december 03, 2012 vdi-in-a-box 5.2 elisabeth teixeira

December 03, 2012

VDI-in-a-Box 5.2

Elisabeth Teixeira

© 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute2

Agenda

• ViaB Overview and Architecture

• System Requirements

• New Features

• Installation

• Upgrade

• Documentation links

© 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute

5.2 Release Dates

Tech Preview: Project BermudaAnnounced: Synergy BarcelonaAvailable date: Oct 30, 2012Audience: Customers and partners

Update: 30 beta testers at launchDec 28

RTW

VDI-in-a-Box Overview


Virtualized desktops for less than $500 per user

• An affordable turnkey software appliance providing high-performance, high-definition personalized virtual desktops

ᵒ All-in-one VDI – runs on off-the-shelf servers

ᵒ Simple to Deploy – in less than an hour by Windows® Admins

ᵒ Simple to Use – any time, anywhere, any device access

ᵒ Simple to Manage – single point-and-click web-based console

ᵒ Simple to Scale – on-demand, just add more off-the-shelf servers


VirtualDesktop

VirtualDesktop

VirtualDesktop

VirtualDesktop

VDI-in-a-Box

VDI-in-a-Box – Simple, Affordable All-in-one

All key features are built-in: Connection brokering Dynamic provisioning High-availability Load balancing On-demand scaling Citrix HDX user experience Linked clones Personal and pooled desktops

Open architecture supporting:• Citrix XenServer• Microsoft Hyper-V• VMware vSphere (ESXi)

Access from virtually any device viaCitrix Receiver

VDI-in-a-Box

vdiManager

Logical Shared Storage

User Management

Dynamic Desktop Provisioning & Management

Template Managemen

t

High-Availability Grid Engine

Connection Broker

Load Balancer

Hypervisor

Virtual Desktops Made Simple


Eliminates 60% of the infrastructure

• Datacenter infrastructure

• Multiple components

• Many different IT skillsets

• Systems Integration

• Windows infrastructure

• Commodity servers

• Windows Admin

• All-in-one, built-in


VDI-in-a-Box XenServer

User Profile Manager

ActiveDirectory(optional)

HDX

Local KnowledgeWorker

User Data

NetScaler

Access Gateway

Local TaskWorker

Remote TaskWorker

Works with Citrix Portfolio• Included licenses:

• Full HDX stack• Receiver• Profile Management• XenServer

• Works with…• NetScaler• Access Gateway• XenApp• GoToAssist• ShareFile

GoToAssistvdiManager

Architecture


ViaB 5.2 Architecture


ViaB 5.2 components

• VDI-in-a-Box appliance (vdiManager) runs as a virtual machine on a hypervisor

• Each vdiManager in a grid performs the following functions: ᵒ Creates virtual desktops from a templateᵒ Balances the load across the gridᵒ Provides high availability

• Brokers connections so that a user can log on to any server in the grid

• Provides a web-based interface: VDI-in-a-Box console


ViaB 5.2 user authentication and user data

• Choose between Active Directory and Workgroups

• Active Directory used for authentication

• Simple network file system used to hold user data

System requirements


ViaB 5.2 system requirements

• Citrix Profile management 4.1.1

• Citrix StoreFront 1.2

• Citrix Licensing 11.10

• Web browsers to access vdiManager console: ᵒ Windows Internet Explorer 9 and 8 ᵒ Google Chrome ᵒ Mozilla Firefox ᵒ Safari

• Web browsers to access the provisioned desktops from user devices: ᵒ Same as above plus Opera


User Devices

• Provisioned desktops can be accessed from a Web browser, Citrix Receiver, or the VDI-in-a-Box Java Desktop Client:ᵒ Required: Install Citrix Receiver on the user device to access VDI-in-a-Box desktops

ᵒ Optional: If you want to use the VDI-in-a-Box Java Desktop Client on a user device running Windows, Mac, or Linux, you must also install the JRE


ViaB 5.2 system requirements - hypervisors

Citrix XenServer Microsoft Hyper-V VMWare ESXi / vSphereCitrix XenServer 6.1 Platinum, Enterprise, Advanced, and Free editions

Citrix XenServer 6.0.2 Platinum, Enterprise, Advanced, and Free editions

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012

Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1, Enterprise edition, with Hyper-V role enabled

VMware ESXi 5.1

VMware ESXi 5.0 Update 1

Note: VMware Essentials license or greater is required

Note: Windows Server 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1, Standard edition is not supported by VDI-in-a-Box for use with Hyper-V

