The “Application and Desktop Delivery solutions” diagram has been developed in order to be able to provide a complete overview of the various applications and desktop delivery solutions. This article was written by Ruben Spruijt in order to introduce the highlights of the delivery solutions in 30 minutes.  There are so many delivery solutions that the functionalities can be confused through incomplete knowledge. The point of this article is not to describe all of the application scenarios or the technical advantages or disadvantages, but purely as a high level, vendor dependent overview of the start of technology in the applications and desktop delivery segment. Hopefully this overview will be helpful!

Workplace scenarios

Trusted and Untrusted workplace scenarios . Trusted workplaces are devices that have a network connection to existing IT backed infrastructure via the LAN  or WAN.

Untrusted workplaces are devices that have no secure LAN or WAN connection with the existing IT backed infrastructure. Examples are devices that are active at home, at a stage work station or in connection with security in a separate network segment.

Each organization has various work station and application delivery scenarios.  It is important for the IT department to have insight into the different workstation and delivery scenarios.

This reflects how the users are working with or would want to work with the applications.

Secure Access

Secure Access solutions assure secure access of untrusted devices to corporate IT. The symbol consists of two parts, the shield stands for secure and the stoplight stands for access. The access can also be close linked depending on the chosen secure access solution. Solutions that realize secure access scenarios are, for example, Cisco ASA, Citrix Access Gateway and Juniper SSL VPN.

Web Application Acceleration

Web Application Acceleration solutions assure acceleration and security of web based applications.  Today we all make use of these solutions.  The largest number of the internet applications that we all use, such as Google, MSN, eBay or marketplace, make use of these applications.  Web application acceleration solutions are not only for the large internet organizations, but also for your web applications. Solutions that make web application acceleration and security possible are, for example, Citrix Netscaler and F5.

Desktop broker

The desktop of connection broker determines which remote desktop will be made available to the client. With this it is possible to make available a dedicated or a pool of remote desktops. The automatic turn on, deletion or pausing of remote desktops is a functionality that can be provided by a desktop broker. There are various suppliers of connection brokers. Citrix with XenDesktop, Provision Networks VAS and VMware with VDM are the most well known solutions.  Depending upon the supplier, the connection broker can have additional functions. Functionality such as a web interface that assures secure (SSL) and easy access to the remote desktops, Active Directory integration, USB port redirection and integration with Terminal Services in order to provide access to a Terminal Server or a personal Remote Desktop through rules set by IT.

Application Streaming and Virtualization

With the aid of application streaming and virtualization, windows applications can be used without any changes to the local operating system, let alone that application software is installed on a workstation.  In other words: the application is implemented, saves data and prints as if it is locally present, without anything being changed on the local client.  Sources such as CPU, memory, hard disks and network cards are used for the execution  of this application. Application Streaming and Virtualization assure the availability of applications on desktops, laptops, VDI and Server Based Computing platforms whereby the application is executed on the “client” platform.  No changes are made to the platform.

A number of advantages for Application Virtualization are:  installation, upgrade, roll back and the ease of application support.  Installations of applications is now in the past; conflicts are not longer possible.  It creates a dynamic application delivery infrastructure.

Solutions for Application Streaming and Virtualization are: Microsoft Application Virtualization (App-V), Altiris SVS, VMware ThinApp, InstallFree and Citrix XenApp client side virtualization.

OS Streaming

OS streaming makes it possible that VDI, SBC and desktops start up and work from an image file saved on the network.  A single image can be used by multiple workstations simultaneously.  The advantage is that complete operating systems, including applications and clients can be made available quickly and securely.  The availability of a single image on multiple VDI, SBC and desktops is possible without conflict. Through this, an upgrade or roll back of an OS is possible quickly, easily and without great risks. When virtual desktops make use of OS streaming in a VDI environment, this solution also saves valuable storage and the administration of the virtual desktops is simplified.  Virtual or physical machines that make us of OS streaming thus become “stateless devices”. Citrix Provisioning Server is a solution that makes OS streaming possible.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

VDI, Virtual Desktop infrastructure = “Dedicated Virtual Remote Desktop”

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) is a solution for remote access to Windows XP/Vista or Linux desktops that are implemented on a virtual machine in the data center.  VDI can be a server hosted solution (online computing) or a client side solution (offline computing). This overview describes VDI from the server hosted solution. With this, access to the desktop is not bound to one location or end user device. Each user possesses a unique personal desktop environment. Program execution, data processing and data storage take place centrally on a personal desktop.  The information appears on the client screen via RDP/ICA/VNC/RGS or SPICE. The protocol for the reproduction of the correct information dependant on operating system, bandwidth, application properties and technical or company requirements.  Just as other solutions for desktop delivery, VDI consists of various infrastructure components that assure administration, load balancing, session control and secure access to virtual work stations. Suppliers of complete VDI solutions are VMware and Citrix. Suppliers of Virtual Infrastructure solutions are VMware, Citrix, Parallels and Microsoft.

