Designing your xen desktop 7.5 environment with training guide

Designing your XenDesktop 7.5
Environment
April 2014
Andy Baker
Senior Architect
@adwbaker
Daniel Feller
Lead Architect
@djfeller
@CTXConsulting

© 2014 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
Student Guide & Workshop & Internal Training & Confidential Update Daily
https://goo.gl/VVmVZ0
Configuring & Troubleshooting XenDesktop Sites http://ouo.io/xxPr16
10 Tips Every XenDesktop Admin Should Know http://ouo.io/RWx3Tx
Troubleshooting XenApp with the Citrix Diagnostic Toolkit http://ouo.io/JvqCF1
Maintaining and Troubleshooting your XenDesktop 7.5 Environment http://ouo.io/6sHHbQ
SUM307 - Health monitoring and alerting for XenApp, XenDesktop and
NetScaler http://ouo.io/f5RyS
Citrix Group Policy Troubleshooting for XenApp and XenDesktop http://ouo.io/HbyZQc
Designing your XenDesktop 7.5 Environment http://ouo.io/FJY1DM
A Deep Dive into Supporting XenDesktop http://ouo.io/zTW9Km
Best Practices for Implementing, Administering, and Troubleshooting
XenDesktop 7.5 http://ouo.io/NZ4ee
Summit301 - HDX MediaStream for Flash configuration and troubleshooting http://ouo.io/wsGH8
Presentation - What’s New XenServer 6.5 & XenDesktop 7.6
Master Class - XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro http://ouo.io/LY9ogN
XenDesktop 7 News http://ouo.io/6Zixy
SUM408-Configuring and Troubleshooting XenDesktop Sites http://ouo.io/XW9Wb

Agenda
3
• Methodology
• XenDesktop Overview
• Key Design Decisions
ᵒ User Layer
ᵒ Access Layer
ᵒ Resource Layer
ᵒ Control Layer
ᵒ Hardware Layer
• Design Resources
• Questions

2Assess
4Deploy
3Design
5Monitor1Define
Methodology

Methodology
2Assess
4Deploy
3Design
5Monitor
Assist in the definition of the
strategy that will help your
business take full advantage
of these technologies
1Define

1Define
Methodology
4Deploy
3Design
5Monitor
Review your current
environment, identify use cases
and gather detailed requirements
for the project.
2Assess

1Define
Methodology
2Assess
4Deploy
5Monitor
Define the architecture and operational
processes required to implement and
maintain the production environment
that will satisfy your success criteria.
3Design

3Design
1Define
Methodology
2Assess
5Monitor
Create and configure the
environment to meet
specifications from the
Design phase.
4Deploy

4Deploy
3Design
1Define
Methodology
2Assess
5Monitor
Perform the continued
monitoring and administrative
tasks in several different
capacities.

Windows Server Hosted Desktops & Apps
Extreme efficiency and scalability
Higher density compared to VDI I Ideal for fixed-task use cases I Familiar Windows 7 look and feel

Dedicated VDI
Image
Image
Image

Profile
Profile
Profile
Pooled Desktop
Base Image
with Apps
Profile
Profile
Base Image
with Apps
Profile

Personal VDI with full personalization
Base Image
App
Profile
App
Profile
App
Profile
PvD
PvD
PvD
Maintains Single
Image Management

Integrated Remote PC Access
Automated remote access assignment of users to corporate PCs
Secure, remote access to corporate PCs
• New integrated catalog management
• New hardware accelerated H.264 compression

VPN
Wake on LAN with Remote PC Access
1. User taps Receiver icon
2. XenDesktop sends command to SCCM
3. SCCM wakes up PC
4. VDA registers to broker and launches session
SSL 11010 SSL 1011011010 SSL 1011011010 1011011010 1011011010 1011011 1011101
Netscaler
Gateway
Power On
Command
Studio
PwrMgmt
AMT WoL
Packet
Storefront

New Features in XenClient Enterprise 5
Enhanced user
experience
Deeper XD/XC
integration
 Support for the hottest new devices with 4th generation Intel® Core™ processors
 Windows 8 support improvements with higher resolutions, multi-monitor support and the
ability to deploy Windows 7 images with AERO enabled
 Broader desktop support with faster boot times and support for USB 3.0 devices
 Personal vDisk integration between XenDesktop and XenClient enable users to retain user-
installed applications and desktop settings
 Citrix Profile Management synchronizes a user’s personalized settings across the hosted
desktop and XenClient local desktop environment
 Server 2012/SQL 2012 extended platform support
Remote access
 Additional remote access capabilities
 Remote PC: Remote, yet secure, access to desktops on XenClient
 NetScaler integration with Synchronizer

Desktop
with
Physical PC
 Any device, touch friendly experience
 Brilliant HDX user experience
 Seamless, secure remote access
 Automated deployment tools
 Simplified on ramp for desktop virtualization
 Centralized management
 Policy Based Control
 Highly Secure
 (Near) Native user experience
 Server less (almost) VDI - Reduced infrastructure costs
 Helps bring Smart Access to XenClient powered devices
Remote PC access with XenClient

