HoL1n's Blog

I found a very interesting site from citrix : Citrix EdgeSite Wiki

The EdgeSight Wiki is an environment where users can come to exchange ideas and learn about best practices. Contributions are welcome from all members of the EdgeSight community, including customers, VARs, and internal Citrix personnel. Anyone with a MyCitrix account can edit Wiki articles.

Overview
This article contains information on how to use and contribute to the EdgeSight Wiki, including:

• Editing and Creating a Wiki Article
• Controlling Changes
• Style and Syntax
  Wiki Guidelines

Have fun and report me if you can use this Info.

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In the last two weeks I migrated two AD Forests (2000 and 2003) to a new Windows 2008 R2 Forest. Additionally we wanted to migrate the Exchange Environment, two Exchange Orgs.

Cross-Forest Migration from Windows 2000 / Exchange 2000 is not possible. So we used ExMerge to export all the Mailboxes in .PST Files. This Export tooks ten hours for only 300 files.

The other Exchange Organization was 2003. We are not able to connect the old and the new Forest for the “move-Mailbox” command. So we decided to use ExMerge too. If you want to test the cross-forest migration check this link: http://msexchangehelp.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/cross-forest-move-mailbox-request-from-exchange-2003-to-2010/

 Information: All Links to the Microsoft Technat are reachable on 30. March 2010.

That was not really a problem but now we run in tons of problems with Exchange 2010.

the first thing you have to search is Outlook 2010 64Bit. We installed this Outlook on the new Exchange Server because the known bug with wrong mapi (overridden through outlook setup) will not happend with the new Outlook.

Important: NEVER use “Remove-Mailbox” ! This will delete the Mailbox AND the user!

Microsoft Technet Article Remove-Mailbox: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-de/library/aa995948.aspx

It sounds crazy but the first thing you should do is to delete the Mailbox of the migrated users. The old Exchange is using different user attributes than the new one. That means that different values are migrated and Exchange 2010 is not able to read it and will throw an error.

Disable-Mailbox -Identity AD.Username -Confirm:$False

Microsoft Technet Article Disable-Mailbox: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-de/library/aa997210.aspx

So, the next Step is to recreate a new mailbox for the migrated users.
This will be done with the following command:

Enable-Mailbox -Identity AD.Username -Database "Database.Name"

Microsoft Technet Article Enable-Mailbox: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-de/library/aa998251.aspx

If you use a different language than english you must set the mailbox to that language before the import starts.

Set-Mailbox -Identity AD.Username -language "de-DE"

Microsoft Technet Article Set-Mailbox: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-de/library/bb123981.aspx

Be sure to write the last two digits in UPPERCASE. Otherwise the language will not switch!

After these steps you are prepared to import the .PST files….

The first thing is to try the import for one user:

Import-Mailbox -Identity AD.username -PSTFolderPath C:\PST\AD.username.PST

Microsoft Technet Article Set-Mailbox: http://technet.microsoft.com/de-de/library/bb629586.aspx

This command will import the pst to the specific mailbox…

If you are using a Windows 2008 R2 native environment you will find this error with Import-Mailbox:

Error occurred in the step: Approving object. An unknown error has occurred., error code: -2147221219.

With Windows 2008 R2 GC’s you are NOT able to make a successfully import. This is a bug and also happend to Windows Server 2003 R2! In the future this KB will be available: kb981283
I dont know when Microsoft will release this KBArticle but today it is not available on Technet.

Anyway you must install a Windows Server 2008 SP2 GC in your Forest and tell your Outlook to speak only to this GC when it starts the import. Here is the Step-by-Step Guide:

Configure your Outlook 2010 to use Window 2008 SP2 GC not Window 2008 R2 GC.
1. Click Start, and then click Run.
2. In the Open box, type regedit.exe, and then click OK.
3. Locate and then click the following key in the registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Exchange\Exchange Provider

Note You may have to create the registry path.
4. On the Edit menu, click Add Value, and then add the following registry value:
Value name: DS Server
Data type: REG_SZ (string)
Value data: FQDN of the global catalog server

This Workaround runs for me!
 
After the import was working i built a script which imported all users from a special OU.

