Wyse Datacenter Appliance XC for Citrix XenDesktop Deployment Guide Dell Engineering November 2014 A Dell Deployment and Configuration Guide
Revisions Date Description November 2014 Initial release © 2014 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. For more information, contact Dell. Dell, the DELL logo, and the DELL badge are trademarks of Dell Inc. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.
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Contents Revisions ..................................................................................................................................................................................................2 1 Overview ..........................................................................................................................................................................................5 1.1 Purpose of this Document ...................................................................
1 Overview 1.1 Purpose of this Document The document describes the following: 1.2 Configuring Storage containers on Nutanix Prism Installating vCenter Appliance & ESXi Tasks to be performed to Citrix XenDesktop 7.
2 Configuring Nutanix Storage Pool and Containers To use the cluster storage, you must configure a storage pool and containers within the pool. Create only one pool consisting of all the disks in the cluster. Within the storage pool, we recommend creating multiple containers for a logical distinction between the compute and management storage layers. 1. Figure 1 To configure the storage pool and containers, log in to the Nutanix Web Console. From the Home drop-down menu, select Storage.
Figure 3 Creating Storage Pool 3. Provide a name for the pool (for example, SP1) and use all unallocated disk space. Click Save. On the Create Container page, to view additional settings, click the Advanced Settings button.
Hyper-V Hypervisor and SMB Shares SMB shares are used to store the virtual machine disks and settings files. The cluster name is the “host” portion of the SMB share name. If not created during the Nutanix cluster setup, add a DNS entry for this name and point it to the cluster IP address. The container names that you created earlier are used as the share names. The resulting share name will be \\{cluster-name}\{container-name}. For example, \\cluster\ds_mgmt.
3 Installing vCenter Server Appliance The deployment of desktop pools within VMware View requires that an install of the following VMware components is completed successfully: VMware vCenter Server Appliance, VMware View and VMware View Composer as well as an associated SQL server VM. The VMware vCenter VM will be created by using the VMware vCenter Server Appliance.
3. In the OVF deployment wizard, click Browse and select the vCenter Appliance OVF template file, and then click Next. Figure 7 10 Select OVF Template file.
4. Confirm the template details, and then click Next.
5. Assign a name for the vCenter Server Appliance VM, and then click Next.
6. Select a storage location, and then click Next.
7. Select the required disk format, and then click Next.
8. Review the settings and click Finish to deploy. Figure 12 Finish OVF Deployment Wizard 9. The vCenter Appliance deployment will run.
10. After deploying the vCenter Appliance, VM will be displayed listed under the ESXi host on the vSphere Client page. Figure 14 vCenter Appliance 11. Turn on the vCenter Appliance VM, and then click the Console tab to view the on-screen Quick Start Guide.
12. Open a web browser, type the URL indicated in the Quick Start Guide in the address bar, type the user name ‘root’ and password ‘vmware’, and then click Login.
13. Accept the EULA, and then click Next.
14. Click Next to skip the Customer Experience Improvement Program page.
15. If you are using a static IP address, you must close the wizard and set a hostname. In this guide, a static IP Address is used. Click Cancel to close the wizard. Figure 19 Cancel Wizard 16. Click the Network tab, click Address, from the IPv4 Address Type drop-down menu, select Static.
17. Set the hostname and IPv4 address settings. Click Save Settings. Note: The fully qualified domain name format must be used for the host name. Figure 21 Set IPv4 Settings 18. When the network settings are saved, change the URL on the web browser to the static IP address, log in again using the login user name ‘root’ and password ‘vmware’, and then click the Network tab to verify your IPv4 settings.
19. Click the vCenter Server tab and under the Utilities section, click the Setup wizard Launch button to restart the Setup wizard.
20. The Customer Experience Improvement Program window, click Next.
21. Click Set custom configuration, and then click Next.
22. Accept the default database settings, and then click Next.
23. Select the embedded SSO deployment type and type a password for the administrator@vsphere.local user, and then click Next.
24. To configure Active Directory authentication, select the Active Directory Enabled check box, type the domain name to authenticate to, along with an administrative login user name and password for that domain. Click Next.
25. Review the configuration settings, and then click Start.
26. When the setup wizard completes its configuration processes, click Close. Figure 30 vCenter Setup Complete 27. To add the Nutanix configured ESXi hosts to be managed by vCenter, open the vSphere Client to attach to the vCenter Server Appliance, and then click Create a datacenter to add a datacenter and provide a name.
