Jarian Gibson » Hyper-V

XenDesktop Deployments…Single or Multiple Hypervisor Infrastructure?

Jarian Gibson — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 04:39:16 +0000

While working on a XenDesktop project in a huge VMware shop, I started thinking if a single hypervisor should be used or if multiple hypervisors should be used in XenDesktop deployments. Then I was on a conference call with Scott Lane, Senior Systems Engineer for Citrix in the Great Plains Area and also a co-author on this post, about the same XenDesktop project and we started discussing thoughts on this. A number of factors came to mind like cost of the hypervisor (VMware licenses for the XenDesktop project are adding a nice chunk of change to the cost of the deployment), hypervisor features, etc. In this blog post I am going to talk about things to consider about different hypervisors for XenDesktop deployments.

I often go into shops that already have large VMware infrastructures deployed and talk about XenDesktop. When I’m talking to the customer or potential customer about XenDesktop I always mention that with XenDesktop VDI, Enterprise, or Platinum Editions they will also get XenServer Enterprise Edition. This always gets mixed results. Most think I’m trying to push VMware out the door when I talk about XenServer. This is not the case at all. When I talk about XenServer I am focused on the XenDesktop environment and nothing else in their environment. I tell the customer that you may want to look at XenServer for the provisioned XenDesktop virtual Windows desktops and XenApp servers and then use their existing VMware infrastructure for the XenDesktop infrastructure components. Use XenServer that is included with XenDesktop for your XenDesktop Windows desktop and XenApp server infrastructure and continue to use your VMware infrastructure for everything else.

I also talk about the open architecture of XenDesktop and that they can choose between Citrix XenServer, Microsoft Hyper-V, and VMware vSphere hypervisors for the XenDesktop virtual desktops. I talk about Hyper-V as another option and the benefits of using Hyper-V for the hypervisor in XenDesktop deployments especially when the customer is talking about deploying Windows 7 and Windows 2008 virtual machines in their XenDesktop infrastructure. Some think that having multiple hypervisors is too much to manage or there is a big learning curve. Most customers I have worked with that are strong in virtualization find XenServer pretty easy to learn. With tools like System Center Virtual Machine Manager that can manage ESX/vSphere and Hyper-V from a single console make management of multiple hypervisors easy for multiple hypervisor deployments. When System Center Virtual Machine Manager supports management of XenServer, all three hypervisors will be managed from a single console.

XenDesktop deployments on Citrix XenServer considerations:

Included with XenDesktop, no extra cost for the hypervisor
XenServer redundancy built-in (no management server to deploy)
- CTX122458 – How to Integrate XenServer Redundantly into a XenDesktop Infrastructure
- The Generation V – How XenDesktop recovers from a XenServer failed pool master
XenCenter is easy to use for both server virtualization and desktop administrators
Single vendor to call for technical support
XenServer 5.6 features has made XenServer a more complete product
- Dynamic Memory Control
- Enhanced CPU compatibility for XenMotion
- Enhanced snapshots, including full system state and one-click revert
- Automation for Workload Balancing
- Administrative Delegation, Logging and Audit Reports
XenServer virtual machine tools have to be installed and maintained
XenServer can direct boot VHD files to update XenServer tools and Provisioning Services tools
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX123395 – How to Update Provisioning Server Target Device Software using a Network File Share with XenServer
- The Citrix Blogs – PVS 5.1 Direct VHD Boot using XenServer
New option in XenServer 5.6 to select network boot when building virtual machine template
XenServer has built-in optimizations for XenApp
Citrix Virtual Appliances are released on XenServer first
Having XenServer already in place makes you already prepared for Multi-GPU Passthrough for HDX 3D Pro Graphics and Distributed Virtual Switching (DVS) that are coming in tech preview/private beta soon.
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX125574 - XenServer 5.6 Multi-GPU Passthrough for HDX 3D Pro Graphics
- The Citrix Blogs – Private beta release of XenServer distributed virtual switching (DVS) coming soon!

XenDesktop deployments on Microsoft Hyper-V R2 considerations:

System Center Virtual Machine Manager is needed to manage hosted virtual desktops
Server and Desktop administrators who already use System Center products will already be familiar with the look and feel of System Center Virtual Machine Manager console
System Center Essentials 2010 could be used for smaller XenDesktop deployments (for XenDesktop deployments under 500 seats when supported)
Management server (System Center Virtual Machine Manager or Essentials 2010) can be single point of failure for management of hosted virtual desktops
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008 R2 Edition is free with features like Live Migration, Host Clustering, etc but needs System Center Virtual Machine Manager or Essentials 2010 to manage hosted virtual desktops
System Center Virtual Machine Manager or Essentials 2010 console needs to be installed on XenDesktop Delivery Controllers and Provisioning Servers for management and for use with XenDesktop Setup Wizard
Windows 7 virtual desktops and XenApp servers running on Windows 2008 have integration components built-in to the operating system. No need for 3rd party virtual machine tools to install and maintain.
Hyper-V can direct boot VHD files to update Provisioning Services tools
- The Citrix Blogs – New Way to Upgrade with PVS 5.1 and Hyper-V
Legacy NIC needed for network boot/Provisioning Services and Synthetic NIC for all other traffic
Network boot enabled in virtual machine settings
Windows 7 and Windows 2008 on Hyper-V are better together
Citrix and Microsoft relationship
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX124687 – XenDesktop with Microsoft Hyper-V Design Guide
- The Citrix Blogs – Seven Things I Learned Testing XenDesktop with Hyper-V
- Citrix Essentials for Hyper-V for site recovery/disaster recovery
System Center Virtual Machine Manager for mixed vSphere and Hyper-V deployments with XenServer support coming in the future for a possibly mixed environment of all 3 hypervisors
Having Hyper-V already in place makes you already prepared for RemoteFX and Dynamic Memory that are coming in service pack 1

