This class is not developed, approved, recommended, or endorsed by Microsoft or Citrix! It was developed by us and specifically designed to tell you what you need to know rather than what the vendor wants you to think. We talk about how the products really work.

This class is actually fun! No pointless, totally boring labs. This class is not about teaching you how to click your mouse in the Presentation Server Console. Instead, it teaches you what you need to know to design, operate, and troubleshoot real world Citrix systems.

Also, since this class is not from a vendor, we can talk about third-party tools that people really use. Citrix is great, but it's not the be-all end-all. We'll look at what real companies are doing to solve their challenges today.

This course is not focused on getting your Citrix or Microsoft certification. Instead, it focuses on what you need to know to design and troubleshoot real Presentation Server implementations. (Of course this class would be a great asset for any CCA, CCEA, or CCIA.)

Class Topics

The major goal of this class focuses on what it takes to design a solid Presentation Server solution. Everything covered is based on real designs from real customers. There are no fake labs that are typically so unrealistic. Some of the topics covered in this class include:

• How Citrix fits into the application delivery space and where they're headed as a company. 
• Next generation Terminal Services and complementary products (Windows Server 2008, , Citrix XenApp 5.0, Citrix project "Parra")
• Future IT architectures through new virtualization, isolation and streaming technologies (Ardence, VDI, bladed PCs, application streaming) 
• Server design (partitions, drives, hardware, blades)
• Network design (zones, data stores, farms, domains, server location)
• License server design (database option, discovery, security)
• Server sizing strategies and application installation
• How to prepare applications before installing them on terminal servers
• Deployment techniques (automated deployment, installation management, WMI)
• Profiles, policies, and home folders
• Printing (which printers should go where, drivers, replication, auto creation, third party products)
• Client devices (thin clients vs. fat, how to evaluate)
• ICA Client software (installation, management)
• Web Portals (Web Interface / NFuse, Citrix Secure Gateway)
• High availability and redundancy (load balancing, clustering)
• 32-bit versus 64-bit -- selecting the right platform
• Performance issues, getting more users on your server
• Backup strategies

Who should take this class?

Make no mistake, this is an advanced class. It's designed for people who already know how to use Citrix and Terminal Server and who want to fill in the gaps in their knowledge. Most of the students are Citrix admins or people who work for consulting companies that offer Citrix consulting services.

How much Citrix do you need to know? That depends. Some people have attended (and liked) our classes even after having used Citrix for years. Other people were newer to Citrix. A lot of happy attendees remember WinFrame.

The bottom line is that we're not going to spend time going over the basics in this class. If you don't know how to publish an application, then this class is not for you.

Why is this class different than others?

This class is taught by a world-class, independent industry experts. There are only four people in the world who teach this class. Your instructor will be Brian, Shawn, Benny, or Jeroen. There is no risk that you'll get some instructor who just came from the train-the-trainer class a week earlier. Brian, Shawn, Benny, and Jeroen are all consultants who design and troubleshoot Citrix for real customers. They are not career trainers. This means that this class is relevant to what's going on in the real world right now.

For the design portion of the class, we'll tackle real design issues. We'll discuss the various solutions in class along with the advantages and disadvantages of each solution. Students leaving this class will have real-world design experience, and they'll know how to tackle the tough problems.

All classes are limited to 16 students, so there is a lot of interaction between the instructor and the students.

Pricing

Pricing varies by location and class type. US classes are USD $2895. The e-Learning DVD is USD $2495.

Class Schedule

This class is five days, Monday-Friday. On Friday, we'll finish up the "formal" coursework by 12:00 so that people can catch afternoon flights home. However, we'll stick around until 5:00 working with anyone who wants to cover any other topics or revisit anything we've covered in the week. We typically order pizza on Friday, and most students leave between 2:00 and 3:00.

Classroom Technology

We have a full Citrix environment set up that we can use during the class. However, we tend to spend most of our time at the whiteboard discuss architecture issues.

Also, since we have Internet access at each location, you can bring your own laptops (although they're not necessary for the class).

Audio Recordings

We use a digital audio recorder to record every single class. We then post MP3 versions of each module to a private website so that students can re-listen to key areas later on. (And no, these MP3's are not available for sale separately.) We also provide online access to the PDF of the training material for our students.

Registration

You can register for these classes via a secure web page (Click the "register" link in the schedule listing at the top of this page to register online). When you register online, you can pay instantly via a credit card, or request that we invoice you. Or, if you prefer, you can register via the telephone by calling Lara Christman at +1 (301) 560-2644.

Group Discounts

If your organization has three or more people who are interested in attending this class, then you are entitled to a $250 discount per student. Email Lara Christman for registration details.

Also, we offer volume discounts on the e-Learning DVD-based version of our training course.

Cancellations

You may cancel your registration for a full refund up to 21 days before the class. Within 20 days, a 50% refund will be applied. You will then receive a 50% credit if you register for an additional class within 6 months. (This essentially means that you can change your registration at any time without a cost penalty.) Additionally, if you are unhappy with the class, please notify me before the afternoon session on the first day, and your tuition will be refunded. I only want satisfied students!

Community

A week before the class, we'll set up an email distribution list for the students of the class. That way, we can discuss details about what you want to get out of the class, products you're using, etc. In fact, the training material is customized for each class. Therefore, if there's something that you want to cover, we'll make sure that it gets covered. We'll also discuss class start times, directions, and any other information you might need.

Thursday Night Happy Hour

On the Thursday night of the class, we'll all go out for dinner and drinks. Those of you traveling with friends or spouses are welcome to bring them along.

About the Instructors

This class is taught by one of three people, recognized throughout the world. All four are Citrix Technology Professionals (CTPs). There are only 18 CTPs in the world.

• Brian Madden is author of several books about these technologies and much of the content of this website. He is the host of BriForum and he speaks at events throughout the world. Brian is a five-time Microsoft MVP. (Read Brian's full bio.)
• Shawn Bass is an independent consultant who's posted over 2,000 posts to the BrianMadden.com forum. He's spoken about Citrix throughout the world, including BriForum 2006, BriForum Europe 2006, and PubForum 2005 Nice. (Read Shawn's full bio.)
• Dr. Bernhard (Benny) Tritsch is widely-recognized IT system architect and market analyst, focused on Microsoft-based computing solutions and technologies. He has written many technical articles and several best-selling books, such as “Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Terminal Services” (Microsoft Press). Benny is a frequent speaker at leading international events and has been a Microsoft MVP every year since 2004 (Read Benny's full bio.)
• Jeroen van de Kamp is the CTO of Login Consultants. He's the creator of the free Flex Profile Kit and the free S4 automation framework. Jeroen is also a Citrix CTP and has spoken at all five BriForums. (Read Jeroen's full bio.)

What past students have said about this class

We've delivered this training class over 50 times since 2004. There are over 600 IT Pros running around who are better at their jobs now. :)

"This has been hands-down the best class I've ever taken in my 20 years in IT"

"Amazing. Simply Amazing."

"It was so cool to finally meet 'The Master' in person. Brian was a great and very funny instructor."

The bottom line

This class is nothing like you've experienced before. It's deep. It's technical. It's taught by world-renowned experts who do NOT work for Citrix. We've delivered this full five-day class more than 50 times since 2004. The feedback forms from the students are consistent: This class rocks!