citrix xenapp training

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Author: Prabhu NetSys Infotech

What is Citrix ? History of Citrix ? How Citrix works? Components of Presentation /XenApp Server Architecture of Presentation /XenApp Server What is Citrix Licensing and how it works? Q & A

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Installation Prerequisites for Presentation Server / Xen App server

Installation of Presentation Server / Xenapp Configuring and Optimizing Windows 2K3 Administering XenApp Using the Citrix Access

Management Console /Advanced Configuration console/ App Centre

Understanding & Managing MetaFrame Licensing Q & A

What is Citrix?


Citrix Metaframe Presentation / XenAppServer is a technology that can allow remote users to connect to applications that are actually installed on a remote computer.

It uses a mix of technology that results in that remote application looking and behaving just as though it was installed on the local machine.

History of Citrix


Citrix uses Multi-Win technology for performing the multi-user computing.

Citrix first shipped Win frame in windows NT in 1995 and it was a great success to Citrix and Microsoft.

Communication Protocol used by Citrix is ICA which is

core technology behind the success story of Citrix.

Citrix Versions

Xen App 5.0, 6.0, 6.5 Xen App 4.5(PS) Xen App 4.0 (PS) Xen App 3.0 (PS) Metaframe XP FR1,FR2,FR3 Winframe


How Citrix Works?


Citrix Metaframe Presentation / XenApp Server offers ICA Protocol by which Servers and client devices communicates and exchange data.

ICA Protocol encrypts and transport an application screen from the server it is running on to the users client device and returns the users input to the server.

Introduction to Citrix Presentation / XenApp server.


Server Based Computing Citrix Digital Independence Components of Metaframe Presentation Server

Server Based Computing


Processing Power on Servers Basically client gets to see Screenshot of what is going

on the server . Inputs can be Audio ,Video ,Printing ,Desktop Intelligent

service- Copy & Paste Scanner via applications KB and Mouse Clicks

Citrix Digital Independence


Any Platform Any Devices such as Thick client, Thin client , Handheld

devices ,PDA. Any Connection (Low bandwidth, 20kbps) Any location (Home users, Citrix web interface )

Linking Clients & Citrix Servers

In a server farm, the main communication processes between clients and serversare application and desktop enumeration, and ICA sessions.

PORT NUMBERS TO REMEMBER ICA port no : 1494

IMA port no : 2512 -server to server

: 2513 -server to CMC RDP port no : 3389

XML port no : 80 or 8080


FEATURES of XENAPP

Configuration Logging is one of the new features in version 4.5, providing detailed tracking of changes made to the Citrix Farm from within the Access Management Console and the Presentation Server Console. Tracking unplanned and accidental changes to your Farm and by who.

Health Monitoring & Recovery is long awaited feature that will allow you to monitor the state of server and recover from problems without affecting the users ability to access the application because the users connection to that application is redirected through another server.

FEATURES of XENAPP

SpeedScreen Progressive Display: If you have not witnessed this new feature in action, you are truly missing out on one of the best advancements in the Citrix Presentation Server products I have seen in a long time, Mostly because we use Medical Diagnostic Imaging applications, and this new feature makes performance with this type of application very acceptable.

Trusted Server Configuration: This feature identifies and enforces trust relations involved in client connections. This can be used to increase the confidence of client administrators and users in the integrity of data on client devices and to prevent the malicious use of client connections.

FEATURES of XENAPP

Application Streaming: The application streaming feature simplifies application deployment to end users. With the application streaming feature, you can install and configure an application on one file server and deliver it to any desktop or server on demand.

Key Benefits

Lowest-cost Windows application delivery Strongest protection for applications and

intellectual property Outstanding application performance over

any network Rapid application delivery to all users,

anywhere Continuous application availability and

reliability Best end user application experience

Comparison of New Features by Edition

Advanced Edition Enterprise Edition Platinum Edition

Application Virtualization Enhancements

100+ new and upgraded features

SpeedScreen

Progressive Display

x64 support

Application Streaming

Application Hub

Isolation 2.0

Health Assistant

Performance Monitoring

SmartAccess

Single Sign-On

Any Device, Any Network, Any Location

Accessible from any device or client operating system

High performance over any connection from any location

Mouse clicks and keystrokes sent to server

Application executes entirely on server

Screen updates sent to client device

MetaFrame Presentation Server Architecture


Terms need to understand: Independent Computing Architecture (ICA)

protocol Independent Management Architecture (IMA)

protocol SpeedScreen technology MultiWin Data Store Local Host Cache (LHC) Data Collector Zones

Independent Computing Architecture : The Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocol is a presentation layer protocol on the OSI model. This is the engine by which a clients and XenApp (MF) servers communicate data. It was designed by Citrix systems in such a way that can exchange data over network bandwidth as low as 10 to 20Kbps. ICA has been shown to be 2 to 4 times faster than RDP.


