XS - 5.0 - XABetterTogether - Implementation Guide

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XenServer and XenApp - Better Together

Step-by-step guide for integrating Essentials for XenServer with XenApp
Contents
Overview..................................................................................................... 1
Phase I: Reference System Creation .......................................................... 2
Provisioning Services Configuration ................................................................................................ 2
Active Directory Integration ................................................................................................. 2
Device Collection ................................................................................................................ 4
Image Preparation............................................................................................................................ 5
Setup Provisioning Services vDisk ..................................................................................... 5
Update Server Boot Preferences ........................................................................................ 8
Install Provisioning Services Tools ..................................................................................... 9
Install XenApp Prep .......................................................................................................... 12
Image Build .................................................................................................................................... 14
Virtual Disk Finalization ..................................................................................................... 17
Phase II: System Delivery ......................................................................... 20

Virtual Machine Creation ................................................................................................................ 20
Provisioning Services Target Device Creation .............................................................................. 23
Integrate Active Directory ............................................................................................................... 25
Implement ................................................................................................. 26
Phase III: Maintenance ............................................................................. 27
New Virtual Disk Creation .............................................................................................................. 27
New vDisk Modification .................................................................................................................. 32
vDisk Automatic Update ................................................................................................................. 32
Virtual Disk Changes Integration ................................................................................................... 35
Revision History ........................................................................................ 36

Overview
One of the greatest opportunities of Essentials for XenServer when integrated with XenApp is the
possibility of having a single server image for all XenApp servers. The administrative gains of having an
environment similar to this are extreme as maintenance and management of a single image is much
easier than managing hundreds of images. Plus, having a single image for all XenApp servers greatly
reduces storage requirements for the XenApp farm.
This Implementation Guide demonstrates how to utilize a XenServer environment and allow for the
provisioning of XenApp servers all within the same XenApp farm. The provisioning of a virtualized
XenApp environment incorporates two distinct build phases with a trailing maintenance phase:
 Phase I: Reference System Creation
 Phase II: System Delivery
 Phase III: Maintenance
1
Phase I: Reference System Creation
The initial goal for the integration of Essentials for XenServer with XenApp is to create a base XenApp
image. With proper configuration, this base XenApp image can host different sets of applications, when
XenApp Application streaming is applied to specific servers. Phase I of the implementation guide focuses
on properly configuring the components to allow for the streaming of a XenApp server to XenServer
infrastructure. This section focuses on:
 Provisioning Services Configuration
 Virtual Disk Preparation
 Virtual Disk Creation
 Virtual Disk Finalization
Provisioning Services Configuration

In order to effectively utilize Provisioning Services, a few configuration settings must be applied to the
environment. These changes include:
 Active Directory Integration
 Device Collections
Active Directory Integration

Screenshot Description
Within the Provisioning Services Console
 Navigate to Farm – Site – SiteName –
Servers
 Right-click the server and select Properties
2
Within the Server Properties screen
 Select the Options tab
 Select Check for new versions of a vDisk
 Select Enable automatic password support
Note: Verify that the corresponding Active Directory

policy is set. This policy is located here: Computer
Configuration > Windows Settings > Security
Settings > Local Policies > Security Options,
enable Domain member: Disable machine
account password changes by clicking Enable.
On an Active Directory controller, or in the local

server policy, the machine account password
changes must be disabled because Provisioning
Services will manage this responsibility. This policy
should be set only on the OU containing
Provisioning Services target devices. The policy
Domain member: Disable machine account
password changes is located here: Computer
Configuration > Windows Settings > Security
Settings > Local Policies > Security Options
3
Device Collection
As a general practice, it is recommended to group all similar Provisioning Services target devices
within a Device Collections. This section shows how to create a collection.
Device Collection
1 Within the Provisioning Services Console
 Navigate to Farm – Site – SiteName – Device
Collections
 Right-click Device Collections and select
Create Device Collection
Within the Device Collection Properties screen

 Enter in a name for the collection: XenApp 5 –
Office Servers
 Select OK
4
Image Preparation
Setup Provisioning Services vDisk
The XenApp server must be captured within a streaming file (vDisk) that can be distributed to any
number of physical or virtual hosts. The following process creates a blank vDisk for the incoming
image.

1 On the Provisioning Services Server, launch the
Provisioning Services Console.
 Select Sites – SiteName – vDisk Pool
 Select Action – Create vDisk
The Create vDisk window will appear.

