overview book citrix

Overview Guide

Citrix MetaFrame XPApplication Server for Windows

Citrix Systems, Inc.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Companies, names, and data used in examples herein are fictitious unless otherwise noted. No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for any purpose, without the express written permission of Citrix Systems, Inc.

Copyright 2002 Citrix Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Citrix, ICA (Independent Computing Architecture), Independent Management Architecture (IMA), Program Neighborhood, MetaFrame, MetaFrame XP, and NFuse are registered trademarks or trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries.

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Microsoft, MS, MS-DOS, Windows, Windows NT, and Windows 2000 Servers are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S.A and other countries.

All other trade names referred to are the Servicemark, Trademark, or Registered Trademark of the respective manufacturers.

Last Updated: April 5, 2002 2:48 pm (VA)

ContentsChapter 1 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Whats in the MetaFrame XP Media Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Getting More Information and Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Getting Product Documentation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Getting Service and Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Subscription Advantage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Providing Feedback About this Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Introduction to MetaFrame XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8MetaFrame XPthe Application Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8NFuse Classicfor Integration with Your Web Server. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9ICA Clientsfor Secure, Remote Access to Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Independent Management Architecturefor Scalable Computing . . . . . 10MetaFrame XP Toolsfor Unified Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Extensible Solutionsfor Seamless Integration of Functionality . . . . . . 10

Chapter 2 Overview of the MetaFrame XP Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11Whats Included in MetaFrame XPs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

MetaFrame XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Citrix Management Console. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12ICA Clients. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13NFuse Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Citrix Secure Gateway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Citrix SSL Relay. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Whats Included in MetaFrame XPa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Load Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Whats Included in MetaFrame XPe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Resource Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Network Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17Installation Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Enterprise Services for NFuse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Chapter 3 Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Planning Your MetaFrame XP Deployment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

How Do I Plan the Stages for Deploying MetaFrame XP? . . . . . . . . . . . 19How Do I Choose and Size the Hardware that I Need? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20How Do I Choose a Database for the Data Store? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Licensing MetaFrame XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21How Do I Activate a MetaFrame XP License? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21How Do I Upgrade a MetaFrame 1.8 License? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

C H A P T E R 1

Getting Started

OverviewThank you for purchasing MetaFrame XP. Before you install MetaFrame XP, be sure to read this guide for information about the materials in the media pack.

This guide contains:

An overview of the CD-ROM discs in the MetaFrame XP box

Information about how to get MetaFrame documentation, how to find other details about Citrix, and how to get technical support

A brief overview of how a MetaFrame XP system fits together, and how to find out more about each component in MetaFrame XPa, MetaFrame XPs, and MetaFrame XPe

Information about deploying and licensing MetaFrame XP, and common questions about MetaFrame XP

6 MetaFrame XP Overview Guide

Whats in the MetaFrame XP Media KitYour MetaFrame XP Media Kit includes the following CD-ROM discs:

The MetaFrame XP for Windows 2000 Server CD-ROM. This CD-ROM includes the latest MetaFrame XP release. It includes a Windows Installer package (.msi file) that you can use to install MetaFrame XP and customize the features on a MetaFrame XP server. Use this CD-ROM to install MetaFrame XP family solutions, NFuse Classic turnkey (for NFuse Classic deployments on your MetaFrame XP server), and Citrix Management Console.

The MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM. This CD-ROM includes MetaFrame XP components that you can install on other computers; for example, the ICA Clients, NFuse Classic, and Citrix Secure Gateway.

MetaFrame XP with Windows NTYour MetaFrame XP media pack also contains an additional CD-ROM containing MetaFrame XP, Feature Release 1, for use with Windows NT 4.0, Terminal Services Edition. If you want to use MetaFrame XP, Feature Release 2 or later, you need to upgrade your operating system to Windows 2000 Server or its successors.

Getting More Information and HelpThis section describes how to get more information about MetaFrame XP and how to contact Citrix.

Getting Product DocumentationThe Citrix MetaFrame XP package includes electronic documentation and online application help. Documentation specific to each Citrix component is available in Adobe PDF format on the MetaFrame XP Server and Components CD-ROM discs. In addition, when you install MetaFrame XP, the documentation is installed on your MetaFrame XP server.

