I got an email this evening from the folks at Bitcasa encouraging me to send invites (infinite!) out to everyone -
"You have been chosen to lead your flock of friends, frenemies, and
family into the valley of Infinite Storage. For a short time, you can
invite as many people as you want to skip the line and enter the pure
bliss we call: INFINITE STORAGE!"
So, on that happy note, please follow this invite and take your place among the Bitcasa bretheren.
https://portal.bitcasa.com/invited/dc6708f819b34e9d829bcfaf16a1f17b/
Happy Cloudifying!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
When does an ICA session use a SSL-U license?
Had a call from a customer yesterday, complaining that he could only have 5 user connections through his AGEE on his NetScaler.
I figured he was missing his AGEE platform license and once applied he'd have his 10,000 ICA connections and all would be well.
Turns out not to be the case. First, we did confirm that all the proper licenses were installed and appeared to be active. With his NS and AGEE licenses applied he did show the 10,000 ICA connections and 5 Access Gateway connections.
After stumbling around a bit, we ended up looking at the following Citrix KB article - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX125567 – which essentially states that if the AGEE virtual server is configured in smartaccess mode then it consumes the AGEE/SSL-U licenses.
Since the customer's problem was repeatable (and matched the 5 licenses his MPX5500's said he has) we tested and verified the failure, then moved the little radio button on the AG Virtual Server to 'Basic' and tested again – volia, now he has more than 5 connections. He wasn't using SmartAccess for anything so no harm no foul.
Lesson learned. If you're not using SmartAccess or the VPN feature, set the VS to 'Basic' - unless you've got SSL-U licenses (XD/XA Platinum).
Also of interest, this was a MPX5500 and the user had 5 AG connections provided by the licenses for the device. A VPX200 that I put in a month ago had 10 AG connections … Enough in either case that the 'problem' probably won't surface till the customer tries to go production.
I figured he was missing his AGEE platform license and once applied he'd have his 10,000 ICA connections and all would be well.
Turns out not to be the case. First, we did confirm that all the proper licenses were installed and appeared to be active. With his NS and AGEE licenses applied he did show the 10,000 ICA connections and 5 Access Gateway connections.
After stumbling around a bit, we ended up looking at the following Citrix KB article - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX125567 – which essentially states that if the AGEE virtual server is configured in smartaccess mode then it consumes the AGEE/SSL-U licenses.
Since the customer's problem was repeatable (and matched the 5 licenses his MPX5500's said he has) we tested and verified the failure, then moved the little radio button on the AG Virtual Server to 'Basic' and tested again – volia, now he has more than 5 connections. He wasn't using SmartAccess for anything so no harm no foul.
Lesson learned. If you're not using SmartAccess or the VPN feature, set the VS to 'Basic' - unless you've got SSL-U licenses (XD/XA Platinum).
Also of interest, this was a MPX5500 and the user had 5 AG connections provided by the licenses for the device. A VPX200 that I put in a month ago had 10 AG connections … Enough in either case that the 'problem' probably won't surface till the customer tries to go production.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Virtual Desktop Optimization Guides
Virtual Desktop Optimization Resources
Over time I've been collecting resources to optimize virtual desktop images. Not all optimizaitons work for all environments to it's very important to understand what each tweak is actually doing and why you care about it; and probably most of all what's going to break when you turn it on.
The challenge is understanding what all the tweaks are doing – some may be helpful, some may be detrimental to your particular install (for instance most recommend turning of UAC and other security measures).
I've included references to optimizing for VMware View as well as XenDesktop because 1.) both need the same types of changes and 2.) if you're living on VMware Hypervisor so the related tweaks are very relevant and 3.) I work with both solutions.
Links follow roughly grouped by source but otherwise in no particular order.
Citrix XenDesktop Optimization Guides
VMware View Desktop Optimization Guides
Additional References
Over time I've been collecting resources to optimize virtual desktop images. Not all optimizaitons work for all environments to it's very important to understand what each tweak is actually doing and why you care about it; and probably most of all what's going to break when you turn it on.
The challenge is understanding what all the tweaks are doing – some may be helpful, some may be detrimental to your particular install (for instance most recommend turning of UAC and other security measures).
I've included references to optimizing for VMware View as well as XenDesktop because 1.) both need the same types of changes and 2.) if you're living on VMware Hypervisor so the related tweaks are very relevant and 3.) I work with both solutions.
Links follow roughly grouped by source but otherwise in no particular order.
Citrix XenDesktop Optimization Guides
- Citrix publishes guides for optimizing XenDesktop and XenApp deployments.
