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Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server

Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server. Scott Thompson – Director Consulting Rob Ruzicka – Director Consulting. Objective. To provide optimization recommendations that will improve overall customer satisfaction This presentation focuses on:

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Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server

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  1. Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Scott Thompson – Director Consulting Rob Ruzicka – Director Consulting

  2. Objective • To provide optimization recommendations that will improve overall customer satisfaction • This presentation focuses on: • WAN performance of ICA traffic • Login process improvements (authentication, policies, profiles, login scripts)

  3. Agenda • Background • Analysis • Design & Configuration • Testing • Summary • Questions

  4. Background

  5. ICA Traffic • Port Numbers • Server TCP 1494 and 80 • Client High Port # netstat –a will show listing of ports in use *IMA uses a different set of port numbers

  6. ICA Protocol Packet Composition

  7. ICA Priority Packet Tagging • Virtual channel prioritization • Implemented at layer 6 (presentation) • Used by 3rd party vendors

  8. Logon Process Presentation Server XML ICA DNS Server • Initiate ICA session request • XML Request • ICA Connection • Query DNS for SRV record • Kerberos authentication • Load profile • Policies applied • Logon script executes AD Domain Controller File Server

  9. Analysis

  10. Analysis • Analyze before you optimize • What versions of software are being used? • ICA Client? • Feature Release? • What does the authentication process look like? • Where are the Active Directory boxes located? • Is the authentication process efficient? • Is DNS responding quickly and correctly? • What policies are being applied to the server? • What policies are being applied to the client? • How is the network designed? • What route does the ICA session traffic take? • What is the latency of the route? • Is QoS implemented?

  11. Metrics and Baseline Statistics • Latency • LAN <10ms • Wired WANs 100-500ms • Wireless WANs 300-3000ms • Bandwidth utilization • 70% of capacity is generally considered fully utilized • Health statistics • CRC errors • # Frames Dropped • # Broadcasts • # Multicasts • Polling intervals • Data collection frequency must allow accurate depiction of traffic patterns

  12. Monitoring Tools • Windows 2000 Server objects and counters • Citrix resource manager, Microsoft System Monitor, HP Openview, IBM Tivoli, etc.

  13. Monitoring Tools • Resource manager for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server • Server and user level statistics • Network interface card traffic • Session level latency • Crystal Reports templates • Session history • Identify trends • Network manager for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server • Integration with HP OpenView, IBM Tivoli NetView, and CA UniCenter

  14. Monitoring Tools • Citrix Session Monitoring & Control • Software Development Kit (SDK) • A component of the Citrix Server SDK • API that can be used to write applications that monitor, measure, prioritize and control bandwidth usage by ICA sessions on MetaFrame XP Presentation Servers • MetaFrame XP Presentation Server, Feature Release 2 • Citrix SMC Console • An out-of-the-box example that can be used for testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting • Need C+ compiler to create SMC executable

  15. Monitoring Tools

  16. Monitoring Tools

  17. Monitoring Tools • Microsoft System Monitor • Access to all Citrix counters • Microsoft Network Monitor • Allows view of ICA/IMA traffic flows, windows authentication, etc • Understand impact of switch

  18. Monitoring Tools • Microsoft Operations Manager • Provides consolidated information via one console • Management Packs for W2K, DNS, AD, SQL, HP Servers • MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Management Pack for MOM 2000 • Server and user level statistics • MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Provider for WMI • For HP Openview, IBM Tivoli, and Microsoft Operations Manager. • Disconnected sessions, session data • Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG)

  19. Design and Optimizations

  20. Design To estimate # of Citrix supportable WAN sessions: • Plan for an average of 20 Kbps per ICA session (Server to Client) • If more bandwidth exists, ICA may use it • This does not include printing Your results will vary; examine scalability white papers or conduct scalability tests for more accurate planning