XenDesktop deployments on VMware vSphere considerations:

Added cost of VMware infrastructure
Has per processor/core licensing (systems that have processors with over 6 cores need Advanced or Enterprise Plus licenses)
- VMware Multi-Core Pricing & Licensing Policy
- VMware vSphere 4 Pricing, Packaging, and Licensing Overview
vSphere/vCenter server is needed to manage virtual desktops
Management server (vSphere/vCenter) can be single point of failure for management of hosted virtual desktops
VMware ESXi is free but needs vSphere/vCenter server/agents to manage hosted virtual desktops
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX124952 – Citrix Statement of Support for VMware ESXi and Citrix XenDesktop
vSphere/vCenter has to be setup to allow HTTP access, default SSL certificate imported (VI 3.5), or SSL certificate needed (vSphere 4) for XenDesktop Delivery Controller access/management and for use with the XenDesktop Setup Wizard
- Jarian Gibson – Using XenDesktop with VMware
- The Citrix Blogs – Secret to getting Virtual Center to use an Enterprise CA SSL certificate
VMware integration issues with Provisioning Services Target Devices – VMXNet3 driver issues with Windows Vista, 7, and 2008
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX125361 – ESX Target Device Fails to Boot
VMware integration issues with XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Agent – Video driver issues with Windows Vista and Windows 7
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX124877 – Unable to Connect to XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Agent on Vista or Windows 7 with WDDM Driver
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX123952 – Unable to Connect to XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Agent on Windows 7 with VMware Tools ESX 4.0 Update 1 – also had to do this when installing XenDesktop Virtual Desktop Agent on Windows 7 or install would fail
VMware virtual machine tools have to be installed and maintained
VMware virtual machine has to be reversed imaged to update virtual machine tools or Provisioning Services tools – Hyper-V or XenServer instance in VMware environment could also do this
Network boot enabled in virtual machine BIOS by editing virtual machine properties to enter BIOS on next boot
Need at least a 1MB disk attached or Target Device will BSOD
- Citrix Knowledge Center Article CTX119739 – Provisioning Server and VMware ESX Interoperability Guide
Most matured hypervisor with largest data center footprint

So as you can see a number of factors come into play when choosing a hypervisor for your XenDesktop infrastructure. Some customers I have worked with have stayed with their current hypervisor and kept a single hypervisor infrastructure all on VMware vSphere. While other customers I have worked with have gone with multiple hypervisor infrastructures having the XenDesktop infrastructure components on VMware vSphere and the virtual desktops on Citrix XenServer. I have even had one customer put everything relating to Citrix on Citrix XenServer and kept the rest of their infrastructure on VMware vSphere. I will be doing an install next month in a pure XenServer environment (They have been running Xen since long before the Citrix acquisition). The demo lab at my office and what we use for workshops is a mix of Citrix XenServer for the virtual appliances and Microsoft Hyper-V R2 for everything else. Microsoft Hyper-V R2 is getting more consideration and interest lately and I expect to start doing more and more XenDesktop deployments on Hyper-V soon.

For XenDesktop deployments do you stick with a single or have multiple hypervisors? Every environment is different and everyone has their own take on this. With the way the economy has been customers are looking at other options instead of paying a premium for what they currently have. Especially since cost for and deployment of a XenDesktop infrastructure are a huge factors these days. Citrix XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V R2 are getting more and more interest and gaining ground every day as the feature sets become more and more comparable with VMware vSphere. With XenDesktop having an open architecture you have options when it comes to the hypervisor. The hypervisor is becoming a commodity anyway, right?

If you have found this article interesting or if you have any other insights, please feel free to leave comments on this article.

Filed under: Hyper-V, VMware, XenDesktop, XenServer Tagged: ESX, Hyper-V, vSphere, XenDesktop, XenServer

Using XenDesktop with Hyper-V

Jarian Gibson — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:06:47 +0000

Recently I have worked with Hyper-V and SCVMM in my lab to get more hands on with Hyper-V R2. I also recently started working with XenDesktop and Hyper-V using the lab manuals I received when I attended Citrix and Microsoft VDI Training back in November. Using XenDesktop with Hyper-V is a pretty straight forward process. In this blog post I am going to go over the process of using XenDesktop with Hyper-V.