- Office 2010 Installation & Configuration (streaming and non-streaming!) - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX124565
- Office 2007 Installation & Configuration (streaming and non-streaming!) - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX118396
- Optimizing HDX for High Latency - http://support.citrix.com/article/ctx125027
- Virtualization Best Practices for XenApp - http://blogs.citrix.com/2011/06/15/virtualization-best-practices-for-xenapp/
- Optimizing Windows 7 for Flexcast Delivery - http://blogs.citrix.com/2010/01/15/optimizing-windows-7-for-flexcast-delivery/
- Optimizing Windows XP for XenDesktop - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX124239
- Windows 7 Optimization Guide - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX127050
- Windows XP Performance Optimizations for XenDesktop and Provisioning Server vDisks - http://blogs.citrix.com/2008/10/24/windows-xp-performance-optimizations-for-xendesktop-and-provisioning-server-vdisks/
VMware View Desktop Optimization Guides
- VMware Windows XP Deployment Guide - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/XP_guide_vdi.pdf
- Vmware View Windows 7 Guide - http://blogs.vmware.com/euc/2012/01/updated-optimization-scripts-for-windows-7-desktops-in-a-vmware-view-implementation.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed
Additional References
- Mikes.EU - Windows XP Standard Installation Procedure - http://www.mikes.eu/download/view-winxp-optimizations.pdf
- Virtualization.com - My Top 10 VMware View performance tips - http://virtualizationreview.com/blogs/virtual-insider/2011/06/top-10-vmware-view-performance-tips.aspx
- myvirtualcloud.net - Mastering VDI Templates - http://myvirtualcloud.net/?p=414
- virtualfeller.com - Optimize Windows 7 Visual Effects for Virtual Desktops - http://virtualfeller.com/2010/08/03/optimize-windows-7-visual-effects-for-virtual-desktops/
- citrixtools.net - Windows 2008R2 Remote Desktop and XenApp Tuning Tips - http://www.citrixtools.net/Resources/Articles/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5610/Windows-2008-R2-Remote-Desktop-and-XenApp-6-Tuning-Tips-Update.aspx
- citirxtools.net - Terminal Server and XenApp Tuning Tips - http://www.citrixtools.net/Resources/Articles/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/36/Terminal-Server-XenApp-Tuning-Tips.aspx
- citrixtools.net - XenDesktop Tuning Tips - http://www.citrixtools.net/Resources/Articles/articleType/ArticleView/articleID/43/XenDesktop-Tuning-Tips.aspx
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Blog Lives!
This is version 2.0 of my personal blog presence. My plan (and we'll see how it pans out) is to keep most of my work related stuff over on the company blog at http://blog.lewan.com which is a great resource for information both from myself and my co-workers. This page will be more of my own stuff along the lines of what's up in my life and the random thoughts (and outbursts) that occur to me to publish.
You'll find stuff about VMware and Citrix virtulization, EqualLogic, Lefthand, Compellent and NetApp storage here from time to time; HP, Dell and Cisco hardware; and even CommVault Backup, Archive, and Storage Managment; That's my job and it occupies my mind quite a bit.
You'll also find stuff from other aspects of my life - My Siberian huskies, Woodworking, Home Renovation, Motorcycling, Camping, Scuba Diving, Skiing, 4x4 Off Road, and of couse the obligatory home network and general geekery.
With that, happy reading; hope you enjoy it.
You'll also find me on Twitter (@KFingerlos), Linked-In, and Flicker (http://www.flicker.com/kafingerlos) but most editorial content will live here.
This is version 2.0 of my personal blog presence. My plan (and we'll see how it pans out) is to keep most of my work related stuff over on the company blog at http://blog.lewan.com which is a great resource for information both from myself and my co-workers. This page will be more of my own stuff along the lines of what's up in my life and the random thoughts (and outbursts) that occur to me to publish.
You'll find stuff about VMware and Citrix virtulization, EqualLogic, Lefthand, Compellent and NetApp storage here from time to time; HP, Dell and Cisco hardware; and even CommVault Backup, Archive, and Storage Managment; That's my job and it occupies my mind quite a bit.
You'll also find stuff from other aspects of my life - My Siberian huskies, Woodworking, Home Renovation, Motorcycling, Camping, Scuba Diving, Skiing, 4x4 Off Road, and of couse the obligatory home network and general geekery.
With that, happy reading; hope you enjoy it.
You'll also find me on Twitter (@KFingerlos), Linked-In, and Flicker (http://www.flicker.com/kafingerlos) but most editorial content will live here.
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