 Enter a Filename: XenApp 5 – Office (Rev 1)
 Enter in a Description: XenApp 5 image
consisting of Windows 2008, XenApp 5 and
the Office application set.
 Select the appropriate size of the vDisk. It
must be large enough to encompass the entire
virtual server disk
 Select VHD format: Dynamic
 Select Create vDisk
5
The virtual disk is being allocated. This process can
take a few minutes.
Once the wizard completes, the new vDisk will

appear within the console.
 Select the vDisk
 Select Action - Properties
Within the vDisk Properties window

 Select Edit file properties
6
Within the vDisk File Properties window
 Select the General tab
 Set the Class: XenApp 5 – Office
Note: The Class setting will be used as part of the

maintenance procedure detailed in a later section.

 Select the Mode tab
 Set Access Mode to Private Image
 Select OK
The Private Image mode allows changes to be

made to the vDisk. As we need to populate the
vDisk with the XenApp server image, we need to
allow changes.
7
Update Server Boot Preferences
The XenApp server’s boot preferences must be set to do a network boot. This is done within the BIOS
settings of the physical server or defined within the virtual machines startup sequence configuration.
The steps that follow show how to do this for XenApp servers virtualized with XenServer. Once the
server has been set for a network boot, the XenApp server should be restarted.
Update Server Boot Process

Within the XenCenter console
 Select the XenApp server virtual machine
 With the General tab highlighted, select
Properties
In the virtual machine Properties screen

 Select the Startup Options tab
 Move Network to the top of the list
 Select OK
8
Install Provisioning Services Tools
When the XenApp server restarts, the Provisioning Services Target Device software must be installed.
The target device software allows the XenApp server to connect to the vDisk, which allows for the
imaging of the XenApp server.
Virtual Disk Creation

On the XenApp server, insert the Provisioning
Services installation media and select Install
Target Device for 64 bit Platform.
Note: The appropriate bit-level should be selected.
On the Welcome screen

 Select Next
9
On the License Agreement screen
 Select I accept the terms in the license
agreement
 Select Next
On the Customer Information screen

 Enter in valid information
 Select Next
On the Destination Folder screen

 Leave the default location and select Next
10
On the Ready to Install screen
 Select Install
On the Complete screen

 Select Finish
On the Reboot screen

 Select Yes
When the server restarts, the Provisioning Services

agent will automatically start and be located in the
system tray. Verify the icon says Active. This
shows that the XenApp server has a connection to
the Provisioning Services and the configured vDisk.
11
Install XenApp Prep
Because each XenApp server must have a unique identity within the XenApp farm, the base XenApp
install must be prepared before a Provisioning Services build is started. This section shows the
preparation of a XenApp server with the XenApp Prep utility.
Obtain the XenApp Prep Tool from

http://support.citrix.com/article/ctx116063. With the
file uncompressed, launch the XenAppPrep
installer.
On the XenAppPrep Welcome screen, select Next
12
On the License Agreement screen

 Select I accept the terms in the License
Agreement
 Select Next
On the Destination Folder screen

 Change the path or leave the default
 Select Next
On the Install screen

 Select Install
13
On the Completion screen

 Select Finish
 Launch a command prompt and navigate to:

C:\Program Files\Citrix\XenAppPrep
 Execute the command: XenAppPrep /PVS
 Do NOT reboot
The tool will prepare the system for cloning, which

involves shutting down certain services and
updating critical registry keys. For a complete list of
changes, please refer to the guide included with the
XenAppPrep installation.
Image Build
With the XenApp server linked to a blank vDisk and the server prepped for XenApp provisioning with
Provisioning Services, it is now time to create an image. The following process takes the XenApp
server and synchronizes the hard disk to the vDisk.
Build Image
 Launch Disk Management
 A new disk should be visible with a red mark
on it. Select the disk and select Online
 If asked to format the drive now, select No
 Close the Disk Management utility
With the XenApp server linked to a blank vDisk and

the server prepped for XenApp provisioning with
Provisioning Services, it is now time to create an
image. The following process will take the XenApp
server and synchronize the hard disk to the vDisk.
14
Build Image
 Open Explorer and select the new disk
 Right-click and select Format
 Set the format for Quick Format
 Select Start
 Select OK when the format is complete
 Launch the Device Image Builder tool from

the Start Menu
 Verify the Destination Drive is the newly
formatted drive
 Select Optimize
15
Build Image
 Verify all options are enable
 Select OK
 Select Build
 After verifying the drives are correct, select

