Hello all, I am looking for some advice.
I am currently looking at deploying XenDesktop Express 3.0 with our current VMWare 3.5 environment. I already have XenApp 5.0 installed with many users happily clicking away with their published apps. I have read in the documentation that in order to install XenDesktop I have to have my 2 physical VMWare hosts in separate datacenters (one for the DDC and PS) and then the other for the Virtual Desktops.
Is there a way I can get around this? Currently I have 4 servers in a DataCetner but they are acting as a cluster and I am not ready to change anything just for something I want to test.
Any input that you all could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!!!
Hi,
Are you going to perform production installation or just pilot or POC ?
There is no need to implement hosts in separate datacenter but to aviod performance issues you should use dedicated host for virtual desktops.
In my opinion you can install DDC on the same host where XenApp servers are installed but you have to monitor performance counters.
You can install XenServer as a virtual infarctucture for virtual desktops if you want to have separate environment for tests.
Hope this help you
A
CNE, MSCE+S, CCEA 4, CCIA 4, CCEE for Virtualization
PLease visit us on www.citrix24.com
In the last pilot I installed everything on one XenServer host (10 Vitrual Desktops, DDC, XenApp). This configuration was enough for the client to test the functionality. If you want to test provisioning server you have to install PVS on physical machine.
Don't worry about time required to configure XenServer. Installation of XenServer host will take 10 minutes, and after 2-3 hours you should have full test environment completely independent from production.
First off, thank you for the reply, I really appreciate it.
My intention for this is to be a proof of concept so I really don't have a budget to work with. My thought is just to get the infrasturcture running and only spin up a max of 5 virtual desktops. Our cluster can handle it, I just want to make sure there wasn't a technical barrier that was preventing me from doing it. I just states it in the documentation to "ensure they are on separate hosts in separate datacenters" so I didn't know if there is something uber bad that happens when you put everything on one host.
I was also thinking of going the Xen Server route, but I want to at least get a POC before moving on and making it a full blown test. If it isn't going to work for my environment, I don't want to have a ton of time invested.
Thank you for your insight and I would welcome any other feedback.
Chris..
Thanks for your assistance. I was able to get up a DDC and a handful of virtual desktops to pilot with. Thanks for the calrification and help!!!
Hi there, I was looking to set up a similar test. I have some ESX hosts running at the moment and also have a pre-existing PS4.5 Farm, what is the quickest way to get this up and running, I've been struggling with making sense of Admin guide since it only mentions XenServer and amn't quite sure what 'bit's I need.
Is all I have to do create 1 new VM running say windows server, and then install the DDC, can I also run the PvS on the same box? Do I also need to install an instance of XenApp if I want to keep it separate from my current production farm?
Thanks in advance - sorry for all the questions.
Your case sounds very similar to mine. I already have a XenApp 5 Farm sitting on VM Infrastructure. for Xen Desktop, I just setup the basics. I was able to setup 1 VM (2003 Server) as a DDC and then set that up as another "farm" or XenDesktop Farm. I then created a few XP VMs and loaded the XenDesktop software on those XP VMs. Since I already had the workstations created there is no need for a Provisioning server and I was able to create an OU in my current domain with no issues.
You may want to have a test SQL server to point the DDC database at, other than that I was able to tie in my XenDesktop and my XenApp farms together in Web Interface. Right now I am using the 90-day trial of XenDesktop, but I would imagine the XenDesktop Express license will work if you are deploying less than 10 VDI's.
Let me know if this helps at all. I found the setup pretty intuitive.
If you are happy with the answer do not forget mark question as answered.
Regards
The best way for you will be install new VM for DDC on existing ESX and integrate existing XenApp.
Provisioning server should be installed on physical machine and sql database available is required for PVS. If you don't have sql in your env sql 2005 express installation is included on PVS cd.
I have a similar set up - an existing farm, and am considering XenDesktop as well. Although mostly physical, I am wondering do I need to set up a new farm, or should a XenDesktop environment be brought into your existing XenApp infrastructure. I assume for testing purposes, a new farm should be built until the POC is successful.
Also can someone recommend a white paper/installation guide on how to best leverage ESX & Netapp & how to create the desktops themselves? Most of our farm is still operating on physical boxes.
Thanks.
Jim...