To view, search, and print the documentation that is provided in PDF files, you need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader program. If you need to get the Acrobat Reader program, you can download it for free from Adobe Systems Web site at http://www.adobe.com.

Important You can get additional manuals, guides and white papers from the Citrix Web site (at http://www.citrix.com/support, select Product Documentation) as well as all of the latest updates to the MetaFrame XP documentation. Please check the Citrix Web site regularly for new and updated documents.

Chapter 1 Getting Started 7

Getting Service and SupportCitrix provides technical support primarily through the Citrix Solutions Network channel partners. Our CSN partners are trained and authorized to provide a high level of support to our customers. Please contact your supplier for first-line support or use Citrix Online Technical Support to find the nearest CSN partner.

In addition to the CSN channel program, Citrix offers Online Technical Support Services at http://www.citrix.com/support/ that include the following:

Downloadable Citrix ICA Clients, available at http://www.citrix.com/download/

A Frequently Asked Questions page with answers to the most common technical issues

An FTP server containing the latest service packs and hotfixes for download

An Online Knowledge Base containing an extensive collection of technical articles, troubleshooting tips, and white papers

Subscription AdvantageSubscription Advantage gives you an easy way to stay current with the latest server-based software functionality and information. Not only will you get automatic delivery of Feature Releases, software upgrades, enhancements, and maintenance releases that become available during the term of your subscription, you also get priority access to important Citrix technology information.

Contact your Citrix sales representative or a member of the Citrix Solutions Network for more information.

Providing Feedback About this GuideWe strive to provide accurate, clear, complete, and usable documentation for Citrix products. If you have any comments, corrections, or suggestions for improving our documentation, we want to hear from you. You can send e-mail to the authors at:

[email protected]

Please include the product name and version number, and the title of the document in your message.


Introduction to MetaFrame XPMetaFrame XP solutions enable you to provide your users with uninterrupted, secure access to your organizations applications and information, from almost any device over any network connection-Internet, LAN, WAN, dial-up, or wireless.

Whether your users rely on Windows or Macintosh PCs or laptops, UNIX or Linux workstations, thin-client devices, Windows-based terminals, wireless devices, or other network appliances, you can use MetaFrame XP solutions to:

Speed application deployment to thousands of users simultaneously

Provide your mobile workforce with consistent access to mission-critical data and applications

Quickly integrate remote offices with your corporate systems after an acquisition or expansion

Enable fail-over systems for business continuity during an emergency or planned outage

Each MetaFrame XP solution includes the components described below.

MetaFrame XPthe Application ServerMetaFrame XP allows multiple users to log on and run applications in separate, protected sessions on the same server. You install MetaFrame on servers with a multiuser operating system and install and publish the applications or other resources that you want to deploy on the MetaFrame servers. For example, you may want to install office productivity applications (such as word processors and spreadsheets), enterprise resource planning applications such as SAP and Peoplesoft, or any other custom applications.

You can group a number of servers together to form a MetaFrame XP server farm. A MetaFrame XP server farm is a group of MetaFrame XP servers that you manage as a single entity. MetaFrame XP server farms provide you with a flexible and robust way of deploying applications to users.

Chapter 1 Getting Started 9

NFuse Classicfor Integration with Your Web ServerUse NFuse Classic to give users access to published resources through the Web or your Intranet. Users log on to NFuse Classic using the familiar Web browser and see links to the applications that they are authorized to run.

NFuse Classic dynamically creates an HTML page with a depiction of the MetaFrame XP server farm for each of your users. After logging in, each user sees a Web page that includes all the applications and resources in the MetaFrame XP server farm that you configure for that user.

Using NFuse Classic, you can create stand-alone Web sites for application access or Web sites that can be integrated into your corporate portal.

Any enterprise that relies on the Internet for connectivity must contend with security issues. Despite the enthusiasm for worldwide business communications, corporations must still be assured that they can protect confidential data from prying eyes as it travels through a public network. You can use NFuse Classic with Citrix Secure Gateway to securely transport data over the Internet, using standards-based security technology.

ICA Clientsfor Secure, Remote Access to ApplicationsCitrix uses the Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocol to exchange information between a users client device and the published resources on the MetaFrame XP server. The ICA Client software is available for a range of different devices so users can connect to the MetaFrame XP server from various platforms.