Yes
The XenApp server’s system partition will be copied

to the Provisioning Services vDisk.
When the server reboots, the vDisk has been
populated with the XenApp server.
16
Virtual Disk Finalization
Once a XenApp image captured within the vDisk, the configuration for the vDisk must be changed into
a standard image mode, which allows vDisk streaming to multiple target devices
Within the Provisioning Services console
 Select the appropriate vDisk within he vDisk
Pool
 Select Action – Properties
Within the vDisk Properties window

17
 Verify the class is set as: Office 5 – Office

 Set Access Mode to Standard Image
 Select the Enable automatic updates for
this vDisk
18
 Select the Active Directory machine
account password management
19
Phase II: System Delivery
Once the base XenApp image is created within the Provisioning Services system, the XenServer and
Provisioning Services server must be configured to deliver the vDisk to numerous virtual servers. This
process includes the following steps:
 Virtual Machine Creation
 Provisioning Services Target Device Creation
Virtual Machine Creation

Within XenCenter, select the Resource Pool
 Select Server -> New VM
Go through the entire wizard as before and select:

 Operating System: Citrix XenApp
 Name: XA5-CoreApps1
 Installation Media: Physical DVD drive
 Location: Automatically select a home
server with available resources
 Number of vCPUs: 2
 Initial Memory: 2048
 Virtual Disks: Default
 Virtual Network: Default
 Start VM Automatically: No
20
When the new VM wizard is complete
 Select the newly created VM
 Select Properties

 Select the Startup Options tab
 Move Network to the top of the list
 Select OK

 Select the Optimizations tab
 Verify Optimize for Citrix XenApp is selected
 Select OK
21
With the virtual machine still selected
 Select the Storage tab
 Delete the attached storage
 Select the Network tab

 Make note of the virtual machine’s MAC
Address
To quickly replicate the virtual machine, do the

following:
 Right-click the virtual machine to copy, and
select Copy VM
 On the Copy Virtual Machine window
o Enter a name for the new virtual
machine
o Select Fast Clone
o Select Copy
 Make note of the virtual machine’s MAC
address.
22
Provisioning Services Target Device Creation
In order for the image to be streamed to the physical or virtual XenApp servers, the devices must be
defined within the Provisioning Services Console and added into Active Directory. The following shows
how this process is completed.

Within the Provisioning Services console
 Select the XenApp 5 – Office Servers
collection
 Select Action – Create Device
Within the Create Device window

 Enter in a name: XA5-Office0001
 Enter in a description
 Enter in a MAC Address: This address should
be the same MAC address for the newly
created XenApp virtual server
 Select OK
Select the newly created target device

 Select Action – Properties
23
On the Properties tab
 Select Boot from: vDisk
 Set the Class: XenApp 5 - Office
 Selection vDisks tab
On the vDisks tab

 Select Add
24
 Select the appropriate vDisk: XenApp
Store\XenApp5-Base (Rev 1)
 Select OK
 Select OK
Repeat this process for the remaining XenApp

servers.
Integrate Active Directory

The Provisioning Services target devices must be members of Active Directory in order for domain
accounts to work correctly. Provisioning Services manages the machine accounts/passwords
automatically by following these steps.

 Select the new Target Device
 Select Action – Active Directory – Create
Machine Account
25
In the Create Machine Accounts screen
 Select the correct domain
 Enter in a valid organizational unit in which to
place the new account
 Select Create Account
 When a success is shown, select Close
Implement
As each target device is created, the physical or virtual server can be activated, which will
 Receive a stream from Provisioning Services
 Boot the Operating System
 XenApp farm integration
o If it is the server’s first boot, the XenApp Integration Utility will automatically add the
server into the XenApp farm.
o If it is the server’s second+ boot, the XenApp server will obtain its role within the XenApp
farm from the data store.
26
Phase III: Maintenance
Delivering XenApp servers is one aspect of a complete XenApp solution; however, maintaining the
XenApp servers is the second aspect, which is critical. Being able to keep the XenApp servers in sync
with the latest hot fixes and security patches is paramount to the stability and security of the environment.
This section shows how to modify the base XenApp image and to have all XenApp servers start using the
new image upon next reboot without requiring extensive modifications to the environment. This process
is broken down into the following:
 New vDisk Creation
 New vDisk Modification
 Automatic vDisk Updates
A few environment settings have already been made, including:
 Enable automatic updates on the vDisk and within Provisioning Services
 Setting Class identification on the vDisk and on the target devices
New Virtual Disk Creation

A new vDisk should be created from the current vDisk. This allows for a phased update approach
where the old version is used until a new version is ready for release.