Mac Platform (Mac HW + Mac OS X)
Centralized Management
through Synchronizer
The Power of Local VDI on Your Mac
20
© 2012 Virtual Computer Inc
Hypervisor
OS
Apps
Data
Runs on top of Mac host platform to make
Win VM manageable, reliable, & secure
Managed Local Execution
Client Hypervisor

XenDesktop 7.5 – New Features
• Enables broader support for
unplanned remote access
scenarios using SCCM
• Offers users more flexibility in the
event of power outages
Remote PC
Wake-on-LAN
• Application
compatibility
• Application
remediation
• P2V App Migration
• Full AppDNA feature
set
Platinum
Mobility
Promotions
AppDNA
Complete App
Migration
Toolkit
Free
XenMobile MDM
or
20% off
XenMobile Enterprise
• Eliminate CAPEX for
seasonal needs
• Leverage global clouds
for proximity to users
• Same management
consoles and skillsets
Hybrid cloud
provisioning

Who are the users and what are our requirements
How do users gain access to our resources
What resources will we deliver
How will we manage and maintain the solution
What do I need to make this happen
The 5-layer model
User Layer
Access Layer
Resource Layer
Control Layer
Hardware Layer

**********
User Layer – Endpoint
• Provide each user group
with appropriate endpoint
• Desktop Lock:
ᵒ Provides seamless user
experience
ᵒ Auto-connect to user’s
personal virtual desktop
ᵒ Only administrator access
to local desktop

User Layer – Bandwidth
25
• Bandwidth requirements
fluctuate based on application
• Use the following formula to
estimate bandwidth
requirements
H = Users with video without Flash Redirection
D = Users with video with Flash Redirection
X = Users that require 3D graphics
Z = Additional 1000 to 2000kbps to support peaks (<10 users)

User Layer – Bandwidth
26

Access Layer - Architecture
Site 2
HA Pair or
scale-out
cluster
NetScaler
Gateway
Storefront
Services
Site 1
Scale-out cluster
with web LB
SaaS / Mobile

•Virtual appliance with same functionality as NG MPX
•Designed to upgrade Secure Gateway
•Capacity for medium-size deployments (500 users per appliance)
•Available for Citrix XenServer, VmWare ESX, Microsoft HyperV hypervisors
•Designed for secure access
•High capacity (5,000 users per appliance)
•Upgradable to NetScaler for additional functionality
•Multi-function appliance (secure access, load-balancing, acceleration)
•Highest capacity (10,000+ users per appliance)
•Most reliable hardware
•Ideal for business continuity across multiple datacenters
Access Layer – Appliance Options
NetScaler Gateway VPX
NetScaler SDX 88xx or higher
NetScaler Gateway MPX

Access Layer – Failover Challenges
StoreFront
• DNS round robin
commonly used
• Lacks intelligence
• Sporadic service
denials

Access Layer – Automated Failover
StoreFront
Delivery Controller
NetScaler
• Validates functional
services on functional
servers
• Adds/removes
services automatically
• Built-in configuration
wizards

Access Layer – StoreFront Optimized Routing
Without optimization With optimization

Access Layer – StoreFront Location Aware
Gateway
Connect
Direct
Connect
No
Connect

Access Layer – StoreFront Sizing
33
Test CPU Activities per Second Activities per Hour
One Server 75% 291 17,519
90% 375 22,525
Two Servers 75% 529 31,789
90% 681 40,872
• StoreFront servers configured with 4 vCPUs and 4GB of RAM
• Heavy usage (means logon, enumerate, subscribe, unsubscribe, logoff)
• StoreFront is CPU intensive, not memory

Resource Layer - Local App Access
• Bring-Your-Own-Apps (e.g. iTunes)
• Video conferencing (e.g. GoToMeeting HDFaces)
• Challenging edge cases such as:
ᵒ Watching/burning a physical DVD
ᵒ Watching TV using a tuner card
ᵒ Specialty USB devices on the WAN
ᵒ FireWire devices
ᵒ Viewing content that can’t leave
the country (regulatory compliance)
ᵒ Client-server apps requiring very low latency
to a regional backend

App running
within virtual
desktop
App running on
endpoint (outside
of virtual desktop)

Resource Layer – XenDesktop VM Specification
36
Operating
System
Workload vCPU RAM Master Image Write Cache /
Difference Disk
Windows 7.x Light 1 1.5 35GB 5GB
Medium 2 2 35GB 7GB
Heavy 2 4 35GB 10GB
Windows 8.x Light 1 1.5 35GB 5GB
Medium 2 2 35GB 7GB
Heavy 2 4 35GB 10GB

Control Layer - Provisioning
37
Manual Provisioning Services Machine Creation Services
No additional Infrastructure Requires additional servers,
networking and high availability
No additional infrastructure
Supports physical and virtual
devices
Supports physical and virtual
devices
Only supports virtual devices
Slow to roll back Fast to roll back Medium-Fast to roll back
Time Consuming Fast Can be slow to update devices
Normal IO ~60% less IOPS Low IO on Hyper-V