The ICA protocol sends keystrokes, mouse clicks, and screen updates between the server and the client. Published applications run entirely on the server, which means that processing on the client is kept to a minimum. To the user of the client device, it appears as if the software is running locally.

Because applications run on the server and not on the client device, users can connect from any platform. For example, Microsoft Outlook running on a MetaFrame XPa server looks and feels the same whether the user is connecting from a Windows CE Handheld Computer, a Macintosh desktop or a Linux workstation.

With many Citrix ICA Clients (including the ICA Clients for 32-bit Windows, Java, Macintosh, and Linux), you can secure ICA communications using the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols. SSL/TLS provides server authentication, encryption of the data stream, and message integrity checks and enables you to securely deliver application within a LAN or across the Internet.


Independent Management Architecturefor Scalable ComputingMetaFrame XP includes the advanced Citrix server communications and management foundation, the Independent Management Architecture (IMA). The integration of the MetaFrame XP application server software with IMA is central to the enhanced functionality of MetaFrame XP and the scalability of Citrixs server-based computing solutions.

IMA is a unified, enterprise-wide platform for installation, management, maintenance, support, and security for your organizations server-based computing and application hosting services. With MetaFrame XP for Windows servers and the Citrix IMA foundation, organizations gain a wide range of enterprise management and scalability features and options that include:

Centralized administration of MetaFrame XP servers

Centralized data store for all Citrix configuration data

Centralized license management and pooling without license gateways

ICA Client discovery of published resources without UDP broadcasts

Logging of shadowed sessions

Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) support

Auditing of administration activity

MetaFrame XP Toolsfor Unified ManagementThe management interface for MetaFrame XP servers and server farms is the Citrix Management Console. You can use Citrix Management Console to manage MetaFrame XP servers and server farms from any location. You can install and run the console on any connected Windows NT, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 workstation, in addition to MetaFrame XP server consoles.

Extensible Solutionsfor Seamless Integration of FunctionalityMany additional features are available as part of various MetaFrame XP solutions. The scalable platform of IMA and the management capabilities of Citrix Management Console allow you to install and use only the features that you need on each server and customize the server according to your needs and the role of a server in your enterprise.

Many additional components are flexible because you can choose to install them separately. However, all features are integrated into Citrix Management Console rather than separate utilities. This means that you use the same tools to access all of your MetaFrame XP server information. For example, if you install MetaFrame XPe, Citrix Management Console includes additional pages that you can use to manage your MetaFrame XPe servers.

C H A P T E R 2

Overview of the MetaFrame XP Family

MetaFrame XP is available in three tailored solutions:

MetaFrame XPs is designed to give businesses outstanding performance from applications running on a central server.

MetaFrame XPa is designed with the small to medium business in mind. A MetaFrame XPa license enables all of the features of MetaFrame XPs and also includes load balancing functionality.

MetaFrame XPe is designed for single-point control of servers, licenses, and resources in large organizations and multi-national corporations. A MetaFrame XPe license enables all of the features of MetaFrame XPa and also provides system monitoring and analysis, application packaging and delivery, and integration with third-party SNMP management consoles.

These solutions enable you to install and license only those features and components that you need on a specific server. Each solution is described in more detail in this chapter.


Whats Included in MetaFrame XPsCitrix MetaFrame XPs is designed to provide a predictable computing experience with outstanding performance from applications running on a central server.

This section describes the components of MetaFrame XPs.

MetaFrame XPMetaFrame XP is the application server component of Citrixs server-based computing solutions.

You install MetaFrame XP on one or more servers, and install and publish the applications, server desktop, or other resource that you want users to access.

For each server farm, you need a database called a data store. MetaFrame XP uses the data store to centralize configuration information for a server farm in one location. The data store maintains information about the servers, applications, and Citrix administrators in the server farm. Using an external data store ensures a scalable and flexible system for managing your MetaFrame servers.

You can use client/server databases such as Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, or IBM DB2 for your data store. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft Access, which is a database that is included with Windows server operating systems.

You can install MetaFrame XP from the MetaFrame Server CD-ROM.

For conceptual information and procedures for how to install, configure, and maintain MetaFrame XP, see the MetaFrame XP Administrators Guide located on the MetaFrame Server CD-ROM.