  21. Optimizations • Feature Release 2 Features • Bandwidth Efficiencies • Bigger TCP window and more buffers • Better utilization of maximum packet size • Improved data compression • Bandwidth requirements dropped by 50% in some cases • Bulk Data Channels • Performance increased with client drive mappings, clipboard, and printing • Screen traffic remains responsive • Printer Creation • No longer serial, improves logon time • Feature Release 3 Features • SpeedScreen Browser Acceleration • Initially supports MS Outlook v6.0 and IE v5.5 and later • Applications published in 16-bit Color Depth or higher • Dedicated VC sends images in native format instead of bitmap • Dedicated VC frees ThinWire to be more responsive to user input

  22. Optimizations • MetaFrame XP Presentation Server • Throttle printer bandwidth • Remove unneeded mappings • Local drives, printers • IMA Architecture Design • Network diagram and traffic analysis are prerequisites • Data store to local host cache traffic • Consider data store replication • Zones • Eliminate UDP broadcasts • Use TCP/IP+HTTP to communicate using Citrix XML Service • MetaFrame Secure Access Manager + Presentation Server by default does not rely upon UDP broadcasts

  23. Optimizations • Citrix ICA Client • Use latest version • Updateable through web interface or Auto Client Update • Apply consistent client software • Audio • Adds 16Kbps (Low) to 1.3Mbps (High) to session • Video resolution and colors • Are millions of colors needed for application set? • Client settings • Use data compression • Maximum data compression can be set within .ICA file • Use disk cache for bitmaps • Queue mouse movements and keystrokes • Reduces number of small packets (<64 bytes) sent to server • Discards intermediate mouse packet, uses single larger packet • Use SpeedScreen Latency Reduction • For High Latency links >500ms consider reducing the maximum TCP packet size

  24. Optimizations • Windows Server configuration • Network interface cards • Manually configure 100Mbps/Full Duplex • Review LAN bandwidth needs • Teaming is recommended • Multi-homing is not recommended • Review network protocols • SPX/IPX, SNA, etc. from the client device may no longer be necessary • Verify binding order of protocols

  25. Optimizations • Profiles • Mandatory, roaming, and locally cached • Roaming may cause issues with over-writing • Size impacts login time • GPO’s • Reduce cursor blink rate • Adjust MenuShowDelay • Turn Off automated spell check in MS Office • Turn Off animated help wizard • Many others listed in whitepapers • Login scripts • WSH can improve speed; security concerns addressed with signing • Configure signature verification via server Registry entry • Use “Scripting.Signer” object in WSH scripts • Authentication process • FSMO, sites, name resolution, and GPO’s • User Authentication delays cause user perception issues • Ensure Terminal Services License Server is identified properly

  26. Bandwidth Management • Cisco • Network Based Application Recognition (NBAR) • Currently not recommended • Requires session sharing to be disabled (user logon would occur every time a user launches a published application) • Only Seamless published applications, not published desktops • Common Queuing Options • Custom Queuing has been implemented very successfully • New Queuing options: low-latency and class-based WFQ • Hardware QoS Devices • Utilize Citrix ICA Priority Packet Tagging • Vendor examples: Sitara, Packeteer, Peribit

  27. Testing

  28. WAN Testing • Procedures • Repeatable steps that allow verification of results • Analysis tools • Networking equipment • Latency generators • Routers with serial interfaces • Switches • Infrastructure equipment • MetaFrame XP Presentation Servers • Client devices (laptops, thin clients, desktops) Equipment should ideally be identical to production.

  29. Summary

  30. Summary • Analyze & understand your environment before optimizing • Plethora of analysis tools available • Many design and optimizations available • Keep your environment current • Only a small subset were covered • Provided references have lots of detail! • Test the optimizations before implementing

  31. References • Citrix White Papers • Optimizing Citrix Technology for Operation over Wireless Wide Area Networks • Networking Issues Affecting Citrix MetaFrame Environments • Citrix ICA Priority Packet Tagging • ICA Client Bandwidth Analysis • MetaFrame Advanced Concepts Guide • Citrix Server SDK 2.2 • Citrix Session Monitoring and Control • Whitepaper on SMC and C+ Example • Multi Router Traffic Grapher

  32. Questions? Thank You!

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