Next generation Director
• Single pane of glass
ᵒ Instant “real-time” troubleshooting and
environment health metrics across sites
• Integration of EdgeSight features
ᵒ Performance management and network analysis
• Aggregation of logging information
ᵒ Pinpoints root cause of connection and machine
failures
• End user experience monitoring
ᵒ Logon analysis to pinpoint issues or delays
TM

Single Site
Director 2.1
Site A Site B Site C
Help Desk and Troubleshooting / Environment health
Director
Control Layer –
Monitoring

Control Layer - Database
40
• XenDesktop 7.5 supports SQL 2008 R2 SP2 and SQL 2012 SP1
• Database should be highly available!
• Options include Cluster, Mirror, AlwaysOn, VM-Level HA
• Microsoft announced Mirroring will be deprecated in future release
• AlwaysOn (SQL 2012 SP1)
ᵒ Failover Cluster requires shared storage (Standard+ edition)
ᵒ Availability Groups support local storage (Enterprise edition)
• Engineering working on “Leased Connections” feature to cache brokering
operations

Control Layer – Sizing
41
Component Number vCPU RAM (GB) Storage (GB)
NetScaler
Gateway
2 2 2 3.2
StoreFront 2 2 4 60
Delivery
Controllers
2 2 4 60
SQL Servers 3 2 4 60
License Server 1 2 4 60
Hyper-V SCVMM 1 2 4 100
• Infrastructure sizing example for 500 user deployment

Hardware Layer – Storage
42
Storage Type Benefits Concerns Appropriate For…
Local Storage • Inexpensive
• Simple to deploy
• Virtual machines are inaccessible if
physical server is offline
• Limited number of disk spindles (based
on server design)
• Longer operational processes as each
local store must be updates
Rack servers
Direct
Attached
Storage
• Moderate expense
• Virtual machine migration when server is
offline
• Failure on DAS array can impact multiple
physical servers
• DAS interconnects consume valuable
space in a blade chassis
• Limited number of connections to a DAS
array
Rack servers
Centralized
Storage
• Shared master image across physical servers
• Virtual machine migration when physical server
is offline
• Simple expansion
• Advanced features to help offset costs
• Expensive
• Complex
• Often requires storage tiers to control
hosts
Blade servers

Hardware Layer – IOPS per User
43
• PVS typically generates less
IOPS than MCS
• MCS generates less IOPS for
Server 2012 on Hyper-V due
to larger block sizes with
VHDX files
0 5 10 15 20 25
Windows 7
Windows 8
Windows 2012 R2
IOPS
Peak Average Steady State IOPS
(95th Percentile)
Provisioning Services
Machine Creation Services

Hardware Layer – Read / Write Ratio
44
• PVS and MCS are very similar
on Windows Server 2012
• Optimize XenApp write cache
storage for writes and not
reads
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%100%
Windows 7 - MCS
Windows 7 - PVS
Windows 8 - MCS
Windows 8 - PVS
Windows 2012 R2 -…
Windows 2012 R2 -…
Percent
Read/Write Ratio
Read Write

Hardware Layer – Users per Server
45
• Based on Dual Xeon E5-2690
2.9GHz (16 total cores)
• XenApp hosts ~25% more
users that XenDesktop
• Server 2012 hosts ~10% more
users than Server 2008 R2
• Decrease by ~10-20% for AV
• Decrease by 20% for Office
2013 not Office 20070
50
100
150
200
250
300
Win 7 Win 8 Win 2008
R2
Win 2012
R2
UsersperServer
Optimized for Scale Optimized for UX

XenDesktop Blueprint
47
http://www.citrix.com/products/xendesktop/tech-info.html
• High-level architectures based
on common scenarios
• Provides descriptive design
guidance
• Based on Citrix Consulting
leading practices and in-depth
validation by Citrix Solutions
Lab

Project Accelerator
48
http://project.citrix.com
• Allows key design decisions to
be changed
Lab
• Generates architectural
diagram and sizing plan
• ~14,000 projects

Virtual Desktop Handbook
49
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX139331
• Detailed information on design
decisions
Lab
• Provides useful tips and
experience from the field
• 4:3 aspect ratio
• More than 55,000 downloads

Next Webinar: XenApp Deployment
• Title: Jump start your XenApp 7.5 Deployment
• Description: This session will take a technical look into XenApp 7.5 and how
to approach a deployment. We’ll cover general architecture, new features and
how to best move to the platform.
• When: May 20th & 21st
• May 20th – Register Now
• May 21st – Register Now

Fuel your talent with continuous learning.
•Citrix Education offers the following technical training for professionals:
• CXA-103: Citrix XenApp 7.5 Architecture and New Features
• CXA-207: Citrix XenApp 7.5 Skills Update
•Visit bit.ly/CTXTRAINING to save 10%*
•*Offer expires 90 days from receipt of this message. Not valid with any other promotions, packages or discounts. Applies only to new
purchases. Regional limitations may apply.

Simplify your journey, let us guide you.
•Accelerate your implementation and minimize risk by taking advantage of Citrix
Consulting. You’ll get the expertise of seasoned Citrix Consulting Architects to
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•
Visit bit.ly/CTXCONCULTING to learn more about our proven methodology.

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Designing your xen desktop 7.5 environment with training guide

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