# INITIALIZE CONNECTION
[string]$PstFolder = "D:\PST"
[string]$OU = "/OU=MigrateThisUsers,"
 
$Root = [ADSI]''
$DN = $Root.DistinguishedName
 
# Strip the DC= from LDAP Root name
$Domain = $($DN -as[string] -ireplace "dc=", "" ).Split(",")[0]
$LDAP = "LDAP://$Domain$OU$DN"
 
# Create a selector and start searching from the root
$selector = New-Object DirectoryServices.DirectorySearcher
$selector.SearchRoot = $LDAP
 
# -----------------------------------------------------------
# Filter the users with -like "CN=Person*". Note the ForEach loop
[array]$Users = $selector.findall() | where {$_.properties.objectcategory -like "CN=Person*"}
Measure-Command {
 
# IMPORT MAILBOXES
ForEach ($User in $Users)
{
   If (!($User.Properties.proxyaddresses -isnot [Object]))
   {
       If ($User.Properties.proxyaddresses -ne $null)
       {
	   [string]$MailPrefix = $User.Properties.proxyaddresses[0].Split("@")[0].Remove(0, 5)
       }
	if ($MailPrefix -eq $null)
	{
		[string]$MailPrefix = $User.Properties.name
	}
	If (Test-Path "$($PstFolder)\$($MailPrefix).pst")
	{
		Disable-Mailbox -Identity "DOMAIN\$($User.Properties.name)" -Confirm:$False
		Enable-Mailbox -Identity "DOMAIN\$($User.Properties.name)" -Database "DATABASE" | out-null
		Set-Mailbox -Identity "DOMAIN\$($User.Properties.name)" -Language "de-DE"
 
                  Measure-Command {
			Write-Host "Importing Mailbox for user $($User.Properties.name)"
			Import-Mailbox -identity "DOMAIN\$($User.Properties.name)" -PSTFolderPath "$PstFolder\$MailPrefix.pst" -BadItemLimit 1000 | out-null
			} | %{$SingleTime = $_.Minutes}
		write-host -foregroundcolor green -nonewline "User $($User.Properties.name) imported and tooks $SingleTime minutes!`n"
	}
       }
   }
} | %{$LapTime = $_.Minutes}
 
Write-Host -ForegroundColor White "`nComplete Import finished in $LapTime minutes!`n"

I want to thank Martin Zugec and Guido Roock to help me with the Script! Have a look at Martin’s Blog  http://out-web.net

Have fun and a successfully migration of your Exchange Migration.

HoL1n

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Product Release Announcement – Citrix EdgeSight for XenApp 5.3

Citrix EdgeSight for XenApp 5.3 has been “Released to Web” (RTW)

The EdgeSight team is pleased to announce the release to web of Citrix EdgeSight for XenApp (Services monitoring) 5.3.

** Citrix EdgeSight manages application performance and availability where it matters most – at the business user level. By providing a direct line of sight across networks, servers, databases and desktops, EdgeSight goes beyond traditional device and network monitoring tools to improve application visibility.  This consolidated view of application performance as experienced by the user, gives IT the necessary tool-set to lower costs, reduce downtime and improve service delivery.

** The Citrix EdgeSight product line provides the real time visibility necessary to test, deliver and monitor the performance of virtualized applications, virtual desktops, physical desktops and web based applications ensuring the best end-user experience.

Key updates include:

XenApp 6

• A new Agent specifically designed for XenApp 6

Metering and Measuring:

• Citrix License Server monitoring and reporting (does not require an agent)
• Application Usage reports
• Session Duration insight

The media is now posted for download via MyCitrix and will be available on the XenApp 6, XenApp 5 FP3, and XenDesktop 4 FP1 media .

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I just found this document which explains the “new” naming conventations/translation of the citrix plug-ins/agents.

http://support.citrix.com/article/ctx122310

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As of 2010-03-25 (March 25th, 2010), EdgeSight 5.0 and 5.1 (all service packs) will stop functioning.

You will receive the following error message for payload uploads:

Archive load error: The archive ‘/edgesight/app/suser/ZRemoteLib.zpd#12!lsync.htm’ is not appropriately signed.  The system cannot find the file specified.