XenDesktop Delivery Controller and Hyper-V

Allowing the XenDesktop Delivery Controller (XDDC) to manage virtual desktops on Hyper-V, you need System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) in your environment. You need to install the SCVMM console on your XDDC.

The requirements for the SCVMM console when used with XenDesktop are:

Windows 2003 (XenDesktop limitation)
.Net 2.0 – XDDC install installs .Net 3.5 SP1
Powershell 1.0 or greater

You can install the SCVMM console before or after installing the XDDC. If you install the SCVMM console before installing the XDDC, the XDDC install will automatically install the SCVMM plugin to allow you to choose Microsoft Virtualization for the hosting infrastructure when creating a desktop group.

If you install the SCVMM console after installing the XDDC, the XDDC install will not install the SCVMM plugin and you will not be able to choose Microsoft Virtualization for the hosting infrastructure when creating a desktop group.

To add the SCVMM plugin for the XDDC after the XDDC install, you need to do the following:

Go into Control Panel
Click Add/Remove Programs
Select Citrix Pool Management
Click Change next to Citrix Pool Management
Click Next on Welcome to the Citrix Pool Management Setup Wizard screen
Click Modify on Citrix Pool Management Setup Modify, Repair or Remove installation screen
Change the Microsoft SCVMM Plugin to Will be install on the local hard drive on the Citrix Pool Management Setup Custom Setup Screen and Click Next
Click Install on the Citrix Pool Management Ready to Install screen
Click Finish on the Completing the Citrix Pool Management Setup Wizard
Now you should be able to see Microsoft Virtualization for the hosting infrastructure when creating a desktop group

See the following screenshots to modify the XenDesktop installation for Microsoft virtualization

Provisioning Services, XenDesktop Setup Wizard, and Hyper-V

Allowing the XenDesktop Setup Wizard to communicate with/create desktops on Hyper-V from your Provisioning Servers, you need to also install the SCVMM console on your Provisioning Servers. Your Provisioning Servers can be Windows 2003 or 2008 with Powershell 1.0 or greater (Download and install for Windows 2003 or install as a feature for Windows 2008). Once you have the SCVMM console installed, you can create desktops using the XenDesktop Setup Wizard on your Hyper-V infrastructure.

As you can see, using XenDesktop with Hyper-v is pretty straight forward. A lot easier if you install the SCVMM console before installing the XenDesktop Delivery Controller.

If you have found this article interesting or if you have any other insights, please feel free to leave comments on this article.

Filed under: Hyper-V, Provisioning Services, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, XenDesktop Tagged: Hyper-V, Provisioning Server, Provisioning Services, SCVMM, System Center Virtual Machine Manager, XenDesktop

Have you upgraded to Provisioning Services 5.1 yet? Why Not?

Jarian Gibson — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:53:00 +0000

Provisioning Services 5.1 has been out for awhile now and it amazes me how many people are still running 4.5 or 5.0. Why haven’t they upgraded yet? Do they know about the new features?

New Features

User Assigned vDisks – You can now assign vDisks based on Active Directory or Windows groups.

Auditing – You can now record and review administrative changes to the farm. Find out who did what and when to troubleshoot the Provisioning Services farm. It’s kind of like Configuration Logging in your XenApp farm. This isn’t enabled by default. You have to enable it on your farm.

Standard Mode NIC Teaming – Teaming Intel and Broadcom NICS are now supported.

Read-Only vDisk Storage – You can now have Provisioning Servers share the same LUN from a SAN without the need of shared file system.

Multiple vDisk Partitions – Provisioning Services 5.1 has removed the image builder utility and replaced it with XenConvert. You can now create a multiple partition vDisk very easily using XenConvert.

Offline Database Support – Target devices now have database cache. If the database server goes down, they will continue to run. This is kind of like local host cache in XenApp. This isn’t enabled by default. You have to enable it on your farm.

Offline vDisk Maintenance – You no longer have to reverse image back to a regular disk to update your network drivers. You can now use XenServer, Hyper-V or Virtual server to update your vDisks offline. One thing to note about using Virtual Server to do an offline update is that it doesn’t support multi-core hals. Virtual Server only supports single core hals and can’t boot a multi-core hal VHD. For XenServer offline process see the Citrix blog – PVS 5.1 Direct VHD Boot using XenServer. For the Hyper-V offline process see the Citrix blog – New Way to Upgrade with PVS 5.1 and HyperV. Another cool feature about using Hyper-V for offline maintenace is if you install Hyper-V’s Integration Services you can boot the VHD from both virtual and physical machines. How cool is that?

With all of these new features why haven’t you upgraded yet? It’s definitely worth a look!

If you have found this article interesting or if you have any other insights, please feel free to leave comments on this article.

Posted in Hyper-V, Provisioning Services, XenServer Tagged: Hyper-V, Provisioning Services, XenServer