Configuration – Creating a XenDesktop Site

Configuration – Creating a XenDesktop Site


1. Launch Desktop Studio from the Start Menu.  Desktop Studio should appear under:

Start > All Programs > Citrix > Desktop Studio

2. From Desktop Studio, select Desktop Deployment in the center pane of the Snap-In. 


 
3. Name the XenDesktop Site per enterprise standards.  
   

In Database Configuration, enter the name of the  SQL 2008 server installed earlier.  

Enter the name of the Database in the Database Name field.  For the purposes of this scenario, leave in the prepopulated default Database name to have the wizard create the database.  

***NOTE***

To validate connectivity to the SQL Server, use the Test Connection button.  This test will likely generate an error as the Database for XenDesktop has not yet been created.  However, connectivity to the SQL Database will be validated successfully.  It is possible to create a Database prior to installing a XenDesktop site, however this step is beyond the scope of this Implementation Guide.  

Click Next to continue

4. Provide Citrix License server information (installed earlier) and click Connect
  

The wizard will present the license types available on the licensing server.   Select the appropriate one for this installation and click Next

 

 

5. Configure the Host hypervisor per specific enterprise standards. 

• Ensure that a Host Address preceeded by http, Username, & Password are provided.  
• Name the Host connection
• Select Use XenDesktop to create virtual machines

Click Next to continue

 

6. Specify the resources that will be utilized by the Virtual Machines in this installation.

     

•      Click Add to configure where to store virtual machines. 
•     Provide a Name for the storage details. 
•     Select the storage type.  For this scenario, an iSCSI mount will be utilized.
•     Select a guest network for the virtual machines.    

7. Validate the settings for VM resources.

   Click Next to continue  

 

8. Review the installation Summary for accuracy.  

•      Click Finish to continue
•    Close out the remote connection to the first XenDesktop Controller. 

 

9. Launch Desktop Studio from the Start Menu. Desktop Studio should appear under:  

  Start > All Programs > Citrix > Desktop Studio  

10. From Desktop Studio, select Join existing deployment in the center pane of the Snap-In.  

  

11. In the Select XenDesktop Site dialog box, specify the address of the first controller. 
     Specify either an IP address or Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN).   
 

       Click Ok to continue

 

12. A pop-up asking whether to allow XenDeskto to update the database automatically will          be presented.
    Click Yes to continue  

13. Allow XenDesktop to configure the Site and add the second controller.  A progress bar 

  will be presented until completion.   

14. Upon successful completion of adding a second controller to the XenDesktop Site,     
     Desktop Studio will return to the Site Dashboard.  Settings and information regarding this      XenDesktop site will be presented and available for Administration.  

     Configuring the XenDesktop site is now complete.  Exit from Desktop Studio and logout
     from the second controller.  

 

Known Issues for XenApp 6.5 for Windows Server 2008 R2

Known Issues for XenApp 6.5 for Windows Server 2008 R2

Updated: 2012-02-13

Readme Version: 2

Contents

• Installation Issues
• SmartAuditor Issues
• Application Streaming Issues
• Single Sign-on Issues
• Other Known Issues

Installation Issues

• The Provisioning Services Target Device software resets your network connection during install. As a result, you may see user interface crashes or other failures if you select this component to install from a network location. Citrix recommends that you install the Provisioning Services Target Device software using one of the following methods [#229881]:
  • Install from a local DVD image or ISO
  • Copy the installation media locally before performing the installation
  • Select Manually Install Components from the Autorun menu
  • Install with a command-line installation
• If you are installing the Configuration Manager Console Extension component of the XenApp Connector for Configuration Manager 2007 on a computer that has a remote Configuration Manager console installed, this warning might display: “Configuration Manager Console Extension is selected, but ConfigMgr 2007 R2 or higher is not installed. Install will continue, but the console extension feature will not be operable without ConfigMgr.” If the installed Configuration Manager console is from Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007 R2 or R3, ignore this warning and continue installing the Configuration Manager Console Extension. The Configuration Manager Console Extension operates normally after installation. [#0034277]
• After installing the Windows Desktop Experience Integration role through the XenApp Server Role Manager on a computer running a non-English operating system and configuring the CtxStartMenuTaskbarUser Group Policy Object (GPO), the PowerShell and Server Manager icons are not removed from the Taskbar as expected. Additionally, the Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player icons are not added to the Taskbar. This occurs because the script Enable-CtxDesktopExperienceUser.ps1 does not run correctly on non-English operating systems. To resolve this issue, download the updated Enable-CtxDesktopExperienceUser.ps1 script from CTX130208 in the Citrix Knowledge Center and replace the script on the XenApp server. [#261892]