28. Right-click the datacenter and select New Cluster. Figure 32 New Cluster 29. Provide a name to the new cluster. vSphere HA or DRS may be enabled at this point, if required, and then click Next.
30. Configure Enhanced vMotion, if required, and then click Next. Figure 34 Enhanced vMotion 31. Set the VM swapfile policy, if required, and then click Next.
. Review and click Finish to complete the cluster setup.
. Click the newly created cluster, click Add a host, type the ESXi host FQDN or IP address and the ESXi host user name and password in the wizard, and then click Next. Figure 37 Add A Host 34. Review the host summary, and then click Next.
35. Assign a license key, if required, and then click Next. Figure 39 License Key 36. Set the Lockdown mode, if required, and then click Next.
37. Click Finish to add the ESXi host to the cluster. Repeat the process of adding the host for all Nutanix configured ESXi hosts.
3.1 Adding Hosts to vCenter 1. To add the Nutanix configured ESXi hosts to be managed by vCenter, open the vSphere Client to attach to the vCenter Server Appliance, and then click Create a datacenter to add a datacenter and provide name. Figure 42 New Datacenter 2. Right-click the datacenter and select New Cluster.
3. Provide a name to the new cluster. vSphere HA or DRS may be enabled at this point, if required, and then click Next. We recommend to turn these offafter the pools have been deployed, because this feature set consumes a lot of CPU cycles.
4. Configure Enhanced vMotion, if required, and then click Next.
5. Set the VM swapfile policy, if required, and then click Next.
6. Review and click Finish to complete the cluster setup.
7. Click the newly created cluster, click Add a host, type the ESXi host FQDN or IP address and the ESXi host user name and password in the wizard, and then click Next. Figure 48 Add A Host 8. Review the host summary, and then click Next.
9. Assign a license key, if required, and then click Next. Figure 50 License Key 10. Set the Lockdown mode, if required, and then click Next.
11. Click Finish to add the ESXi host to the cluster. Repeat the process of adding the host for all Nutanix configured ESXi hosts.
3.2 Setting up vCenter Networking 1. To add Networking in vCenter, click one of the host servers, click the Configuration tab, click Networking, and then click Add Networking. The vSphere Standard Switch view must be selected. Figure 53 Networking setup 2. Click Virtual Machine connection type to create a Virtual Machine Port Group.
3. Create a standard vSwitch, select the two 10 Gb NICs, and then click Next. Figure 55 Network Access 4. Assign a name for the VDI VLAN that will host user virtual desktops and a VLAN ID, and then click Next.
5. Click Finish to complete.
6. Repeat tasks 1 and 2 to create a second Virtual Machine Port Group to host the Nutanix CVMs and vCenter VMs and use the previously created vSwitch.
7. Assign a name and VLAN ID, and then click Next.
8. Click Add Networking again, click VMKernel connection type for the vMotion network, and then click Next.
9. Select the existing vSwitch, and then click Next.
10. Assign a name and VLAN ID, select Use this port group for vMotion, and then click Next. Figure 62 Connection Settings 11. Assign an IP address, and then click Next.
12. Click Finish to complete. Figure 64 Summary 13. Repeat tasks 8 and 9 to create another VMkernel Port for the Management network. 14. Assign a name and VLAN ID, select Use this port for vMotion and Use this port group for management traffic check boxes, select IP and IPv6 network type, and then click Next.
15. Type an IP address, and then click Next. Figure 66 IP Settings 16. Select the Obtain IPv6 address automatically through Router Advertisement check box, and then click Next. Figure 67 IPv6 Settings 17. Click Finish to complete.
Figure 68 Summary 18. Click Add Networking to create a second switch for the internal CVM traffic, click Virtual Machine connection type, and then click Next.
19. Click Create a vSphere standard switch, deselect any network adapters, and then click Next. Figure 70 Network Access 20. Assign a network label, and then click Next.
21. Click Finish to complete. Figure 72 Summary 22. Click Add Networking again and select a VMkernel connection type.
23. Use the newly created switch, and then click Next. Figure 74 Network Access 24. Assign a network label, and then click Next.
25. Assign an IP address, and then click Next. Figure 76 IP Settings 26. Click Finish to complete.
The completed networking topology must be displayed as shown in the screen shot here.