Citrix Management ConsoleYou can install Citrix Management Console on MetaFrame XP servers, or install it stand-alone on any Windows NT, Windows XP, or Windows 2000 workstation for remote administration of MetaFrame XP server farms.

You install Citrix Management Console from the MetaFrame Server CD.

To find instructions about how to install Citrix Management Console (on a MetaFrame server or stand-alone), see the MetaFrame XP Administrators Guide. See the online help in Citrix Management Console for additional information about using the console.

Chapter 2 Overview of the MetaFrame XP Family 13

ICA ClientsAfter you install MetaFrame XP and publish your resources, you can connect to your Windows applications from virtually any client device and platform, including:

All Windows platforms (for example, whether you are using Windows 3.1 or Windows XP, there is an ICA Client for your platform.)

Java

Linux and UNIX Operating Systems

Windows CE handheld computers and Windows-based Terminals

DOS

OS/2 Warp

Macintosh

You can install the ICA Clients from the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM. For an introduction to the methods you can use to deploy clients, see the MetaFrame XP Administrators Guide. Each ICA Client also has a separate ICA Client Administrators Guide to help you deploy and configure the client. The client administrators guides on the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM.

Important Citrix continually updates its ICA Clients to support new client computing platforms and operating system versions. Visit the Citrix Web site download area at http://www.citrix.com/download for information about new and updated ICA Clients.

NFuse ClassicUsing NFuse Classic, you can create stand-alone Web sites for application access or Web sites that can be integrated into your corporate portal. An NFuse Classic deployment involves the interaction of three network components:

A MetaFrame server farm

A Web server, on which you install NFuse Classic

A client device with a Web browser and ICA Client


You can install NFuse Classic in two ways.

The most common deployment is on a Web server, separate from your MetaFrame XP server farm. In a secure environment, you would most likely include NFuse Classic in the demilitarized zone (DMZ). If you want to install NFuse Classic, install it from the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM.

You can also install NFuse Classic on one of your MetaFrame XP servers. If you do this, you need to set up the MetaFrame XP server as a Web server. If you want to install NFuse Classic in this way, you can select NFuse Classic as a feature when you install MetaFrame XP from the MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM. Alternatively, you can install NFuse Classic from the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM.

Refer to the Citrix NFuse Classic Administrators Guide for instructions about how to install, configure, and customize NFuse Classic. This file is located in the NFuse directory on the Components CD-ROM.

Citrix Secure GatewayCitrix Secure Gateway is a secure Internet gateway for ICA data traveling into and out of a MetaFrame XP server farm. You can secure all traffic traveling across the Internet between MetaFrame XP servers and SSL-enabled ICA Client workstations. Using Citrix Secure Gateway makes firewall traversal easier and provides heightened security by providing a single point of entry and secure access to your MetaFrame XP server farms.

To use Citrix Secure Gateway, you need to include the following additional components in your deployment:

A Secure Ticket Authority server. When a user clicks on an application icon in an NFuse Classic Web page, NFuse Classic contacts a service running on a server called the Secure Ticket Authority Server for a secure ticket.

A Secure Gateway server. The users connection to the application is then routed through a Secure Gateway server (which is usually in the DMZ). The Gateway server validates the ticket with the Secure Ticket Authority. If the ticket is valid, the Secure Ticket Authority provides the address of the MetaFrame XP server that can provide the application.

You install Citrix Secure Gateway server and the Secure Ticket Authority service from the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM.

For more information about Citrix Secure Gateway, see the Citrix Secure Gateway Administrators Guide on the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM and the Secure Gateway online help.


Citrix SSL RelayIf you want to secure all communications within your environment using SSL or TLS, you can use SSL Relay to secure communications between supported ICA Clients, NFuse Classic, and MetaFrame XP servers.

To deploy SSL Relay, you need server certificates on each of your MetaFrame XP or NFuse Classic servers.

SSL Relay is a feature of all MetaFrame XP server installations.

For more information about SSL Relay, see the MetaFrame XP Administrators Guide and the online help for the SSL Relay configuration tool.

Whats Included in MetaFrame XPaCitrix MetaFrame XPa is designed with the small to medium business in mind. A MetaFrame XPa license enables all of the features of MetaFrame XPs and also provides advanced load management using Load Manager.