The only resolution it to upgrade both components to 5.2: server and clients!!

EdgeSight versions 5.0  and 5.1 have a known issue where the trusted certificate will expire on March 25, 2010. EdgeSight software is digitally signed with the trusted certificate.

Read more in thix article: http://support.citrix.com/article/ctx124013

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Outcome phase II Project VRC: latest generation virtualization technology doubles Terminal Server workload capacity

PQR and Login Consultants combine their strength in Project VRC, to benchmark workloads for Terminal Server (TS) on the latest hardware and virtualization software

De Meern/Amsterdam, 1 February 2010 – PQR and Login Consultants launch the results of phase II of the independent research project ‘Virtual Reality Check’ (VRC). Based on 150 new tests, Login and PQR present their findings on the influence of hardware and virtualization software on the performance of TS and Citrix XenApp, in a new whitepaper: ‘Project VRC: Phase II’.

The Research & Development project ‘Virtual Reality Check (VRC), the Platform Performance Index’ was started early 2009 by Login Consultants and PQR. Goal of the project is analyze the developments in the application and desktop virtualization market and to present the outcomes as objective as possible.

Initiators Jeroen van de Kamp, CTO Login Consultants, and Ruben Spruijt, Technical Officer at PQR, now present – as a result of 150 additional tests – the latest findings in the whitepaper ‘Project VRC: Phase II’.  The document shows the impact of Terminal Servers on the performance of the latest hardware and hypervisors in the (virtualization) market. Spruijt comments: ‘During the second phase of the VRC project, I was surprised by the significant economies of scale, which was made possible by the new processor architecture. Without any change in the hypervisors, this lead to the a 100% increase of possible concurrent users. This is very promising for the future! Van de Kamp adds: “We see that hardware plays a significant part in the increase in scale. A little under two years ago we were careful to virtualize Terminal Servers and XenApp, but this has changed fundamentally. Project VRC’s outcomes substantiate that.

Phase I of the project did not compare hypervisors, but described their behavior in separate whitepapers. The market obviously did compare the outcomes of the different whitepapers, which is why we decided to take up the outcomes of Phase II in one single document. The hypervisors VMware vSphere 4, Citrix XenServer 5.5 and Microsoft Hyper-V2.0 have been tested on HP ProLiant DL380G6 servers equipped with Intel ’Nehalem’ Xeon 5500 processors. The Virtual Session Indexer (VSI) 2.1 made this possible. This product independent benchmark tool for  Terminal Servers  and Virtual Desktop Infrastructures, indexes the performance, base4d on the number of simultaneous working sessions on 1 machine (either virtual or physical; the number of operating systems is leading) . By doing so each platform is tested in an identical way.

People who have an interest in the project can, besides comparing the test results, also execute the tests by themselves. The used testing environment and methods are covered in the whitepaper. The VSI 2.1 tool is freely downloadable through the Login Consultants website

The Whitepaper ‘Project VRC: phase II’ is available for download via www.virtualrealitycheck.net.

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Login Consultants today released VSI 2.1. Login VSI 2.1 is  a specifically designed benchmark for SBC and VDI environments. VSI loads the system with simulated user workload, and focuses on how much users can run on the system before it saturates. VSI is platform and protocol independent, and configuration is simplified and automated where possible. As a result, VSI is a turn-key benchmark: perform tests within days instead of weeks, there is no need to create the workloads first. VSI is intended to be used by VDI/SBC engineers/admins, a degree in testing methodologies is not required. The free version is called “VSI 2.1 Express”, the advanced version is “VSI 2.1 PRO”.

