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Desktop Virtualization
Made Easy – Execution Plan
A desktop virtualization architecture
guide for small to medium environments
Overview
Trying to implement a virtual desktop environment can be challenging with all of the options and
features to choose from. However, the Desktop Virtualization Made Easy reference architecture
created a proven design for small to medium implementations. The conceptual architecture for the
design is as follows:
Figure 1: Conceptual Architecture
The next step in the process is to take the design and build/test with users. The following sections
provide a high-level execution plan for creating the virtual desktop environment. These are only a
high-level overview of the steps required to complete the configuration. The respective
Administration Guides should be used as a reference when installing/configuring the components.
Build Infrastructure
The first step is the build the base infrastructure. If unfamiliar with the components, it is highly
recommended to refer to the administration setup guides.
Overview Description
1. Install and setup XenServer resource pools
Install XenServer on appropriate hardware. Create 2 resource pools
1. Control Services Module – Requires configuration of shared storage
2. Hosted VM-Based Desktop Module – Requires the use of local storage
Create an ISO library for the Desktop Module pool. Add appropriate servers to corresponding resource pools
2. Install and setup Provisioning services
Build Provisioning services on appropriate physical servers.
Utilize the boot device manage to create an ISO file that points to the two Provisioning services servers. Place the ISO in a ISO library.
3. Install and setup XenDesktop
Build two XenDesktop controllers (with Web Interface) on the XenServer Control Module pool (1 virtual machine per XenServer).
Control Services Module (XenServer Infrastructure Servers)
Imaging Module (Physical Servers)
Provisioning Services Server XenDesktop Farm FI R EW A LL FI R EW A LL Public Network (Internet) SSL-VPN (NetScaler VPX) SSL-VPN (NetScaler VPX)
Hosted VM-Based Desktop Module (XenServer Desktop Servers)
XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer XenServer Provisioning Services Server High Availability Pair Load Balancer (NetScaler VPX) Load Balancer (NetScaler VPX) High Availability Pair Data Store License Server Controller (#1) Web Interface (#1) Controller (#2) Web Interface (#2) External Users Internal Users
controllers
4. Setup Load Balancing Setup two NetScaler VPX (internal to firewall) on the XenServer Control Module pool (1 virtual machine per XenServer). Configure the two NetScalers in HA mode
Run through the Load Balancing for XenDesktop Wizard, taking note of the virtual IP addresses for the Web Interface servers and XML brokers.
5. Setup SSL-VPN Setup two NetScaler VPX devices (external to firewall). Utilize the load balancing virtual IP address for Web Interface that is hosted on the internal NetScaler VPX devices. These devices are installed on two physical servers, virtualized with XenServer.
6. Setup Web Interface Reconfigure the Web Interface internal site (on both servers) to utilize the virtual IP address from the internal NetScaler VPX instead of the real IP addresses for the two XML brokers.
Reconfigure the Web Interface external site (on both servers) to utilize the SSL-VPN information including the fully qualified domain name.
Create Desktop Image
Once the environment is built, the desktop image must be created. This follows a similar process
to a traditional desktop except that the desktop is running on a XenServer.
Overview Description
1. Build base desktop image
Create a virtual machine within the Desktop Module resource pool. Install the operating system, agents, foundational applications and user applications.
Optimize the configuration as necessary.
Assign the boot device manager ISO file to the virtual desktop. Reconfigure the virtual machines boot options to boot from the CD drive first, then hard drive, then network.
2. Build the Provisioning services target device
Create a 20GB fixed disk vDisk for each required desktop image (assuming Windows 7)
Create a target device where the specified MAC address is the same as the virtual machine’s MAC address.
Assign the vDisk (in private mode) to the target device and specify the target device to boot from the hard disk.
3. Capture desktop image Restart the virtual desktop and upon logon, verify a connection was made to Provisioning services.
Run XenConvert to capture the desktop image.
Deploy Desktop Image
Once the base desktop image is created, it can now be deployed to any number of target devices
or virtual machines. The following high-level steps provide the path for deployment.
Overview Description
1. Reconfigure desktop image
In order to be shared between multiple targets, the desktop image must be put in “Shared” image mode (read only).
synchronization.
2. Run the XenDesktop Setup Wizard
Run the setup wizard, which automatically creates
Provisioning services target devices
XenDesktop desktop groups
Active Directory computer accounts
XenServer virtual machines.
3. Create/apply policies Create and apply the appropriate Active Directory group policies to the OUs containing the virtual desktops
Configure the appropriate settings for the desktop groups within the XenDesktop controllers.
Test and Pilot
At this point, the environment should be configured with the virtual desktops and users should
be allowed to connect from any endpoint with Citrix Receiver. Appropriate customizations and
optimizations must still be applied based on the unique characteristics of the environment.
Revision History
Revision Change Description Updated By Date
1.0 Document created Daniel Feller – Lead Architect June 18, 2010
About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is the leading provider of virtualization, networking and software as a service technologies for more than 230,000 organizations worldwide. Its Citrix Delivery Center, Citrix Cloud Center (C3) and Citrix Online Services product families radically simplify computing for millions of users, delivering applications as an on-demand service to any user, in any location on any device. Citrix customers include the world’s largest Internet companies, 99 percent of Fortune Global 500 enterprises, and hundreds of thousands of small businesses and prosumers worldwide. Citrix partners with over 10,000 companies worldwide in more than 100 countries. Founded in 1989, annual revenue in 2008 was $1.6 billion.
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