Citrix FlexCast Planning Guide. Prepared by: Worldwide Consulting Solutions

Transcription

1 Citrix FlexCast Planning Guide Prepared by: Wrldwide Cnsulting Slutins

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Overview FlexCast Mdel Cmparisn FlexCast Mdel Selectin Recmmendatins Prduct Versins Revisin Histry... 16

3 Cnsulting Slutins WHITE PAPER FlexCast Planning Guide Overview Citrix FlexCast ffers a cmplete set f applicatin and desktp virtualizatin technlgies that have been cmbined int a single integrated slutin. Hwever, many rganizatins embarking n a desktp virtualizatin jurney believe that they need t fllw the VDI mdel where each user receives a virtual machine, hsted in the data center. VDI is a great ptin, but nt the nly ne because rganizatins usually need t use a cmbinatin f appraches t meet the requirements f users and IT. Different types f user need different types f desktp. Sme users may require simplicity and standardizatin, while thers may require high levels f perfrmance and persnalizatin. Implementing a single desktp virtualizatin mdel acrss an entire rganizatin will inevitably lead t user frustratin and reduced prductivity. Instead, rganizatins need t identify the functinality that users require as well as the technical differences between virtual desktp ptins. Users are ften classified as task wrkers, branch ffice wrkers, mbile wrkers and the like. Unfrtunately, this classificatin is t brad t ffer meaningful segmentatin because many real users can simultaneusly be described as task wrkers, mbile wrkers, and branch ffice wrkers. Instead, grup users tgether that have the same requirements fr: Requirement Wrklad Light Nrmal Heavy OpenGL Mbility Lcal Raming Lcal Raming Offline Persnalizatin Nne Basic Cmplete Security Lw Medium High High + Audit Criticality Lw Medium High Details 1-2 ffice prductivity apps r kisk 2-10 ffice prductivity apps with light multimedia use Multimedia, data prcessing r applicatin develpment OpenGL graphics requirements Always uses the same physical desktp n an internal, high-speed, secured netwrk. Cnnects frm different lcatins n an internal, high-speed, secured netwrk. Smetimes cnnects frm external variable-speed, unsecure netwrks. Smetimes needs desktp access while discnnected frm any netwrk. User cannt mdify any user r applicatin settings (e.g. kisk) User can mdify user-level settings within desktps and apps User can make any change, including installing applicatins N restrictins Data must stay in data center / be encrypted and users can nt install apps Medium plus n multi user perating systems High plus MAC/IP address auditing Desktps can be unavailable fr ne day r mre Desktps must nt be dwn fr mre than fur hurs Backup desktps must always be available in case the primary fails Table 1: User Grup Requirements Page 10

4 Cnsulting Slutins WHITE PAPER FlexCast Planning Guide This planning guide lks at varius ptins that Citrix FlexCast prvides t help meet the cmputing requirements f every user type and guide rganizatins in making the crrect decisin. FlexCast Mdel Cmparisn Desktp virtualizatin is much mre than creating a virtual machine in the data center t simply run Windws 7. There are, in fact, five different FlexCast mdels available, each ne prviding different capabilities based n unique user grup requirements. The advantages and disadvantages f each mdel are described belw: Hsted Shared: With the Hsted Shared Desktp mdel, multiple user desktps are hsted n a single server-based perating system. The Hsted Shared Desktp mdel prvides a lw-cst, high density slutin, hwever applicatins must be cmpatible with a multi-user server based perating system. In additin, because multiple users are sharing a single perating system, users are restricted frm perfrming actins which may negatively affect ther users, fr example installing applicatins, changing system settings and restarting the perating system. There is als the ptential that a single user culd cnsume an unfair share f resurces which may negatively affect ther users. The Hsted Shared FlexCast mdel is prvided by Citrix XenApp in cmbinatin with Micrsft Remte Desktp Services (RDS). Hsted The Hsted VDI FlexCast mdel prvides each user with a desktp perating system. Hsted VDI desktps are less scalable than Hsted Shared desktps because each user requires their wn perating system. Hwever, Hsted VDI desktps remve the requirement that applicatins must be multi-user aware and supprt server based perating systems. In additin, the Hsted VDI mdel prvides administratrs with a granular level f cntrl ver the number f virtual prcessrs and memry assigned t each desktp. The Hsted VDI mdel is prvided by Citrix XenDesktp, and ffers the fllwing sub-categries: Pled-Randm / Streamed: Desktps are based n a single master image and prvisined using Citrix Machine Creatin Services r Citrix Prvisining Services. Users are dynamically cnnected t ne f the desktps in the pl each time they lgn. Changes t the desktp image are lst upn rebt. Pled-Static: Desktps are based n a single master image and prvisined using Citrix Machine Creatin Services r Citrix Prvisining Services. Users are allcated a virtual desktp n first access. Once assigned, users will always be cnnected t the same virtual desktp. Changes t the desktp image are lst upn rebt. If high availability is required (medium-criticality), the persnal vdisk must be stred n shared strage. Pled / Streamed with Persnal vdisk: Desktps are based n a single master image and prvisined using Citrix Machine Creatin Services r Prvisining Services. Users are allcated a virtual desktp n first access. Once assigned, users will always be cnnected t the same virtual desktp. Changes t the desktp are stred in a persnal vdisk and retained between rebts. Desktps with a persnal vdisk cannt be shared between multiple users; each user requires their wn desktp. If high availability is required (medium-criticality), the persnal vdisk must be stred n shared strage. Dedicated: Desktps are based n a single master image and prvisined using Citrix Machine Creatin Services. Users are allcated a virtual desktp n first access. Once assigned, users will always be cnnected t the same virtual desktp. Any changes made by the user persist fr the life f the virtual desktp, even acrss rebts. Once a dedicated desktp has been created it must be maintained manually r via 3 rd party desktp management tls. Changes t the master image are nt reflected n existing dedicated desktps. Existing: Virtual desktps which have nt been created using Citrix Machine Creatin Services r Citrix Prvisining Services. Fr example, a manual build, frm template, clned r using 3 rd party tls. These desktps must be managed manually r with 3 rd party desktp management tls. Page 11

