Citrix Xendesktop 7.5 Installation - Components installation

Before we begin the installation , We have the underlying Hypervisor and Vcenter already installed and ready and configured resources required for MCS and PVS machines to be created.

The following link will give information regarding the requirements on installation of XD setup.

http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/xendesktop-7/cds-sys-requirements.html

We have now mounted our Xendesktop 7.5 iso downloaded from Citrix website in our Windows 2012 R2 machine and Started with installation from the CD drive.

Select Xendesktop - Start

The right side option gives us the option to install the components individually , But for now we are selecting the delivery controller option in left.

Accept the license and agreement

Since this is for POC purpose we have selected all components to be installed in a single box.

Select SQL express option to install SQL express instance if the infrastructure isn't huge or for testing purpose.

Leave ports to automatic assignment , We shall also modify the same as per our network requirement. ( incase of DMZ, NATting purpose)

View summary of installation and Install to finish.

Citrix Xendesktop 7.5 Installation - Configuring Desktop delivery controller - Sites

Once the components are installed Open citrix studio and this is how the console appears on initial configuration.

To configure a delivery controller, We need to start with Site configuration.

Select A Fully configured site and Give a site name.

Select the database server and database name, Here we are using local express database and test connection automatically created db after approval

Connect to the license server if already exists , Else use 30 day trial version.

The next step is quite critical as we are integrating our Vmware infra to Citrix Xd.

Provide proper connection type as per hypervisor, full connection address, domain user name and pwd, connection name.

We might hit the following error due to certificates

In that case, Open IE and access Vcenter server URL and Click on certificate Error -> Install certificate.

Select Local machine. 

Select Place all certificates in the following... And browse

Select Show physica stores and Choose Trusted people alone

And finish.

That should clear the vmware certificate error. Next select VMware custer for resources, Network and Storage participating in XD infra.

 Select no for AppV integration.

Finish the configuration after summary for Site creation.

Citrix Xendesktop 7.5 Installation - Configuring Desktop delivery controller - Machine catalogue

Now that we have the site ready , We shall now proceed to machine catalogue, In simple terms to form our machine pools from either MCS ( machine creation services, PVS, Physical servers)

Start with Machine catalogue creation -

Select the type of guest OS used for provisioning.

Select Machine creation services to create machines and Power managed machines as we will be using VMs in VMware ESXi infra.

Select Random or static allocation model of machines to the end users.

Select the master image (VM) from which other machines will be cloned by MCS.

Select Active directory in which machine accounts are planned to be created and machine naming convention.

Provide Machine catalogue name and Finish configuration.

Citrix Xendesktop 7.5 Installation - Configuring Desktop delivery controller - Delivery Groups

Delivery groups are is nothing much the user groups and users accounts to which xd access is yet to be provided.

Start configuration. 

Select the machine catalogue and number of machines needed from the pool.

Selection delivery option if dekstops alone or Apps as well.

Add user groups to whom access is required for XD.

Select storefront configuration. Leave it to default.

Provide Delivery group name and finish.

Citrix Xendesktop 7.5 Installation - Installation of VDA (Virtual Desktop Agent)

Prior Configuring your Desktop delivery controller. Its important to install VDA on all VMs which are used in this infra.

VDA communicates with controller for all actions required in the setup. So every VDA installation must be pointed to a controller, Controller discovery from a agent device shall be done in various methods, Active directory discovery, Manual entry , Allow MCS to find the controller.

We are using the AD based method here, For which we need to register our controller to AD using a Powershell command from every delivery controller server.

Navigate to following path

$Env:ProgramFiles\Citrix\Broker\Service\Setup Scripts

In powershell and run the following script command as per your AD.

\Set-ADControllerDiscovery.ps1 -on -existingOuDn "ou=XD, dc=imlab, dc=com"




This indeed creates a security group in AD with controllers computer account added to it.

Also check the following registry keys in the VMs where VDA has been installed if the controller addresses are reflected

• 32-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \Software\Citrix\VirtualDesktopAgent\ListOfDDCs
• 64-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Wow6432Node\Citrix\VirtualDesktopAgent\ListOfDDCs (REG_SZ).

Once all these are done, Start the VDA installation for specific OS type (Deskop, Server ) from Xendesktop 7.5 ISO.

Select master image in configuration of env.

Select option for HDX 3d 

pro installation or choose no to skip.

Select if Citrix receiver needs to be installed on not

Add delivery controller, Since we are using AD based discovery we have selected that option and selected registered controller.

Select Features, ports and Review to finish the installation.

Citrix Xendesktop 7.5 Installation - StoreFront configuration.

Select StoreFront and Stores and Create store.

Provide Store name and Select the delivery controller.

Select access method in case of VPN access or any firewall in communication.

And Select required domain for authentication.

 Copy the URL created for storefont and use it in the end user desktop from explorer to access storefront

Citrix Xendesktop 7 Installation on Vsphere 5.5

Vmware horizon as a product has evolved and come a long way through since its initial launch , For installation experts this has become a cake walk to design and implement since Vmware has made this product very simple and easy.

Amid few drawbacks it holds on comparison with Citrix Xendesktop,
View is in a lot way a tough competition in the market with simplicity in components and ease of management.

Here is the quick list of components we require for Vmware horizon view infra:

1. View connection server
2. Composer server (along \with Vcenter server)
3. Security server
4. Thinapp Workstation.

And that is all we need to start with the VIEW configuration. But before that, We assume that we have a Vsphere env ready with a Windows Active directory with required OU, Users , Groups and Vcenter server up and running.

Start the VMware Horizon View 6 connection server installer in Windows 2008 R2 server with all hygiene done

Accept the EULA license agreement.

Change the installation path or leave as default.

Choose installation server type from the options from " View standard server, Replica server, Security server"

Note: Transfer server is no more part of view and Local mode VDI is also not available from now on.

Provide the data recovery password and optional password

Provide option to Configure firewall by connection server or select Do not configure if it has already been done manually.

Provide domain administrator account credential

Proceed with installation and finish installation.

VMware Horizon View 6 Composer server installation ( With Vcenter server)

Start the VMware horizon view 6 composer setup.

Accept EULA agreement and provide path for installation,

Provide the ODBC connection link for composer database to proceed with installation,

In our case we have already created a database in SQL server edition installated in Vcenter server

Provide the SQL login user name and password,

Select port for SOAP authentication for Composer as per your infra Or leave rest to default.

Review summary and proceed with installation.

VMware Horizon View 6 Security server installation.

Start Vmware view connection server installer.

Accept the EULA and provide path for installation,

Select View Security server in server type in View connection server wizard

Provide VMware connection server IP address.

We will need to provide pairing password with connection server now, I shall provide information on generating pairing password in later post while configuring connection server wizard.

Provide the security server URL decided for the infra or leave things to default.

Click install to proceed.

And finish.