What's new in XenDesktop
and from Wow to How
Andy Osborne
Citrix Practice Lead, Esteem Systems
July 2011
XenDesktop with FlexCastTM
Mobile
users
Task
workers
USER TYPES
Hosted
VDI
Local
VM
Streamed
VHD
Runs locally
2000+
130+
350+
online or offline
users per server
users per server
users per server
On-Demand Apps
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Hosted
Shared
XenClient 2.0 Tech Preview
• Major themes
• Expanded HCL – 3 x more Hardware
• 2nd generation Intel Core vPro support, 2nd generation Intel Core support
• Discrete graphics support for AMD Radeon and FirePro GPUs
• Support for non-vPro Systems and Intel Graphics
• Production ready Synchronizer
• Enhanced Scalability
• Backup Optimizations
• Operational Enhancements
• Simplified User Interfaces
• Receiver for XenClient UI revamp
• Ability to make XenClient more hidden for non-technical users
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1st and 2nd Generation VDI
1st Generation VDI – Infrastructure
Virtual Desktops
1st Generation VDI – User Experience
All applications graphics and media rendered on the server
Limitations to 1st Generation VDI
• No improvement to lifecycle management
• Difficult to scale
• Premium cost
• Limited user experience
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2nd generation VDI – Incremental Improvements
• Introduction of lifecycle management – pools
• Address bottlenecks for scale
• Cost reduced through system and storage innovation
• Protocols improved for user experience
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3rd Generation VDI
3nd generation VDI – Optimized for mass adoption
• Full lifecycle management of virtual desktops and apps
• Reduced storage and system costs
• User experience optimized for network scale and control
• Service provider-grade monitoring and troubleshooting
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Advanced Provisioning with Desktop Studio
Virtual Desktops
XenDesktop with IntelliCacheTM
Virtual Desktops
IntelliCache Benefits
4000 Hosted Virtual
Desktops
•
Up to 99% reduction in storage I/O
•
50% reduction in storage cost
•
Cache – Not local copy
•
No administrative overhead
4000 Hosted Virtual
Desktops With IntelliCache
On-Demand Apps: Powered by Receiver
•
•
•
•
•
Windows, Web and SaaS
Single sign-on
Self-service enterprise app store
Follow-me applications
Granular, smart access control
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Hosted and Streamed Applications
Layered Apps for Single Image Management
Virtual Desktops
Faster than Local Application Experience
Session Prelaunch and Streamed App cache
Virtual Desktops
Desktop Director
Desktop virtualization goes mainstream
• Designed for the help desk
• Unifies Apps and Desktops
• Now includes HDX Monitor
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Getting from Wow to How - Design and
Deliver a Delightful Virtual Desktop User
Experience
Start Fast
Power Management
• Desktop available?
• Power-Up early
• Separate storms
Profiles
Retention of customizations is more critical than ever
Profiles
There is no reason for the logon
process to take more than 30
seconds
Profile Types
Local
• Resides on the local
machine only
• Folder and registry
settings are specific to
each computer
Roaming
• Downloads from file
share on logon
• Synchronizes with copy
on share during logoff
• Based upon
timestamps
• W2K8 adds .v2
• Computer must be part
of Windows Domain
Mandatory
• Read only profiles
• Downloaded on logon
• Can create 1 for many
users
• NTUser.man
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Hybrid
• Saves personal settings
via either:
• Custom service
installed on
workstation or server
• Logon / Logoff scripts
• Can be 3rd party
software
• Portable Profile
Manager, triCerat,
Appsense, Flex
Profile Kit
• Can simply be
logon/logoff scripts
that copy files and
import/export registry
keys
Some Other Tools to Help
Progressive Display
PACS
Progressive Display
TURN IT ON!!!!