Bladed workstations

Bladed workstation = “Dedicated  Physical Remote Desktop”

BladePC, a physical professional workstation in a blade enclosure, offers many of the advantages offered by VDI. A BladePC solution consists of hardware as well as software. The hardware consists of a physical professional workstation; the software assures that access to the physical workstation is possible.  The software consists of a minimum of two components: a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter is installed on the BladePC and the receiver on the client desktop, laptop or ThinClient. The BladePC solution offers, in addition to the VDI advantages, even extra advantages such as:

Access to graphic intensive applications: In combination with HP Remote Graphics Software, this solution provides graphic intensive applications just as fast as the end user would expect.  2D, 3D and multimedia applications are executed centrally on the physical BladePC and reproduced locally on the client workstation via the RGS protocol.

Use of resource intensive applications: Resource intensive applications make full use of the resources present on the physical machine. It is a workstation-class centralized workstation. Performance is maximized through this.

Server Based Computing

Server Based Computing (SBC) = “Shared Remote Desktop”

SBC is a solution for access to desktops or loose applications on terminal servers in a data center. Access to the desktop or application is not bound to a location or end user device and program execution and data processing occur centrally on the terminal servers. The data are saved on a fileserver.  The information appears on the client screen via RDP or ICA. SBC consists of various infrastructure components for administration, load balancing, session control and support.  Some advantages of SBC are the rapid and secure availability of applications, low TCO, location and workstation independent application access.  Suppliers of SBC solutions are, for example, Microsoft, Citrix and Provision Networks.

Client Management

Each professional IT organization will make use of a Client Management solution. Client Management provides, for example, OS deployment, patch management, application and client deployment, asset management, integration with service desk and remote control.  Client management solutions are, for example, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), RES Wisdom, Altiris Deployment Solution, LANdesk Client Management and Novel ZENworks.

In conclusion

The solutions that are reproduced in the solutions diagram assure that applications and desktops can be offered in various manners and in an effective and dynamic ways.

What is THE best solution? There are various business needs and technical requirements that together determine which solution is the best one for you.

In order to make the correct choice, it is important to know the pros and cons of the various solutions. Workshops are often held for this purpose. In addition to this form of information provision, there are various technical in depth articles written by Ruben Spruijt.

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From the session description:

As more and more users rely on Citrix/Terminal Services for application delivery, extremely fast login times have become more and more of a necessity. Not only does it enhance the user experience it also creates less resistance for porting applications. Between profile creation, policy processing, folder redirection, antivirus software, and “roaming profiles” login times seem to be increasing! Users expect consistent, reliable, and fast login times regardless of server user load.

Attendees will learn:

• Detailed overview of the user login process.
• Various system settings which dramatically decrease login time.
• How to enable User Environment Debugging to trace user login experience to determine bottlenecks.
• Streamline GPO policy processing time.
• Proper antivirus software configuration and other various filter driver tweaks.
• Various redirector and workstation service settings which enhance performance.
• Understanding of how various disk/profile layouts affect login time.
• How to reduce user profile size.
• Demonstrate efficient methods for creating “roaming” user profiles/settings.
• Recommended methods and techniques for folder redirection including Favorites, My Documents, IE history, cookies, and others.
• Monitoring/Reporting on user login/application experience.

Michael will be updating his session once again for this year's BriForum in Chicago to include multi-threaded logons.  Be sure to check out the session description.

To watch the session click here or on the screen shot below.  You can download the PPT that accompanies the presentation here .

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From the session description:

In this session, Kevin Goodman and Michael Thomason provide an in depth exploration of Citrix Virtual Channels. Included is a comprehensive analysis of the often misunderstood wfshell.exe. As a bonus, the authors will present a fully working virtual channel that can be controlled entirely though scripting. After this session, attendees will be able to write scripts that:

• run when a user logs on or off
• when a user connects or disconnects
• transfer files between the Citrix server and the client and vice versa.
• run applications on the client or collect information on the client based upon events on the server.

To watch the video, click the image below.  To download the supporting files for this session, click here .

If you want to suggest a video for release, check our the session lists from BriForum 2007 Chicago and BriForum 2007 Amsterdam and let me know.

BriForum 2008 Chicago takes place on Navy Pier from June 16-18 and is open for registration right now.

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http://www.citrix.com/site/resources/dynamic/salesdocs/Citrix_Terminal-Services-XenApp-Feature-Analysis(FEB08).pdf

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Brian's video takes a deep look at CPU & DLL optimization in a video entitled "Optimizing you Application's CPU & Memory Performance." While these topics are advanced, Brian shows that you can take control of your environment at a deeper level by using Citrix CPU Utilization Managment and Memory Optimization Management.  You'll probably need a propeller hat for it -- topics covered include in-depth PerfMon analysis, DLL rebasing, and getting the most out of Process Explorer.

