Question regarding external users connecting to XenDesktop VM's, in the DDI / VDI / Desktop Delivery / Bladed PCs forum on BrianMadden.com

Hi -

We currently are using XenDesktop with ESX 3.5. We have a client with 150 users that are attempting to connect via a MPLS circuit (10Mb). Our internal domain is a private .biz domain but unless we have the clients IT guy create a DNS zone that contains the records needed to connect to our network, they cannot access our XenDesktop VM's. (Hopefully I am explaining this clearly)

Firewall access is setup properly, and my sniffer shows the correct connections are attempting to be made but the DNS mappings are failing. Has anyone seen this and or does anyone know of a way around this? Since the network connection between our company and the clients is setup, I would prefer not to buy a hardware device at this time.

Sorry if this is confusing but if you need more info, please ask.

Thanks in advance,
George

George,

The simple answer is to buy a Citrix Gateway Appliance and go from there, but as you don't want to buy hardware, you're obviously after a different answer. I've heard rumours that the software version of the CAG can do the same job, but haven't seen it or done it myself. Alternatively, you're going to have to have name resolution from the client devices to each of the virtual desktops. As the XenDesktop controller hands out a ticket to the client device with the details of the virtual machine to connect to, you'll need to have name resolution to find the machine listed in the ticket.

(I hope I've understood your question, and that this answer makes sense...)
:)

Good Luck,

Hamish

Hamish,

Thank you for taking the time to answer. Unchecking the "Use XML to resolve FQDN's" in the General section of the Farm properties section did the trick.

Regards,