Network The ICA protocol can use a variety of transport protocols to communicate data between ICA clients and XenApp servers. These protocols include TCP/IP, IPX, SPX, and NetBIOS.

Server In a server-based computing only screenshots showing what is happening on the server are transmitted back to the client. The client only interacts user interface (UI) of the application, but all the commands, keyboard strokes, and mouse clicks are executed on the server side.

Client As the application is executed on the remote server, all the client really needs to be able to view and interact with the application's UI. Today, ICA clients exist for almost any type of hardware devicefrom Pocket PCs to laptops to traditional desktops. ICA clients also exist for almost any type of operating system from Windows to Linux, Unix, and Macintosh.

Independent Management Architecture


The IMA protocol offers platform for centralization administration.

It’s a mechanism by which XenApp Server-to-server communication occurs.

Can be termed as backbone of XenApp Server IMA installed as service on all XenApp servers.

What is Centralized Administration ?


Centralized Administrations is the core function of IMA and this is possible through XenApp Management Console.

Presentation console is a Java Based console uses the IMA protocol for gathering information from XenApp Server and allowed administrators /users to make changes on farm wide basis.

SpeedScreen Technology


To improve the frequent transmission of screen updates, Citrix designed a technology, known as SpeedScreen for published applications and desktops over slow communications links

MultiWin


MultiWin, a technology developed by Citrix Systems, originally created the concept of Terminal Server on the Windows platform.

It allows multiple simultaneous users to log on to a Terminal Server, run applications, and share resources such as the CPU, memory, and I/O ports.

Data Store


The data store is a database that stores all the configuration/information needed by a citrix farm.

Any time you make configuration changes to a XenApp server on citrix farm the changes are recorded in the data Store.

The information stored in the Data Stores includes : Published Applications, Server Configuration, User Configuration, Print Environment.

Local Host Cache (LHC)


Local Host Cache (LHC) is an Access Database that is located on every Presentation / XenApp Server.

It carries enough information to keep the server running in the event that the main Data Store should become unavailable for any reason.

Zones


Zones provide a way of grouping geographically close servers to save network bandwidth and also improve performance.

Every zone elects one Data Collector, which every server in that zone reports to.

Data Collectors


Data Collectors (DCs) are responsible for keeping zone-specific information.

Every zone has one elected server that acts as the DC and maintains information gathered from all the servers in that zone.

Data Collectors, Elections, and Priority


Most Preferred This is the favorite server; it always wins the election.

Preferred This server is a favorite among others to win an election.

Default Preference This server is neutral and can be selected to become a DC but is not a preferred candidate.

Not Preferred This server should never win an election unless it is the only server in the zone or all the other preferred servers are unavailable

XenApp 6.0 Features

Simplified Management – XenApp 6 dramatically simplifies desktop computing with AppCenter™, a powerful new management console that makes it easy for IT to centrally manage all applications enterprise-wide from a single location.

Unparalleled Scalability – XenApp 6 has been verified to scale up to more than 100,000 concurrent users in a single farm, giving customers unprecedented levels of cost savings and datacenter efficiency.


XenApp 6.0 Features

Expanded Microsoft Integration – Seamless integration between XenApp 6 and Microsoft App-V makes it easy for customers to centrally manage applications using whatever mix of local and hosted solutions best fit their unique requirements. XenApp 6 also includes full support for Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2, adding a broad range of platform enhancements including simplified provisioning, easier automation, and more efficient power consumption.


XenApp 6.0 Features

Mac and Smart Phone Support – In addition to supporting PCs, thin clients and laptops, XenApp 6 now makes it easy for users to access Windows apps from Macs and popular smart phones such as Apple iPhone, Google Android and Windows Mobile.


XenApp 6.0 Features

Enhanced High-Definition HDX™ Technology – XenApp 6 includes broad new HDX technology enhancements that allow customers to deliver real-time media applications like voice and CD-quality audio with a rich, high-definition user experience. New HDX enhancements in XenApp 6 also expand support for a broad range of USB devices, including webcams, microphones, digital cameras and scanners