5 Cnsulting Slutins WHITE PAPER FlexCast Planning Guide Physical / Remte PC: Physical Desktps that have already been deplyed, including Blade PCs and user wrkstatins (Remte PC). These desktps must be managed manually r with 3 rd party desktp management tls. Physical desktps with a GPU supprt HDX 3D pr, hwever Remte PC uses the standard ICA thinwire prtcl and des nt allw fflading t the GPU t render vide files r 3D apps. Streamed VHD: Desktps are based n a single master image and prvisined using Prvisining Services. The Streamed VHD FlexCast mdel allws Windws 7, Vista, r XP desktps t be run lcally n the user s desktp cmputer. Streamed VHD is a great slutin fr high-end wrkstatins because it allws them t leverage lcal prcessing pwer. Streamed VHD requires a LAN cnnectin t be in place between the desktp and the Prvisining Servers and changes t the desktps are lst upn rebt. Lcal VM: Windws 8, Windws 7, Vista, r XP desktps running lcally within a hypervisr n the user s laptp. The virtual desktp image is cmpletely delivered t the hypervisr t allw fr ffline cnnectivity. Citrix XenClient is used t prvide the Hsted Shared FlexCast mdel. On-Demand Apps: The On-Demand Apps FlexCast mdel des nt prvide users with a virtual desktp; instead Windws applicatins are centralized in the data center, and instantly delivered via a high-speed prtcl (requires cnnectin) r streamed (ffline supprt) via Citrix Applicatin Streaming r Micrsft App-V. The fllwing table prvides a summary f the different FlexCast mdels available: FlexCast Mdel User Installed Apps Image Delivery Technlgy Virtual / Physical Access Desktp t User Rati Hsted Shared N Installed r PVS Physical / Virtual HDX 1 : Many Pled-Randm N MCS Virtual HDX 1 : Many Pled-Static N MCS Virtual HDX 1 : 1 Pled with PvD Yes MCS Virtual HDX 1 : 1 Dedicated Yes MCS Virtual HDX 1 : 1 Existing Yes Installed Virtual HDX 1 : 1 Physical / Remte PC Yes Installed Physical HDX 1 : 1 Streamed N PVS Physical / Virtual HDX 1 : Many Streamed with PvD Yes PVS Physical / Virtual HDX/Lcal 1 : 1 Streamed VHD N PVS Physical HDX 1 : 1 Lcal VM Yes XC Virtual (XenClient) HDX 1 : 1 On Demand Apps N Installed r PVS Physical / Virtual Lcal 1 : Many Table 2: FlexCast Mdel Cmparisn Page 12

