET versions, JAVA versions, interaction with other apps, etc
• If only the OS was just DOS again where “app installs = xcopy”
• Best case is having 2 or 3 methods for packaging and delivering apps
– I don’t want to figure out which app goes with which method
– Too time consuming and error prone
102. AppDNA
Nucleus of Citrix Application Lifecycle Management
• Automated application P2V analysis
• Up to 90% faster than manual
• Simplifies App migration for Windows EOL
• Build assessment and Interop testing
• Simple Green - Amber - Red status
App-V
AppDisk
App ManualAppDNA
103. Citrix AppDisk with AppDNA
Three levels of analysis
• Three levels of analysis
– Basic compatibility with AppDisks driver technology
– Compatibility with the specific OS targeted for deployment
– Compatibility with OS combined with other disks on the machine
107. Design considerations
• Theoretical number of AppDisks per VM
• HyperV: 252
• XenServer 6.5: Unlimited
• vShpere EXSi 6: 63,996
• Practical number of AppDisks per VM
• 5-15
• Each attach adds latency
• Deployment types
• Machine Creation Services and Provisioning Services
• Pooled virtual desktops without Personal vDisk
113. Citrix App-V Integration (v1)
• Dual administration
– App-V Packages added to App-V Management Console
– Configure Studio, App-V Packages visible in Studio
• Challenges
– Reliance on the full App-V infrastructure model of deployment
– User permissions must be managed in the App-V Management console and Studio
114. Citrix App-V Integration (v2)
• Start on the App-v Publishing Node
to add a package
• Navigate to your Application Library
• Studio shows the source type
‘Application Library’ for validation
115. Citrix App-V Integration (v2)
• Add Applications
• Associate with Delivery Group
• Select the Application Source
• Select appropriate applications
• Applications can now be accessed
116. Citrix App-V Integration (v2)
Considerations
• Studio will require read-only access to the share
• Dual Admin functionality will be kept available for organizations who already
have it
• Able to use both Dual and Single Admin features simultaneously
• Applications will be enumerated from the Application Library
• App-V logs can be enabled in Studio and on the VDA
• App-V Telemetry logs usage data in customer’s environments to send back to
Citrix
118. Improved App Publishing
• Delivery Type page is displayed
only for Static Assigned Desktop
OS VDAs
• All other machine types can deliver
both apps and desktops
119. Improved App Publishing
• Source Types:
– From start menu
– Manually
– Existing
– App-V
• Allow or deny users to launch a
desktop
• Optional Citrix Receiver description
field
• New Delivering column
120. Improved App Publishing
• New Applications Node
• Add Applications to multiple
Delivery Groups
• Add applications from various
sources at once
• Applications will display with the
associated source type
121. Improved App Publishing
• Tags are now more system-wide
• Search queries based on tags
• Apply policies based on tags
122. Platinum Features
Feature XenApp Platinum XenDesktop Platinum
Common Criteria Certification P P
HDX Seamless local apps P P
CloudBridge VPX-10 for WAN optimization P
CloudBridge plug-in P P
SmartAccess™ P P
SSL VPN P P
Hosted App Usage Reporting & Trending P P
Historical performance trending (EdgeSight) P P
User experience network analysis (EdgeSight) P P
Intelligent session recording P P
AppDNA for AppDisk P P
Citrix Connector for System Center Configuration Manager P P
SCOM Management Packs for Citrix Full Stack Monitoring P P
Self Service Password Reset (Storefront 3.5) P P
Integration with NetScaler HDX Insight™ P P
Director Proactive Notification and Alerting P P
123. Best Practice
For the best combination of user experience and resource consumption,
optimize appropriately
125. Optimization
•Optimize for Scale
– Turn off services
– Tweak images
– Reduce frame rates
•Detailed within the Optimization Guide
– Windows 7: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX127050
– Windows 8: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX140375
– Windows 10: http://virtualfeller.com/bp/
•Optimize for User Experience
– Based on XenApp/XenDesktop policy
template
– Set frame rates to 24 FPS