4 Installing SQL Server SQL Server Installation: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. From the SQL VM, access the SQL setup files (go to file share, copy locally, insert DVD, download,etc.) Run Setup.exe, in the left pane, click Installation, and then select new stand-alone installation. Click OK to continue past the discovery operation. On the Language selection page (if displayed), click Next. On the Product Key page, type PID, and then click Next. Accept license terms, and then click Next.
14. On the DataBase Engine Configuration page, click the Data Directories tab. Change the database, log, and temp locations to the corresponding drives configured during the SQL VM creation. Unless you want to designate specific folders, the existing paths can be retained with only the drive letter being changed (for example “D:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Data”). Click Next. Figure 80 Database Engine Configuration 15.
5 Installing XenDesktop or XenApp 7.5 1. Save the .iso file that contains the installation files. 2. On the Welcome page, click XenDesktop.
3. On the XenApp 7.5 page, click Delivery Controller. Figure 82 XenApp 7.
4. Click I have read, understand, and accept the terms of the license agreement, and then click Next. Figure 83 XenApp 7.
5. Select the check boxes as shown in the screen shot, and then click Next.
6. If you have an SQL server already installed, leave the Install Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express check box clear. Else, select the check box to install an Express version. Figure 85 XenApp 7.
7. Read the information under the Firewall section, and then click Next. Figure 86 XenApp 7.
8. Click Install.
9. After the installation is successfully completed, click Finish.
6 Installing a StoreFront Server 1. Mount XenDesktop 7.5 CD or ISO file and when the CD auto launches, click Citrix Storefront.
2. Accept the agreement and click Next to continue.
3. Click Next to continue.
4. Click Next to continue.
6.1 Configuring Store Front 1. Start Desktop Store Front and on the welcome page, and then click Create a new deployment.
2. Type the URL for server with StoreFront installed. Click Next to continue. Figure 94 Create New Deployment 3. Type a store name, and then click Next to continue.
4. To add a delivery controller, click the Add button.
5. Type the FQDN of the desktop delivery controller and select the protocol used for connections, that is, HTTP OR HTTPS, and then click OK.
6. On the Remote Access page, select None, and then click Next to continue.
7. Click Create to continue, and then click Finish to complete the configuration wizard.
8. Click Stores in the left pane to display configuration details. Select actions to change the configuration, if required.
9. Select Authentication in the left pane, and then click Configure Trusted Domains in the Actions pane.
10. If you want to type domain details, click Add. Figure 102 Configure Trusted Domains Figure 103 Add/Remove Authentication Methods Store Front is now installed and ready to accept connections.
7 Configuring XenDesktop 7.5 Site 1. Start Desktop Studio, and on the Welcome page, click Deliver applications and desktops to your users. Figure 104 Configuring XenApp 7.
2. To create a fully configured, production-ready site, leave the default selection as-is, type an appropriate name of the new site, and then click Next.
3. In the Database section, type appropriate names in the text boxes, and then click Test connection. After making sure that the connection is successfully started, click Next.
4. Click OK.
5. Type information about your licensing server, and then click Connect.
6. Type the address of your hypervisor and valid credentials. Click Next.
7. Type the name of the resources, and then click Next.
8. Select the type of storage on the basis of hypervisor configuration. Click Next.
9. Do not edit the setting under App-V-Publishing. Click Next.
10. Click Finish. Figure 113 Finish Site Setup 11. Verify the installation. You can also click Test Site Configuration to verify the site configuration.
8 Installing Server 2012 and RDSH It is assumed you are familiar with installing Windows Server 2012. The screen shot here shows the last task in installation where you are prompted for a password. After you type credentials, the host is connected to the domain.
1. Log in to the VM as a domain account with permissions to add the required roles. Start the Server Manager application. Click Add roles and features, and then click Next.
2. Click Next.
3. Click Remote Desktop Services installation, and then click Next.
4. Click Standard Deployment, and then click Next.
5. Because you have to install a session-based solution, click Session-based desktop deployment, and click Next.
6. On the Review role Services page, click Next.
7. Click Next.
8. For this deployment, all services are being deployed on a single RDSH host. These roles can be broken out across multiple servers, because it is the best practice in an Enterprise environment. Click Next. Under the Server Pool section, select the local host or a dedicated web access server, and then click Next.