Changes in VSI 2.1

• Updated VSImax 2.0 to 2.1 to improve accuracy (e.g. VSImax is reached when CPU is around 100%)
• Switch from launching calc.exe to notepad.exe in response time measurement (calc.exe footprint is much bigger in Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2)
• New VSI PRO workload “MediumNoFlash” which disables the CPU intensive Flash app used in Internet Explorer
• VSI.exe is now running native 64-bit instead of x86 when running on x64 Windows, still 32-bit IE is launched because of flash support
• Citrix XenApp 6 support
• Custom scripts added to the VSI PRO workload can use VSI settings through environment variables
• It is now possible to specify a custom interval for session intervals
• New VSI customization framework with image detection (VSI Foundation only)

Fixes in VSI 2.1

• VSI does not generate an event when the workload is finished before logoff
• AD Setup now generates a GPMC missing warning when running on Windows 2003×64
• AD Setup now requires Admin right to prevent UAC errors
• Slave Launchers can be started before the Master launcher
• When launchers are finished, active session cleanup is performed only after choosing OK.
• Launcher now fully supports x64 Windows
• The CSV used with the custom command line CSV now supports a comma (,) and (;)
• Launcher installation now work on other partitions than the systemdrive
• Added the ability to specify a custom (language dependant/older versions) adobe windows title (PRO feature)

VSI can be downloaded from Login Consultants tools section of http://www.loginconsultants.com/downloads.

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In the last week i installed a XenDesktop4 environment at a customer to build a infrastructure to make video conferencing and multimedia sessions possible.

First of all you need severals things:

• AD Admin Account (or User with special rights in one OU) to let the Citrix AD Config Tool create the needed settings for the DesktopFarm 
• a Windows Server 2003 to install the Delivery Controller
• a virtuell Client ( i used Windows 7 and Windows XP SP3)

The AD Account is very important. The Tool is creating a SPN, a Group and an additional OU with the name of the farm. The SPN is needed for the virtuell Clients, where the XPsAgent will be installed. This Agent will query the AD for the Farm Settings. Later more…

The Installation of the Delivery Controller is very easy and Citrix’s setup works very fine. It install all neccessary features/roles and software automatically. It is possible that the setup need the Windows Source to install something. It also reboot the machine and restart the setup…. this works good, but the Setup asks not what to install at all. Only some components. The WebInterface and Diagnostic Facility will be installed automatically. Later more about the Web interface and the Consoles!

After choosing the components the setup will ask you about the farm and later the Setup wants to know where the new farm will be created and asks about the licensing. The Setup will start and after several Minutes it will ask to install some printers. This message appears up to 6 times. The first and second time while the setup installes the printers and againg after applying some hotfixes.

If the installation has finished you must first start the AD Config Tool to select the OU where the farm communications will be stored. If the tool runs successfully you find the FarmOU and FarmGUID in the CDS Console under the view “read-only properties”. 

After that you can install the  XDsAgent on the vClient. Logon with a domain account! The setup should automatically find the Farm.

When installation has finished and the vClient has rebooted you can connect to the webinterface which is installed on the DDC.

Important Hints for the Setup and usage:

• If the Farmname will not automatically displayed here you have a Problem with the SPN and the XD OU (or the user has no rights to read the OU)!
  
• Do NOT use two or more network adapters with the DDC and the vClient. I got many Problems with the communication between all components!
  
• You must use the .ADM-Files on the DVD (folder “configuration”) to configure the settings for the client and server!
  
• define policies on the DDC for the farm to activate USB otherwise no WebCam or other non storage device will be connected (PSC – Policies)! (disabled per default!)

To see the Toolbar in the desktop session you must use the DesktopWeb (Directory DesktopAppliance) – WebInterface. This is a setting in that webinterface. Normal Webinterfaces (also V5.2.0) dont have this setting! Also the usb settings are not configurable with normal xenapp web interfaces.

When all settings and configurations are complete you can see in the toolbar the usb-button where you can connect the available devices.

If you want to use the Micrsoft TableCam you must first install the Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 R2 – The Device Drivers are included in that package.

Here some helpfull links from citrix KB:

 Troubleshooting Virtual Desktop Agent Registration with Controllers in XenDesktop – CTX117248

What i used and what runs:

• Logitech Express WebCam + Sound
  
• Logitech Fusion WebCam + Sound
  
• Microsoft RoundTable Cam + Sound
  
• Office Communicator 2007 R2
  
• Windows Media player
  
• Flash 10 ActiveX Client on alle involved devices

All Webcams were running with a very good performance! The Windows 7 Movie “wildlife” runs extremly good over the vDesktop!

Very impressive what XenDesktop 4 can do with such content!