My video, entitled "User Environment – Profiles and Group Policy", covers best practices for group policies, folder redirection, and profiles. This video is meant to be a starting point that can be used in most environments, and outlines a framework for a scalable design using out-of-the-box methods. There are also short discussions about Group Policy Preferences (included with Vista SP1 and Windows Server 2008) and Flex Profiles.

These videos (and several others) are available at http://www.citrix.com/techvideos

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Topics:

• Why use Troubleshooting Utilties?
• How do I know when I use them?

Troubleshooting scenarios:

• Main Troubleshooting Utilities
• Case Studies
• Additional Resources

The total presentation has 55 slides, with useful information for every CPS Administrator. The presentation and the video can be downloaded from: http://www.virtuall.nl/knowledge/CSEIT2007CPSTroubleshootingTools.zip

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Expectations

A big concern to me coming into the conference was how Citrix would handle the combination of their purchases into a cohesive story. Last year at iForum and even at the Citrix Summit in January, Citrix failed to capitalize on the opportunity to fully explain what they were going to do with the Ardence technology they purchased.  I expected them to do so here.  I also did not expect them to be really talking about the XenSource purchase much due to the timing.  The purchase had not been completed (that I knew of).  But it was such a big deal (maybe a contrivertial deal?) that they had to address it.

Findings

Obviously they have been very busy in getting it all ready for this show.  The deal officially just closed on Monday, although Citrix knew when it would close well in advance so we are really talking about the last month or so.  Both Ardence and XenSource are clearly front and center in this show.

I think the fast turn-around in what they were to talk about was showning in the opening keynote - it was not as smooth as one normally expects from Mark Templeton. If I tried to put a single theme on it, I might call it "Look at all this great stuff we have that you need, and we know that you need us to make it all work together".  Someday. 

There are a bunch of announcements here (I'm sure Brian will cover), but nothing that I have found earth shattering here.  A session yesterday did announce that a beta of the Delaware version of Presentation Server will be available for testing starting next monday, and the release will be Q2/Q3 next year.  Presentation Server 4.5 will not run on Windows Server 2008 so this release is important.

Mark announced that there are over 4000 people here.  It doesn't feel any bigger than last year to me.  But Citrix is clearly a bigger company that is more than just Presentation Server now.  (Maybe the new colors, which are blue and black, reflect their "going corporate" on us?)  You can feel a different attitude than last year, when they were still the PS guys that also had these other pieces.  They are now an "Application Delivery" company with a lot of neat stuff.  Hey, it beats "Access"!

Thoughts 

Actually, I found that the story and concepts of combining these peices play together better than I thought that they would.  This story, combining different virtualizations

• Display (Presentation Server)
• Application (Application Virtualization and Streaming)
• OS (Ardence, now Provisioning Server)
• Hardware (XenSource)

makes sense when you use different parts (sometimes in combination) for the different needs a company has.  The story is good, however, only if you stay at the high level and don't wory about the details.  And to give them credit, while Citrix talked about combining and managing across the needs rather than a series of pinpoint solutions, they also admitted that they have a lot of work to do in order to make that a reality.

So I am more impressed than I expected.  But here is the challenge for Citrix.  Can they (over time) blend these pinpoint products into a seemless solutions AND yet achieve two other important (to us, not them) goals:

1. Allow for (effective) deployment of individual parts.  We all can't afford the Platinum solution, and yet need to be able to use some of the parts.  This is both a business challenge to Citrix (unbundling) and a technical challenge in productization.
2. Allow for integration with competing solution parts.  Mark talked about how you will be able to choose between the Xen and Viridian Hypervisors which is a great example of this.  But we want to have VMWare on that list.  We also want choices all the way up (and across) the stack of solutions.  Citrix talks a lot about integrating with partners - but it is almost always partnering around the edges of what they offer.  Long term success for Citrix needs to embrace partnering with competing solutions, both outside the edges and inside.

Addendum

In thinking about this post over night, I think that perhaps I did Citrix a little dis-service.  You see, I am a bleeding edge person so I have been looking at the technologies shown in the demos for quite a while.  I am sure that for most of the people in the audience, the Ardence demos were fantastic.  They did a great job on those, and deserve credit for that.  For me, it's just that I've seen those demos for more than a year and a half.

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One of 'mine' public available reference customer is also mentioned in his article. A great article, worth reading!.

http://download.microsoft.com/documents/uk/publicsector/application_deployment_architectures_v10.doc

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http://www.virtuall.nl/articles/applicationanddesktopdelivery/flowchart.jpg

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