9. Select the session host(s) from the available servers, and then click Next.
10. Select the Restart the destination server automatically if required check box, and then click Next.
When the roles are installed and configured, the server automatically restarts.
9 Installing Citrix VDA on an RDSH Session Host 1. Start the CITRIX Xendesktop 7.5 installation session by using the media. Figure 126 Instal Citrix VDA The Citrix main page is displayed.
2. Click XenDesktop installation, and then click Start.
3. Click Virtual Delivery Agent for Windows.
4. Click Create a Master Image, and then click Next.
5. Click Next to install VDA.
6. In the Controller address box, type the FQDN name of the Desktop Controller that will manage your Delivery group, and then click Next.
7. Select the check boxes as shown in the screen shot here, and then click Next. Figure 132 XenDesktop 7.
8. Click Next.
9. Click Install to continue and complete the installation.
10 Creating a Catalog for RDSH Start the DDC and create a new Catalog.
11. Click Windows Server OS for standardized server, and then click Next.
12. Click Another service or technology.
13. Under Virtual Machines section, click Add VMs, add appropriate VMs, and then click Next.
11 Creating a Session Host Delivery Group Figure 139 Delivery Groups 118 Wyse Datacenter Appliance XC for Citrix XenDesktop
1. In the left pane, click Machines. In the Choose the number of machines for this Delivery Group box, type or select a number to indicate the number of servers you want in the Delivery Group, and then click Next.
2. Click Desktops and Applications, and then click Next.
3. Click Add users, and then add users or groups that have access the delivery group.
4. Click Next, unless you want to customize specific applications.
5. Select the Storefront server(s) you want to use, and then click Next.
6. In the Delivery Group name box, type a unique name for the delivery group, and then click Next.
12 Creating a Catalog for Machine Creation Services 1. Start the DDC and create a new Catalog.
2. Click Windows Desktop OS for standardized server, and then click Next.
3. Click Citrix Citrix Machine Creation Service (MCS).
4. Under the Desktop Experience section, click Yes, create a dedicated virtual machine and save changes on the local disk, and then click Next. Figure 149 Virtual Machines 5. Select the snapshot from the master image you require, and then click Next.
6. Adjust the virtual CPU and memory settings as required for your desktops, specify the number of desktops you want to create, and then click next.
7. Select the OU that you want to use for your desktops. This OU should have your relevant domain GPOs assigned. Figure 152 Machine Catalog Setup 8. Give the catalog a unique name, and then click Finish.
13 Creating a Delivery group for Machine Creation Services (MCS) 1. Select Delivery Groups from the column on the left hand side of the MCS Studio and click Next on the welcome page.
2. Select the number of machines from your catalog that you want to add to this group, and then click Next. Figure 155 Create Delivery Group 3. Click Desktops, and then click Next.
4. Add the user group with permissions to access this desktop pool, and then click Next. Figure 157 Create Delivery Group 5. Select your Storefront server, and then click Next.
6. Give the Desktop group a unique name and click Finish to complete the process. Figure 159 Create Delivery Group 7. After creating pool, right-click the pool on it, and then click Edit.
8. Click Power Management to allow you change the hours that users can connect to their desktops. Figure 161 Edit Delivery Group Note that while access is available via the console, you must update the power settings for the Desktop group using powershell to make sure your VMs remain turned on as per the below set of cmdlet’s. 9. Open powershell, and then load the Citrix Cmdlets by running the following command asnp Citrix* Figure 162 Windows powershell 10.
14 Deploying Virtual Desktop Master Image 14.1 Deploying Virtual Desktop Do the following tasks, if provisioning virtual desktops. 14.2 Setting up Desktop Template (Gold Image) 14.3 Creating Template VM Suggested on the basis of user types used by Dell. NOTE: Solution is provided on the basis of using full clones for persistence (Standard provisioning) and recommended disk format is VMDK. Make sure Master Image is placed in the same container as the Desktop pool for faster deployment.
14.4 Optimizing Desktop OS Make sure you use the Citrix desktop optimization script which can be downloaded from the Citrix website which can be used to optimize desktop settings for a VDI environment including disabling unnecessary services. Windows 8.x Optimization A new feature in Win 8.1 is Automatic Windows Maintenance, which is a feature of the dism tool that checks the system and application for update compatibility and file integrity. By default, the system scheduled task runs at 1 A.M.