6 FlexCast Mdel Selectin Cnsulting Slutins WHITE PAPER FlexCast Planning Guide There are key technical differences between XenApp and XenDesktp. Bth prducts prvide the user with an excellent user experience based n HDX. Hwever, due t their underlying architecture, many HDX features are slightly different, as shwn in the fllwing table: Criteria XenDesktp 5.6 XenApp 6.5 HDX Bradcast HDX MediaStream (server rendered) HDX MediaStream (Flash redirectin & Windws Media Redirectin) N majr differences 24 fps (cnfigurable t 30) Adaptive display Lw latency audi path N majr differences HDX Plug-n-Play Generic USB supprt n the LAN in additin t all ptimized virtual channels fr device level redirectin. On a LAN envirnment, shuld be able t supprt mst USB devices. HDX WAN N majr differences HDX Rich Graphics HDX 3D Pr (nt supprted n Remte PC) fr deep GPU-based cmpressin and OpenGL/DirectX acceleratin (ne GPU per user) Adaptive Display Micrsft RemteFX supprt Aer Redirectin HDX 3D Pr GPU acceleratin f DirectX and OpenGL One user per GPU Deep-level cmpressin 3D SpaceMuse supprt HDX Smart Access N majr differences HDX RealTime Lw latency audi path UDP/RTP supprt fr tlerance t netwrk cngestin and packet lss DSCP and WMM packet tagging HDX Adaptive Orchestratin N majr differences 12 fps (cnfigurable t 30) General supprt fr Windws prtable USB devices (standard keybards, mice, printers, smartcards, etc.). Optimized virtual channels fr device level redirectin rather than USB prt level redirectin, ptentially limiting availability fr certain USB devices. DirectX acceleratin (shared GPU) GPU acceleratin f DirectX nly Each GPU can be shared by multiple users Applicatins must be cmpatible with RDS Sftphne cmpatibility smewhat limited due t use f Windws Remte Desktp Services (frmerly Terminal Services) Table 3: XenApp and XenDesktp Feature Cmparisn Nte: An verview f HDX technlgies can be fund n the Citrix HDX site. Each user grup in the User Segmentatin wrksheet shuld be cmpared against the fllwing table t determine which FlexCast Mdel shuld be assigned. Ensure that yu update the FlexCast value fr each user grup in the wrksheet. Page 13

7 Segmentatin Characteristic Wrklad Hsted Shared Pled- Randm / Streamed Pled- Static Pled / Streamed with PvD Dedicated Existing Physical Remte PC Streamed VHD Lcal VM Light Nrmal Heavy Heavy + Open GL Mbility Lcal Raming Lcal Remte Offline Persnalizatin Nne Basic Cmplete Security Lw Medium High High + Audit Criticality Lw Medium High : Recmmended. : Viable. : Nt Recmmended. : Streamed Apps Only. Viable with Micrsft Restrictins Table 4: FlexCast Mdel Capability Cmparisn On Demand Apps Page 14

8 Cnsulting Slutins WHITE PAPER FlexCast Planning Guide Recmmendatins Dn t frget t fllw these tp recmmendatins frm Citrix Cnsulting based n years f experience: Citrix Cnsulting Tips fr Success 1. Review the Capabilities Assessment: There are multiple FlexCast mdels available that are an equal match, fr example Pled Randm (Prvisining Services) and Streamed (Machine Creatin Services). In this situatin, if yu already have skills r experience with ne mdel ver anther then this is a gd reasn fr selecting it. 2. Lead with Hsted Shared/ As yu can see in the FlexCast Capability table abve, the Hsted VDI and Hsted Shared FlexCast mdels can be used in the majrity f situatins. The Streamed VHD and Lcal VM FlexCast mdels shuld nly be used n an exceptin basis. By reducing the number f FlexCast mdels required, yu will help t reduce deplyment time and simplify management. 3. Perfect Match. It may nt be pssible t select a FlexCast mdel which is a perfect match fr yur user grup, fr example yu can t prvide users with a desktp that is highly secure and ffers cmplete persnalizatin at the same time. In these situatins, select the FlexCast mdel which is the clsest match. 4. Criticality. There are nly fur FlexCast mdels that meet the needs f a high criticality user grup (backup desktps available) nne f which allw fr cmplete persnalizatin. If a high-criticality user grup als requires the ability t persnalize their desktp they culd be prvided with a pl f backup desktps (Hsted Shared, pled, streamed) in additin t their primary desktp. Althugh these desktps wuld nt include custmizatins made t their primary desktp, they wuld allw users t access cre applicatins such as mail, Internet and Micrsft Office. Page 15

9 Prduct Versins Prduct Versin Citrix XenApp 6.5 Citrix XenDesktp 5.6 Revisin Histry Revisin Change Descriptin Updated By Date 1.0 Dcument Created Daniel Feller (Lead Architect) January 23, Updated recmmendatins Andy Baker (Architect) February 6, Updated t include High + Audit security categry Andy Baker (Architect) April 8, 2013 Abut Citrix Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is a leading prvider f virtual cmputing slutins that help cmpanies deliver IT as an n-demand service. Funded in 1989, Citrix cmbines virtualizatin, netwrking, and clud cmputing technlgies int a full prtfli f prducts that enable virtual wrkstyles fr users and virtual datacenters fr IT. Mre than 230,000 rganizatins wrldwide rely n Citrix t help them build simpler and mre cst-effective IT envirnments. Citrix partners with ver 10,000 cmpanies in mre than 100 cuntries. Annual revenue in 2011 was $2.20 billin Citrix Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Citrix, Access Gateway, Branch Repeater, Citrix Repeater, HDX, XenServer, XenApp, XenDesktp and Citrix Delivery Center are trademarks f Citrix Systems, Inc. and/r ne r mre f its subsidiaries, and may be registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in ther cuntries. All ther trademarks and registered trademarks are prperty f their respective wners.