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Yesterday Citrix released the new XenDesktop Version 4. i post here the information from mycitrix.com With this new release there are four editions. the HP OEM Edition is not listed here!

XenDesktop 4 – Express Edition

The Citrix XenDesktop 4 Express Edition is a free download version that provides up to 10 virtual desktops. It is ideal for setting up a small environment and enables you to experience the performance and flexibility of virtual desktops. It includes the following technologies:

• Desktop Delivery Controller
• Virtual Machine Infrastructure powered by XenServer Express

XenDesktop 4 – VDI Edition

Citrix XenDesktop 4 VDI Edition offers a high-performance VDI solution for delivering virtual desktops with Citrix HDX™ technology.

Virtual Desktop Delivery Infrastructure

• FlexCast Delivery Technology with HDX
  Everything you need to deliver hosted or local desktop virtualization with a high-definition user experience

• Desktop Delivery Controller
• Provisioning Services for Virtual Desktops

• Virtual Infrastructure and Storage Integration
  Hypervisor and advanced management capabilities from Citrix and Microsoft, plus advanced integration with storage infrastructure

• XenServer
• Citrix Essentials 5.5 for Hyper-V Express Edition
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server
• Storage optimization for StorageLink
• Workload Balancing

• Endpoint software – Citrix Receiver, Dazzle and Clients
  Citrix Receiver, the simple, all-in-one software client that enables users to access desktops and applications
• Citrix Online plug-in for Windows (version 11.2)

• Merchandising Server Virtual Appliance (inclusive of Citrix Receiver & Plug-ins)
• EasyCall Voice Services Virtual Appliance

XenDesktop 4 – Enterprise Edition

Citrix XenDesktop 4 Enterprise Edition offers an enterprise-class desktop virtualization solution with HDX™ technology and FlexCast™ delivery technology, that delivers the optimal virtual desktop to any user, anywhere.

Virtual Desktop Delivery Infrastructure

• FlexCast Delivery Technology with HDX
  Everything you need to deliver hosted or local desktop virtualization with a high-definition user experience
• Desktop Delivery Controller for VDI Based Desktops
• Provisioning services for Local Streamed Desktops & Virtual Desktop Provisioning
• Hosted Shared Desktops with Citrix XenApp for Microsoft Windows Server 2008
• Citrix XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2008

• On-demand Applications
  On-demand apps by XenApp for online and offline virtual applications
• Citrix XenApp for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (English)
• Citrix XenApp for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (English)
• Citrix XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (English)
• Citrix XenApp for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (Japanese)
• Citrix XenApp for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Japanese)
• Citrix XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 (Japanese)
• Citrix XenApp for UNIX (English)

• User Personalization
  The profile management feature optimizes user settings, templates and preferences

• Profile Management

• Virtual Infrastructure and Storage Integration
  Hypervisor and advanced management capabilities from Citrix and Microsoft, plus advanced integration with storage infrastructure

• XenServer
• Citrix Essentials for XenServer Enterprise Edition
• Citrix Essentials 5.5 for Hyper-V Express Edition
• Microsoft Hyper-V Server
• Storage optimization for StorageLink
• Workload Balancing
• Linux Guest Support for XenServer
• XenCenter (Japanese)

• Endpoint software – Citrix Receiver, Dazzle and Clients
  Citrix Receiver, the simple, all-in-one software client that enables users to access desktops and applications

• Citrix Online plug-in for Windows (version 11.2)
• Merchandising Server Virtual Appliance (inclusive of Citrix Receiver & Plug-ins)
• EasyCall Voice Services Virtual Appliance

• Additional HDX Capabilities
  Optimizations for high-end 3D graphics and branch office users

• HDX 3D

XenDesktop 4 – Platinum Edition

Citrix XenDesktop 4 Platinum Edition provides a comprehensive enterprise-class desktop virtualization solution with HDX™ technology, FlexCast™ delivery technology, advanced management, monitoring and security.

The download list is similar to the enterprise edition. Additionally the single sign-on component is listed here.

Additionally to all editions the workflow orchestration is displayed in the download section.

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I found a very cool whitepaper how to set up a HA desktop virtualization environment with xen products including GSLB with Netscaler.

download it here.

Highly Recommended!

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