HoL1n's Blog

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!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

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.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

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!

Bookmark It

Hide Sites