SmartAuditor Issues

• The SmartAuditor Player might fail to correctly display sessions launched with Citrix Receiver for Windows 3.0, instead showing a black screen in the Player window. To prevent this, disable the gradient fill feature on the XenApp server hosting the sessions by creating this DWORD registry on the server and setting its value to 1: HKLM\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Ica\Thinwire\DisableGdiPlusSupport.
  Caution: Editing the Registry incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Citrix cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Be sure to back up the registry before you edit it.
  Sessions recorded after this change is made display correctly. [#254644]
• The SmartAuditor Player might fail to play sessions launched with the Citrix Online Plug-in for Windows 12.1 or Citrix Receiver for Windows 3.0. To play these sessions, edit this text in the SmAudPlayer.exe.config file: <add key=”Windows” value=”12.00.9999”/>. To view sessions launched with Online Plug-in for Windows 12.1, change ”12.00.9999” to ”12.99.9999”. To view sessions launched with Receiver for Windows 3.0, change ”12.00.9999” to ”13.00.9999”. [#254795, #255780]
• If SmartAuditor Administration components are installed on a XenApp server, the Citrix AppCenter console might not be able to complete discovery on the server. To resolve this issue, run: %SystemDrive%\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\System32\mfreg.exe /regserver.[#260133]

Application Streaming Issues

Issues for streaming Microsoft Office applications:

• Profiling Microsoft Office 2010 SP1 is not supported in this release. For best practices for streaming Office 2010 applications, see http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX124565 in the Citrix Knowledge Center.
• Although the fonts for Office 2010 applications do not load during profiling, the fonts load correctly when the applications are launched on the user device. [#262124]
• While profiling Microsoft Office 2010 applications, the option to Enable User Updates fails if the applications are published to stream to client desktops. To prevent this issue, do not use that profiling option for Office 2010 applications. [#259362]
• When using the RadeCache flushall command, you might receive an Access Denied error for Microsoft Office applications that are streamed to server. If this occurs, restart the server and run the flushall command again. [#262465]
• When profiling Office 2010 on Windows 7 using the streaming profiler, if the operating system fails with a blue screen, the profiling workstation is probably missing Windows updates and a Microsoft Hotfix. To fix the issue, update the profiling workstation with the latest Windows updates and install the Microsoft Hotfix located at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2359223/en-US. [#248727]
• Streamed Office Project 2007 has the following known issues:

  • Creating Visual Reports in Project 2007 is not supported when users stream Project to their desktops, even when Excel 2007 is also streamed. [#223304]
  • Running Office Web Components in Project 2007 is not supported on Windows 7 operating systems. [#223553]
  There are no workarounds for these issues.

Third-party known issues for application streaming:

• This release does not support streaming IBM Personal Communications 4.2 or IBM ClearQuest. [#259830]
• This release does not support streaming to clients through Web Interface on the following browsers: [#262650, 257135]
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 9
  • Mozilla Firefox 4.0

Other known issues for application streaming:

• Launching the streamed application SAP 7.20 or earlier versions on a non-English platform displays the user interface in English. In addition, the language drop-down located at File > Options > General > Language is blank. As a workaround, install the SAP application in the profile, and after installation, open the command prompt inside the Profiler. Navigate to the Lang folder (C:\Program Files\SAP\FrontEnd\SAPgui\Lang\) and copy all the files to location C:\Lang\. [#260029]
• After creating the first target, you cannot modify the "Enable User Updates" setting for the profile. The setting that you select for the first target applies to all other targets that you add to this profile, even if you manually select a different setting for subsequent targets. [#252225]
• The Load Balancing policy fails to prevent a fallback option for delivery of an application published for dual-mode streaming (streamed if possible, otherwise stream accessed from a server). The Load Balancing policy is supposed to be able to override the dual mode and force one or the other delivery method, disallowing the other, for the specified groups of users. In this release, the policy fails to prevent the fallback option, and the application will be delivered as specified in the publishing process. There is no workaround for this issue. [#258537]
• An application that is streamed to the server cannot support more than one extra parameter when there is a space character in one of the parameters. While profiling, if you add an extra parameter that has spaces, only one parameter is supported. If there are no spaces in the parameter, multiple parameters are supported. [#262752]
• The AppHubWhiteList is sometimes deleted when you update the Offline Plug-in. After updating the plug-in, verify that the AppHubWhiteList is still included with the plug-in, and if missing, add it manually. [#262709]

Single Sign-on Issues

• Features that require the Single Sign-on Service might fail if the Single Sign-on Plug-in 5.0 is installed on user devices that do not have the Visual C++ 8.0 runtime library installed. To prevent this, ensure that the Visual C++ 8.0 runtime library is installed on the user device before installing the Single Sign-on Plug-in. [#261051]
• On user devices that are running double-byte character language operating systems and have the Single Sign-on Plug-in 5.0 installed, Input Method Editor (IME) might fail against the question-based authentication dialog boxes for self-service password reset and self-service account unlock. To allow users to use account self-service from these user devices, ensure that their answers to security questions are in languages that do not require IME. [#262856]