Note: VMware Essentials license or greater is required

If you are evaluating Citrix VDI-in-a-Box and have downloaded a free version of ESXi from the VMware Web site, do not install the license key that comes with that version


ViaB 5.2 services – desktop VM

Service name Short name Account DescriptionCitrix VDI-in-a-Box Agent vdiAgent .\vdiAgentUser(network) Performs all managed VM life cycle

operations and reports the state of various attributes to vdiManager at regular intervals. Watches for logons, logoffs, connections, and disconnections

Citrix VDI-in-a-Box Agent Monitor

vdiAgentMonitor .\vdiAgentMonitorUser (network)

Monitors vdiAgent to ensure it is running. Responsible for all install/uninstall/update operations

Citrix VDI-in-a-Box HDX Connector Service

VdiHdxConnectorSvc Network Service Controls the Citrix Virtual Desktop Agent service for brokering HDX connections to the desktop


ViaB 5.2 services – Hyper-V

Service name Short name Account DescriptionCitrix VDI-in-a-Box Hyper-V Connector

vdiHVConnector .\kaviza (Network) Securely exposes the Windows Hyper-V WMI interface for vdiManager to communicate with the hypervisor


Secure remote connectivity

• Secure remote connections from user devices to virtual desktops are supported for the following products: ᵒ Citrix Access Gateway VPX 5.0.4

ᵒ Citrix Netscaler Access Gateway 10

ᵒ Remote Desktop Gateway with Remote Desktop Connection 6.1 or 7


Virtual desktop operating systems

• Windows XP with SP 3, Professional, 32-bit

• Windows 7 with SP 1, Prof and Enterprise, 32-bit or 64-bit

• Windows 8 Enterprise and Pro, 32-bit or 64-bit (TP for RDP connections only)

• Windows Server 2008 R2 with SP 1, Enterprise, 64-bit

• Windows Server 2012, Full Standard, 64-bit (TP for RDP connections only)


Personal desktops

• Only available for published images running Windows 7: 32-bit and 64-bit


Personal desktops

• Updates are not received by the personal desktop until the user logs off

• Profile management

• Store profile data on a network-attached storage (NAS) server

• Disable Profile Redirection in the personal desktops if using profile management

• Separate data store for PvD to optimize performance:ᵒ Hyper-V ᵒ Vmware ESXi or vShere

• Desktops must be on the same data store as images with XenServer


Back up and restore personal desktops

• Obtain the personal disk name of personal desktop to be backed up

• Shutdown personal desktop

• Follow instructions for each specific hypervisor (edocs.citrix.com)

• Click Actions (user session) on damaged desktop row and click Repair

What’s new in VDI-in-a-Box 5.2


VDI-in-a-Box 5.2Simple, affordable VDI running on latest Windows and

hypervisors, with tighter Citrix integration


5.2 Release feature areas

• XenServer 6.1, Hyper-V 2012, vSphere/ESX 5.1

• Microsoft Lync optimization• Windows Server 2012 as virtual desktop

Support latest technologies

• Image export• Central license server• Support for CloudGateway 2 StoreFront

Tighter Citrix integration

• Simpler - Touchless DTagent install & upgrade• Faster - Performance with 3rd datastore• Easier - New and updated documentation

Enhanced IT experience

5.2


Key Features – Staying Current

• Support for latest hypervisorsᵒ Server 2012 Hyper-Vᵒ XenServer 6.1ᵒ vSphere/ESX 5.1

• Microsoft Lync optimizationᵒ Shifts media processing burden from server to endpoint

when possibleᵒ Redirects traffic peer-to-peerᵒ Call center, small business for telephony needs

• Server 2012 as virtual desktop

Support for latest technologies


Key Features – Tighter Citrix Integration

• Central license serverᵒ Use existing Citrix license server to manage ViaB licenses

• Support for CG2 StoreFrontᵒ Access VIAB desktops from StoreFrontᵒ SSO with AGEEᵒ 2-factor authentication

Tighter Citrix integration


Key Features – Enhanced IT experience

• Touchless desktop agent upgradeᵒ V5.1: touchless desktop agent installᵒ V5.2: touchless desktop agent upgrade

• 3rd datastore for personal vDisksᵒ Improve PvD performance using SSDᵒ High-availability for PvDᵒ Ease of vDisk backup using 3rd party tools

• Revamp the docs ᵒ HDX, licensing, server sizing, etc.ᵒ Support Portal improvements


Support latest technologies


Runs on latest hypervisors

• Stay current with latest hypervisors

• Add support for

ᵒ Citrix XenServer 6.1ᵒ Microsoft Server 2012 Hyper-Vᵒ VMware vSphere 5.1

Business Benefits:

Stay current no matter what hypervisor you use


Microsoft Lync optimization

• Same MS Lync optimization pack shipped with XenDesktop

• Shifts media processing burden from server to endpoint when possible

• Redirects traffic peer-to-peer

Business Benefits:

Address all your business telephony needs at lower costs with MS Lync


Windows Server 2012 as virtual desktop

• Provide Windows Server 2012 as virtual desktops in Windows 8 skin

• Leverage SPLA licensing

Business Benefits:

Service providers are able to provide Windows-as-a-Service using SPLA

Tighter integration with other Citrix products


Image export

• Export golden images as a full copy:ᵒ VDI-in-a-Box Desktop Agents will be

removedᵒ Customization and applications will be

kept on the exported image

• Exported image as a running VM

Business Benefits:

Use images with other desktop virtualization products

Back up images


Central license server

• VIAB 5.1 & earlier use built-in Citrix license servers

• VIAB 5.2 also supports external Citrix license servers

Business Benefits:

Option to use your existing Citrix license servers to manage VIAB licensing


Support for CloudGateway 2 StoreFront

• Access VIAB desktops from StoreFront services

• SSO with AGEE

• Two-factor authenticationᵒ Except for smart card

Business Benefits:

StoreFront as a single place to access all enterprise computing resources – desktops, apps, data


Touchless Desktop Agent upgrade

• Touchless Desktop Agent:ᵒ V5.1: touchless desktop agent installᵒ V5.2: touchless desktop agent upgrade

• Two-click DT Agent upgrade on existing golden images

• UI workflow to allow testing image before publishing if desired

Business Benefits:

Easier to stay current with latest VDI-in-a-Box release

DTagent

Golden image


Separate datastore for personal desktops

• 3rd datastore for personal vDisks:ᵒ Datastore 1: for golden imagesᵒ Datastore 2: for pooled desktopsᵒ Datastore 3: for personal vDisks

• Approach:ᵒ Store images on SAS driveᵒ Store pooled desktops and vDisks on

SSDsBusiness Benefits: Improve PVD performance HA for PVD using shared storage Ease of vDisk backup using 3rd party tools

Storage on a server

SAS Drive holds the golden images

SSD holds the desktop instances created from the golden images

SSD holds the personal vDisks

Installation


Installation and initial configuration

• Download and extract the VDI-in-a-Box Manager

• Create and configure the grid

• Create the first Windows image

• Create the first template from the published image

• Assign templates to users, groups, and IP addresses

• Test the connection as a user

Migration


Migration from ViaB 5.0.x or 5.1.x to ViaB 5.2

• Only migration is supported

• Migration from version earlier than ViaB 5.0 is not supported

• You cannot upgrade to VDI-in-a-Box 5.2

• Prerequisites: use the same physical server for both versions of vdiManager

• Each server in the grid must be migrated separately

Network Before migration - 5.0.x or 5.1.x Network after migration - 5.2Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) Static IP Configuration

Static IP Configuration Static IP Configuration

Manual Network Configuration Not migrated - Must be manually configured

Additional documentation


Documentation

• Known issues:ᵒ http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-known-issues-52.html

• System Requirements:ᵒ http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-system-requirements.html

• Getting started:ᵒ http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-getting-started-landing-page.html

• License VDI-in-a-Box:ᵒ http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-permanent-license.html

• Manage VDI-in-a-Box:ᵒ http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-51/vdi-manage.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-known-issues-52.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-known-issues-52.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-system-requirements.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-system-requirements.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-getting-started-landing-page.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-getting-started-landing-page.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-permanent-license.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-52/vdi-permanent-license.html

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/vdi-51/vdi-manage.html


References

• For latest colleteral:ᵒ http://www.citrix.com/skbᵒ Select VDI-in-a-Box from left panel

• To learn more about Citrix VDI-in-a-Boxᵒ http://www.citrix.com/vdi-in-a-box/try-it

• To view videos on Citrix VDI-in-a-Boxᵒ http://www.citrixtv.com/ᵒ Select VDI-in-a-Box channel

• For detailed guides related to Citrix VDI-in-a-Boxᵒ http://support.citrix.com/vdi-in-a-box

http://www.citrix.com/skb

http://www.citrix.com/vdi-in-a-box/try-it

http://www.citrixtv.com/

http://support.citrix.com/vdi-in-a-box

Work better. Live better.

december 03, 2012 vdi-in-a-box 5.2 elisabeth teixeira

Documents

citrix confidential

simple slide

architecture slide

user data slide

citrix receiver vdi

builtin slide

box overview slide

box console slide