Progressive Display Settings - Baseline
• LAN (100 Mb+) = Low Compression
• High Speed WAN (10Mb+) = Medium Compression
• WAN (1.5 – 10 Mb) = High Compression
• Slow WAN ( < 1.5 Mb) = Very High Compression
Progressive Display – Bandwidth Savings
88% Bandwidth
Savings
At Medium Compression
Progressive Display with Google Earth Workflow
Progressive
Compression
Total Data
Transferred
Average
Bandwidth
Peak Bandwidth
Bandwidth
Reduction
None
225 MB
23.9 Mbps
65 Mbps
N/A
Low
50 MB
5.2 Mbps
27 Mbps
78%
Medium
26 MB
2.5 Mbps
15 Mbps
88%
Lossy Compression – Still Images
HDX MediaStream - Flash
HDX MediaStream – Flash Content Fetching
• Client Side Content Fetching
• Flash Player on client device downloads content
• Default method
• Ideal for Internet content
• Server Side Content Fetching
• Content is downloaded from VDI desktop and transmitted via ICA to client
• Configured using Citrix Policies
• Ideal for accessing Intranet content via Access Gateway
Avatar Movie Site – 36 Second Flash Trailer
HDX Settings
Total Data
Transferred via ICA
Average Bandwidth
Guest CPU Usage
2 vCPU Win7
HDX Flash Off
Progressive Off
(default setting)
104 MB
16.6 Mbps
60%
HDX Flash Off
Progressive Medium
40 MB
6.4 Mbps
49%
HDX Flash Enabled
Server Side Content
Fetching
11 MB
1.76 Mbps
26%
HDX Flash Enabled
Client Side Content
Fetching
0.4 MB
0.58 Mbps
20%
HDX MediaStream – Windows Media
HDX MediaStream - Specifics
• DirectShow, DirectX Media, Windows Media Foundation
• Codecs Must be loaded on client device
• Windows Media Player (primary player we test)
• Works with other DirectShow, DirectX or WMF Players
• Server Side Content Fetching
HDX MediaStream and QuickTime
• QuickTime Player does not use DirectShow
• Windows Media Player can play MOV files
• Load QuickTime and Codecs on Client and VDI Desktop
Client Devices
HDX Features Supported by Client Type
Client Type
HDX Progressive
Display
HDX Media Stream
Windows Media
Windows 32-bit
X
X
Linux
X
X
Mobile
(iPad, Android, etc…)
X
Java Client
X
HDX Media Stream
Flash
X
HDX Experience Monitor
Dedicate Proper Resources
User Type
OS
vCPU Allocation
Memory Allocation
Windows XP
1
768
Windows 7
1
1536
Windows XP
1
1024
Windows 7
2
2048
Windows XP
1
2048+
Windows 7
2
4096+
Light
Normal
• Text
Power
Turn Off Unnecessary Windows Services
Bits
System Restore
Windows Session Manager
Windows Defender
Function Discovery
WPM Sharing Service
Home Group Listener/Provider
Security Center Super Fetch
Offline Files
Security Center
Themes (perhaps)
Windows Search (perhaps)
Indexing (probably)
Turn Off Through GPO
Error
Reporting
• Generates Crash Dumps
Windows
Update
• Updates should only be done for
master images
System
Restore
• Not Necessary in a Virtual
Environment
Registry Modifications
• Disable last Access Timestamp*
• Disable Large Send Offload
• Disable TCP/IP Offload
• Increase Service Startup Timeout
• Hide Hard Error Messages
• Disable CIFS Change Notification
• Disable Logon Screensaver
* Configured by Optimizer
User Specific Modifications
• Disable screensavers
• Reduce Menu Show Delay
• Disable most Visual Effects
• Force off-screen user composition for IE
Standard Mode Disk Modifications
• Disable Clear Page File at
Shutdown*
• Disable Offline Files*
• Disable Background
Defragmentation*
• Disable Background Layout
Service*
• Disable Hibernation*
• Disable Memory Dumps*
• Disable Machine Account Password
Changes*
• Redirect Event Logs
• Reduce Event Log Size to 64k*
• Disable Bug Check Memory
Dump*
* Configured by Optimizer
Some Final Configurations
• Disable Boot Animation
• Remove Unused Windows Components
• Avoid Page File Fragmentation
• Run Disk Cleanup
• Defragment Drives
• Optimize Antivirus
Application Virtualization
Non-Persistent Desktops
Keys to a Delightful Virtual Desktop Experience
• Optimize the logon experience
• Enhance graphics by turning on HDX features
• Tune the Windows 7 desktop