Load ManagerYou can set up, monitor, and balance the server and published application loads in a server farm so that users can run the published applications they need quickly and efficiently.

The criteria you define in Load Manager determine which servers are least busy and can best run an application. When a published resource is launched from an ICA Client, Load Manager selects which server will run the application or desktop session, based on server load. Load Manager ensures that the application runs on a server that is not overloaded, and so improves performance for users.

Using Load Manager also offers increased availability. By configuring a pool of servers capable of running your users applications, you can easily bring servers off-line for maintenance or add more servers for increased performance without affecting application availability.

Load Manager is installed automatically when you install MetaFrame XPa.

For more information about Load Manager, see the Load Manager Getting Started Guide located on the MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM.


Whats Included in MetaFrame XPeCitrix MetaFrame XPe offers robust management capabilities specifically designed for single-point control of servers, licenses, and resources. It is designed for IT administrators in large organizations and multi-national corporations who must manage complex networks that include diverse devices and operating systems.

A MetaFrame XPe license enables all of the features of MetaFrame XPa and also provides:

System monitoring and analysis using Resource Manager

Application packaging and delivery using Installation Manager

Systems management capabilities using Network Manager and third-party SNMP management consoles

Aggregation of applications from multiple server farms using Enterprise Services for NFuse

Resource ManagerResource Manager enables you to collect, display, and analyze data about system performance, application use, and user activity.

Resource Manager can track and store information about a wide variety of system and network processes and events. If the value of these metrics fall outside normal limits, Resource Manager can warn you by email and pager alerts.

You can also use Resource Manager to store longer term data in an external Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle database. You can use the summary database to retrieve historical records on processes, server events, server metrics, and user activities for individual servers or groups of servers. You can also generate bills based on resource usage.

Resource Manager is a feature of a MetaFrame XPe server installation. You can choose to include it in your installation when you run the installation program on your MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM.

For more information about Resource Manager, see the Resource Manager Administrators Guide located on the MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM.


Network ManagerNetwork Manager allows you to remotely control and monitor the status of MetaFrame XPe servers using a third-party SNMP management console.

Network Manager consists of an SNMP agent installed as part of MetaFrame XPe and plug-ins for supported SNMP management console applications. Using a third-party SNMP management console, you can terminate processes on MetaFrame XPe servers, as well as send a message to, log off, or disconnect an active ICA session on a MetaFrame XPe server.

Network Manager also includes the MIB (Management Information Base) definition file for MetaFrame servers. You can use any SNMP management console application that supports MIB browsing to monitor and control MetaFrame XPe servers.

The Network Manager plug-ins interact with the SNMP management consoles through API calls provided by the SNMP management consoles. The Network Manager plug-ins automatically:

Explore and gather information from MetaFrame XPe servers with the SNMP agent enabled

Update the gathered data on the network map

Log MetaFrame XPe server traps in the event database

Network Manager includes Windows plug-ins for the following SNMP management console applications:

Tivoli NetView

HP OpenView Network Node Manager

CA Unicenter

Important Check the Network Manager Administrators Guide for details about the versions of the SNMP management consoles that the Network Manager plug-ins support.

The Network Manager SNMP Agent is installed with a MetaFrame XPe server installation. For more information about the Network Manager, see the Network Manager Administrators Guide located on the MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM.


Installation ManagerYou can use Installation Manager to install applications on the servers in your MetaFrame XP server farm from a central location.

Installation Manager lets you install an application package, such as Microsoft Office 2000, from one server to all the servers in a domain or in a server farm. Use Installation Manager whenever you need to deploy applications, files, service packs, or software patches on the servers in your server farm.

You can automate the application installation process, enabling the replication of published applications to MetaFrame XP servers across an enterprise. Automating the process enables you to save time and reduce errors when installing many applications or applications that are frequently updated.

Installation Manager is installed with MetaFrame XPe.

For more information about the Installation Manager, see the Installation Manager Administrators Guide located on the MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM.

Enterprise Services for NFuseEnterprise Services for NFuse extends NFuse Classic by giving users resources published from multiple MetaFrame server farms on a single Web page. This process, called aggregation, greatly simplifies user access to applications in organizations that have more than one MetaFrame server farm.