On the Provisioning Services server
 Launch Explorer and navigate to the location of
the base virtual desktop image
 Make a copy of the XenApp5-Base (Rev 1)
image and rename it to XenApp5-Base (Rev 2)
27
 Within the Provisioning Services console, select
vDisk Pool
 Select Properties – Add Existing vDisks
In the Add Existing vDisks screen

 Verify the Store to search is set
 Verify the server to search on is set
 Select Search
 Select the appropriate vDisk
 Select Add
 Select Close
28
 Select the newly added virtual disk
On the Disk Properties screen

 Select Edit File Properties
29
On the vDisk File Properties screen
 Change the Access Mode to Private Image
 Verify the Enable automatic updates for this
vDisk is selected
 Select Ok

 Select the Template target device: XA5-
OfficeBase
30
Within the Target Device Properties screen
 Remove the current vDisk
 Select Add
 Add the new vDisk (Rev2)
31
New vDisk Modification
Using the newly created virtual disk, which is running in private mode, allows changes to be saved into
the virtual disk for propagation to the other target devices. Start the appropriate XenApp server and
make the necessary system changes.
Note: These changes should first be tested in the test environment
vDisk Automatic Update

With the vDisk changes complete, the target devices must be set to utilize the latest image. The
following steps outline the process.
Virtual Disk Modification

 Select Site – SiteName – vDisk Pool
 Select the new vDisk (Rev2)
32
Within the vDisk Properties screen:
On the vDisk File Properties screen

 Verify the Class is set to XenApp 5 – Office
33
 Set the Access Mode: Standard Image
 Select: Enable automatic updates for this
vDisk
 Select Identification tab
 Increment the Build number by 1

 Select OK
34
Virtual Disk Changes Integration
Virtual Disk Changes Integration
 Right-click the Provisioning Services server and
select Check For Updates -> Automatic
 A window will appear informing you that an
update check is occurring. Select OK.
Provisioning Services will look at all target devices
Class field to see if they match the base and updated
vDisks. In situations where they do, Provisioning
Services will change the target device’s assigned
virtual disk to the virtual disk with the greatest build
number.
Upon each target devices next reboot, they will be
utilizing the latest virtual disk image. As new changes
are added to the base build, the steps outlined in this
section should be followed.
35
Revision History
Revision Change Description Updated By Date
0.1 Document created Daniel Feller – Sr. Architect April 8, 2008
1.0 Document finalized Daniel Feller – Sr. Architect April 25, 2008
1.1 Documented updated for Daniel Feller – Sr. Architect April 3, 2009
Provisioning Services 5.0 SP1,
XenServer 5.0 and XenApp 5.0
36
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White Paper

XenServer and XenApp - Better Together

Phase II: System Delivery ......................................................................... 20

Revision History ........................................................................................ 36

Provisioning Services Configuration

Active Directory Integration

Note: Verify that the corresponding Active Directory

On an Active Directory controller, or in the local

Within the Device Collection Properties screen

Setup Provisioning Services vDisk

The Create vDisk window will appear.

Once the wizard completes, the new vDisk will

Within the vDisk Properties window

Note: The Class setting will be used as part of the

Within the vDisk File Properties window

The Private Image mode allows changes to be

Update Server Boot Process

In the virtual machine Properties screen

Virtual Disk Creation

Note: The appropriate bit-level should be selected.

On the Welcome screen

On the Customer Information screen

On the Destination Folder screen

On the Complete screen

On the Reboot screen

When the server restarts, the Provisioning Services

Virtual Disk Creation

Obtain the XenApp Prep Tool from

On the XenAppPrep Welcome screen, select Next

On the License Agreement screen

On the Destination Folder screen

On the Install screen

On the Completion screen

 Launch a command prompt and navigate to:

The tool will prepare the system for cloning, which

With the XenApp server linked to a blank vDisk and

 Launch the Device Image Builder tool from

 After verifying the drives are correct, select

The XenApp server’s system partition will be copied

Within the vDisk Properties window

Within the vDisk File Properties window

Virtual Machine Creation

Virtual Machine Creation

Go through the entire wizard as before and select:

In the virtual machine Properties screen

In the virtual machine Properties screen

 Select the Network tab

To quickly replicate the virtual machine, do the

Provisioning Services Target Device Creation

Within the Create Device window

Select the newly created target device

On the vDisks tab

Repeat this process for the remaining XenApp

Integrate Active Directory

Integrate Active Directory

New Virtual Disk Creation

New Virtual Disk Creation

In the Add Existing vDisks screen

On the Disk Properties screen

Within the Provisioning Services Console

vDisk Automatic Update

Virtual Disk Modification

On the vDisk File Properties screen

 Increment the Build number by 1