Other Known Issues

• XenApp servers might stop responding when multiple users are making frequent connections to the servers. Installing Service Pack 1 for Windows Server 2008 R2 or Microsoft Hotfix Windows.1-KB2383928-x64 on the server prevents this from occurring. See Microsoft Knowledge Base article #2383928 for more information. [#254069]
• Adobe Flash content playback is poor when using server-side content fetching over a slow WAN connection. This may result in response failures for the Flash window or Web browser and extremely long buffer times and pauses. To avoid this issue, use server-rendered Flash delivery for user devices using WAN connections. [#261879]
• When using Secure Gateway in an environment where data is encrypted using SSL protocol, SSL-secured sessions might disconnect unexpectedly, reporting an SSL Library Error 45. [#259611]
• When publishing content to a XenApp server, the access control settings appear differently depending on whether you view them with the AppCenter console or with the XenApp command Get-XAApplication. For example, while the AppCenter might correctly display default settings, the XenApp command Get-XAApplication might display that no Access Gateway connections are allowed. This issue affects only the display of these settings; users can access the published content normally. To ensure a consistent display of access control settings, use the XenApp SDK to configure and publish content applications. [#261283]
• Published applications might fail to launch, displaying a black window in place of the application window, if system memory is low. This condition is indicated by this system event log message, with picadd as its source: "The Citrix Thinwire driver stopped because it cannot allocate the required memory. You may need to manually disconnect and restart any existing sessions." [#261647]
• During session printer enumeration, Adobe Reader 10.1 may fail. As a workaround, edit your Adobe Reader preferences and uncheck the Enabled Protected Mode at startup checkbox. [#285090]

Citrix Installation of XenDesktop Controller 5

Citrix

Installation – XenDesktop Controller

 

Staying on the server selected to be the Desktop Controller, navigate to the location of the XenDesktop Installer Media and launch via AutoPlay

• Run AutoSelect.exe
 

        Select Install XenDesktop

 

**NOTE**

If using a service account to instal  the Desktop Controller, ensure that the user account has elevated privileges.  Consult with Active Directory

Administrators to ensure compliance with specific nterprise account standards.       

 

 

•  Read the entire Licensing Agreement.
• Select the checkbox for I accept the terms and conditions and select Next to continue
• 

**NOTE** In this scenario for XenDesktop, web access will be provided via a Web Interface installed on separate server.  Also, a separate SQL 2008 R2 database will be used. Lastly, a dedicated License Server has already been installed and will not be needed as part of the Controller installation. 

 

 Select the appropriate components for installation.  This should include:

> XenDesktop Controller

> Desktop Studio

> Desktop Director

• Uncheck the selections for Web Access,License Server, and Install SQL Server Express.  These components are installed separately.    
• Click Next to continue
•  
• ·      Allow the installation summary to generate.  

  ·      Validate that all appropriate components are included in the summary area and click Install.  
• 

•  Uncheck Configure XenDesktop after closing and click Close.
•  Close out the remote connection to the first XenDesktop Controller. 
• 

• Navigate to the location of the XenDesktop Installer Media and launch via AutoPlay
• Run AutoSelect.exe
• 
   
•  Select Install XenDesktop
  **NOTE**
  ·      If using a service account to instal  the Desktop Controller, ensure that the user account has elevated privileges.  Consult with Active Directory Administrator to ensure compliance with specific enterprise account standards.  
• 

• Read the entire Licensing Agreement. 
• Select the checkbox for I accept the terms and conditions and select Next to continue.  

 

**NOTE**

• In this scenario for XenDesktop, web access will be provided via a Web Interface installed on separate server.  Also, a separate SQL 2008
• R2 database will be used. Lastly, a dedicated License Server has already been installed and will not be needed as part of the Controller installation.
• Furthemrore, Desktop Director will not be required as it is already available on the first Controller.  Therefore, unselect it.  
• Select the appropriate components for installation.  This should include:
• > XenDesktop Controller
• > Desktop Studio
•     Uncheck the selections for Web Access, Desktop Director, License Server, and Install SQL Server Express.  These components are installed separately.  
•  Click Next to continue

 

**NOTE**

As Desktop Director is not installed on the second Controller and the IIS role is not required, a firewall exception may be needed for Port 80 to accommodate incoming Broker requests.  Coordinate with Network Security Administrators to ensure appropriate firewall considerations are taken into account for any specific enterprise configuration. 

·      Check the box marked Enbale these ports to allow Port 80 to be used for Broker connections to this Controller. 

·      Click Next to continue the installation

 

• Allow the installation summary to generate.  
•  Validate that all appropriate components are included in the summary area and click Install.  

 

•         Allow the Setup Wizard to complete the installation.  Once complete, a final summary will be presented.     
•        Validate that all appropriate components were installed properly.
•       If proceeding directly to the next section (Configuration – Creating a XenDesktopSite), then click Close. 
•      Otherwise, uncheck the box marked Configure XenDesktop after closing and click Close.