You can configure and manage Enterprise Services for NFuse using a Web browser.

You install Enterprise Services for NFuse from the MetaFrame XP Components CD-ROM. For more information about Enterprise Services for NFuse, see the Enterprise Services for NFuse Administrators Guide and the online help.

C H A P T E R 3

Frequently Asked Questions

This section describes some of the areas you need to consider when you start to deploy MetaFrame XP. For more detailed information see:

The MetaFrame XP Administrators Guide on your MetaFrame XP Server CD-ROM or installed on your MetaFrame XP server

The MetaFrame XP Advanced Concepts Guide on the Citrix Web site

Planning Your MetaFrame XP DeploymentDeploying MetaFrame XP requires planning and youll most likely plan to deploy your system in stages.

How Do I Plan the Stages for Deploying MetaFrame XP?A phased approach to planning and deploying MetaFrame XP allows you to tweak and enhance your server farm design as you progress. The stages usually include:

A planning phase, to help you identify the hardware or application requirements for your environment.

A testing phase, to identify and fix potential issues with the planned MetaFrame XP server farm design.

A pilot phase, to test drive your MetaFrame XP solution in a live production environment. The pilot implementation is the proving ground for network designs, application compatibility, and other requirements that you identify during your planning and testing phases. Make sure that your pilot includes a typical sample of the actual production environment with real users. The pilot provides the baseline environment on which you can test additional enhancements.

Finally, a roll-out phase, to roll out the installation and configuration to your production environment.


How Do I Choose and Size the Hardware that I Need?MetaFrame XP supports many simultaneous application users by running on a multiuser operating system. Multiuser operating systems are more resource intensive than single-user systems. Youll first need to use the system sizing guidelines to help you decide on a hardware configuration that will support your users with optimal performance.

A good way to estimate how many users a server can support is to measure system performance with two to five users on the system and then scale the results. This method has been found to yield reliable results.

For more information, see the Citrix Knowledgebase, at http://www.citrix.com/support. Here, you can find articles about installing MetaFrame XP on many different types and makes of server.

How Do I Choose a Database for the Data Store?Before installing MetaFrame XP, you must decide which database to use for the data store for your server farm.

For a server farm of any size, and for robust and scalable support for multiple servers, use a true client/server database, such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, or IBM DB2.

For smaller server farms or for pilot systems, you may prefer to use Microsoft Access, a database that is included with Windows server operating systems. If you want to use an Access database for your data store, select this option when you install MetaFrame XP on the first server in your server farm. MetaFrame XP automatically creates the database on this server.

It is important to note that other factorsin addition to the number of servers affect data store and overall server farm performance. Other factors that affect performance are the number and type of published resources, the maximum and average number of concurrent client connections, and the hardware configuration of MetaFrame XP servers.

Chapter 3 Frequently Asked Questions 21

Licensing MetaFrame XPTo complete the installation of MetaFrame XP, you need to activate your Citrix licenses to permit ICA connections to the server and enable the software for use.

Citrix licensing involves several types of licensing codes and concepts.

A product license is a license to install and run one or more Citrix components. MetaFrame XP allocates product licenses from a pool of available licenses for a MetaFrame XP server farm.

A product code identifies a legitimate copy of Citrix software. The product code on a server specifies which product license the server takes from the license pool for the server farm.

A connection license is a license that enables ICA Client connections to MetaFrame servers. A connection license can contain multiple counts. Each count allows a single ICA connection to a MetaFrame server.

Every licensed Citrix product has an associated serial number. After you install the software, you enter the serial number and a license number is generated. You use this license number to get an activation code to activate the license. An overview of the steps required is described in this section. For more information about licensing, see the chapter Licensing MetaFrame XP in the MetaFrame XP Administrators Guide.

How Do I Activate a MetaFrame XP License?There are four steps to activating a Citrix license.

Step 1 - Add Your Serial NumberAdd the supplied serial number in Citrix Management Console. The serial number is the number located:

On a label on the product package

On a Web site, if you are given a URL through an electronic licensing program

Type the serial number exactly as printed, including hyphens between groups of characters. A serial number can include numerals, letters, and symbols such as +, ?, and *. When you enter the serial number, the software generates a license number that you can copy to your clipboard. The license number is the serial number followed by additional characters called the machine code, which the licensing system generates.


