Original Blogs on BrianMadden.com - Brian Madden

When to use VDI, when to use server-based computing, and how the Citrix Ardence dynamic desktop fits into all this

Server-based computing technology works well for many applications, but not for some that are too complex or too resource intensive. VDI, or Virtual Desktop Infrastructure, can solve a lot of these problems, but it also introduces its own challenges. (For example, how can you store and manage all those disk image files?) Late last year, Citrix bought OS streaming vendor Ardence. They then asked me to write a paper for them that sorts out where VDI can be used, where SBC should be used, and how the Citrix Ardence dynamic desktop fits into all this.

...

Published Mar 14 2007 by Brian Madden , 54,184 views, 22 comments

Understanding the Terminal Server Session Directory

The Session Directory feature built-in to Windows Server 2003 helps users find their disconnected sessions in multi-server pure Windows 2003 environments. This article looks at the Session Directory, how it works, how to configure it, and how you can make it fault-tolerant....

Published Nov 30 2004 by Brian Madden , 52,266 views, 27 comments

The facts about the Citrix Access Gateway, the Generic hardware it's built on, and running it in VMware

There is a lot of (mis)information out there about the Citrix Access Gateway with regards to how it works and whether you can make your own in VMware. In this article I plan to clear up all the uncertainty with real information and real facts, both from the technology legal standpoints....

Published Feb 14 2006 by Brian Madden , 51,997 views, 43 comments

Understanding the new logon throttling load evaluator options in Citrix Presentation Server 4.5

Citrix introduced new "load throttling" rules in Presentation Server 4.5. This article looks at what those rules do and how they work, beginning with the evolution of why they're needed in the first place....

Published May 04 2007 by Brian Madden , 50,136 views, 30 comments

Citrix XenDesktop pricing is out-of-whack (or, The $175 per-user Citrix "Application Tax")

Now that the May 20 release date of Citrix XenDesktop is getting close, it's worth having a conversation about some strange pricing that works out to a $175 per concurrent user (CCU) tax on application publishing.

...

Published May 04 2008 by Brian Madden , 49,889 views, 75 comments

What's the difference between the "ICA client," the "XenApp Plug-in," and the "Citrix Receiver?" A guide to Citrix's client names and variants.

That headline sounds like the setup of a joke.. "Ok, ok, stop me if you've heard this. Three Citrix marketing folks go into a bar and get completely wasted..." Seriously, the article I wrote Friday about the subtlety of Citrix's client...

Published May 19 2009 by Brian Madden , 48,229 views, 5 comments

Citrix MetaFrame and Microsoft Terminal Server Performance Optimization and Tuning

This is it! This 34-page paper takes you step-by-step through the entire Terminal Server / Citrix MetaFrame performance troubleshooting process. This paper is NOT a mere list of registry hacks. Rather, it shows you the approach to take when troubleshooting Terminal Server performance issues, including slow logons, how to add more users to your server, overall slowness and sluggishness, and random server pauses and hangs. ...

Published Aug 21 2003 by Brian Madden , 47,386 views, 31 comments

4 ways Microsoft is screwing the desktop virtualization industry, and why I'm quitting the MVP program

A lot of people have long believed that Microsoft has been screwing us. But after last week's radio show and two fantastic articles from Gabe and Jack, it became clear that Microsoft is doing four very specific and intentional things that are holding...

Published Mar 01 2012 by Brian Madden , 45,583 views, 35 comments

Remote display protocols for VDI: will RDP be enough?

Most VDI solutions today make use of the RDP protocol. But RDP was designed for remoting business apps, which is very different than providing an entire local desktop experience remotely. Can RDP do this? Will it need to be extended like ICA? What about the other protocols and vendors out there, like ALP, SPICE, Net2Display, Calista Technologies, Teradici, and DeskTone?...

Published Nov 05 2007 by Brian Madden , 44,375 views, 43 comments

Flex Profile Kit 4.0 is now available! (And it's still free!)

Jeroen van de Kamp's Flex Profile Kit is hands-down the most useful free utility for Terminal Server and Citrix environments. The all-new version 4 builds upon the previous version and adds many new features....

Published Mar 04 2005 by Brian Madden , 43,857 views, 15 comments

Syndication

Recent Posts

Past Articles

Brian Madden