Step 2 - Log On to the Citrix Activation SystemLog on to the Citrix Activation System (CAS) Web page at http://www.citrix.com/activate. When you first visit, you set up an account and password.

From this secure site, you can manage the activation of your MetaFrame XP licenses.

Step 3 - Get an Activation CodeFor each license, you need to get an activation code from the CAS Web page. In this step, you use the full license number generated in Step 1 (that is, with the machine code appended), and then copy the activation code that you receive for the license.

Step 4 - Activate the LicenseActivate the Citrix license using Citrix Management Console. You must select the license and activate it using the activation code from the previous step.

How Long do I Have Before I Must Activate a License?Citrix licenses have a grace period after installation. During this period, your MetaFrame XP software is fully functional and users can connect to the server and work normally. Citrix recommends that you use the grace period to thoroughly test your hardware and software configuration. When you are sure that your system is set up properly, activate your licenses.

Important The duration of the grace period varies according to the type of license. For example, most retail licenses have a 35-day grace period and most MetaFrame XP evaluation licenses have a 2-day grace period. After you add the license, you can check the number of days remaining in the grace period from the licensing tab in Citrix Management Console.

MetaFrame XP generates periodic reminder messages to prompt you to activate the license within the grace period. To avoid disrupting user access to published resources, make sure that you activate the license before the end of the grace period. If the grace period does expire, the license prevents user connections to MetaFrame XP servers although one administrator can still log on to the server to activate the license.

Chapter 3 Frequently Asked Questions 23

How Do I Upgrade a MetaFrame 1.8 License?MetaFrame XP does not directly support licenses for MetaFrame 1.8. However, you can use a MetaFrame 1.8 license if you also purchase the appropriate product migration licenses.

If you have a MetaFrame 1.8 system and purchase a MetaFrame XP migration license, how you apply the licenses to the system depends on whether or not you are able to keep the activated MetaFrame 1.8 licenses on the system.

If you are able to keep the activated MetaFrame 1.8 licenses on the system (for example, during a simple upgrade), do not remove your MetaFrame 1.8 licenses. When you install MetaFrame XP on an existing MetaFrame 1.8 server, Setup migrates existing licenses into the new MetaFrame XP server farm.

If you are unable to keep the MetaFrame 1.8 licenses on the system (for example, because you reinstalled the operating system), you need to add both the MetaFrame 1.8 and MetaFrame XP migration licenses. When you install MetaFrame XP, you must first add the MetaFrame 1.8 licenses in Citrix Management Console, reactivate the MetaFrame 1.8 licenses, and then add and activate the MetaFrame XP migration licenses.

You will not be able to use the connections in your MetaFrame 1.8 base license with a MetaFrame XP deployment until you install and activate the appropriate MetaFrame XP migration license.

For more information, see the Migration and Upgrade Guide included with your MetaFrame XP migration kit.

Part Number 668-0015

Getting StartedOverviewWhats in the MetaFrameXP Media KitGetting More Information and HelpGetting Product DocumentationGetting Service and SupportSubscription AdvantageProviding Feedback About this Guide

Introduction to MetaFrameXPMetaFrameXPthe Application ServerNFuse Classicfor Integration with Your Web ServerICA Clientsfor Secure, Remote Access to ApplicationsIndependent Management Architecturefor Scalable ComputingMetaFrameXP Toolsfor Unified ManagementExtensible Solutionsfor Seamless Integration of Functionality

Overview of the MetaFrameXP FamilyWhats Included in MetaFrame XPsMetaFrameXPCitrix Management ConsoleICA ClientsNFuse ClassicCitrix Secure GatewayCitrix SSL Relay

Whats Included in MetaFrame XPaLoad Manager

Whats Included in MetaFrame XPeResource ManagerNetwork ManagerInstallation ManagerEnterprise Services for NFuse

Frequently Asked QuestionsPlanning Your MetaFrameXP DeploymentHow Do I Plan the Stages for Deploying MetaFrameXP?How Do I Choose and Size the Hardware that I Need?How Do I Choose a Database for the Data Store?

Licensing MetaFrame XPHow Do I Activate a MetaFrameXP License?How Do I Upgrade a MetaFrame 1.8 License?

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