Make every PC a virtual desktop with Remote PC and FlexCast

Stephan Pfister Conapro GmbH, Zug

stephan.pfister@conapro.net

Jozsef Rozsahegyi Conapro GmbH, Zug

jozsef.rozsahegyi@conapro.net

• XenDesktop FlexCast Technology

• Technical Overview

• Licensing

• FlexCast Integration

• Q&A

Agenda

2

XenDesktop FlexCast Technology

Physical Streamed VDI Hosted

Shared Local

FlexCast: People centric – and use case driven

Windows apps and data

• Highly personalized for users

• Increased user acceptance

• Reduced infrastructure requirements

• ~65% savings in storage

• Centralized management

• Uptime & predictability

Pooled desktop management for dedicated VDI use cases

6

User Profile & Settings

------------- Departmental Applications

------------- User Installed Applications

------------- Local Peripherals

User Profile & Settings

------------- Departmental Applications

------------- User Installed Applications

------------- Local Peripherals

User Profile & Settings

------------- Departmental Applications

------------- User Installed Applications

------------- Local Peripherals

PVD 1 PVD 2 PVD 3

Common Base Image

Operating System

BASE PARENT VM

XenDesktop VDI with Personal vDisk

• 4X-6X density compared to VDI

• Ideal for fixed-task use cases

• Familiar Windows 7 look and feel

Extreme efficiency and scalability

Hosted-Shared desktops

Synchronizer Fast, secure, extensible, client hypervisor

Desktop OS

Preferences

Apps

Data

Local desktops with XenClient Enterprise

Local Execution Centralized Management

Streamed desktops

• Central image for updates/patches

• No data stored on device

• Data theft and loss protection

• Minimize IT visits

• Pristine desktop everytime

Physical with Remote PC

• Secure, mobile access to office-based PCs

• Screaming fast HDX end-to-end

• Eliminate VPNs and Support

• Touchless admin experience

• Citrix Receiver in every App Store

• Total Value of Ownership/ROI

• Simplified on ramp for desktop virtualization

Traditional Remote Desktop Deployment

Edge Appliance Restricted Device Choice

Double Authentication

Slow Performing

Intense Administration

Secure Gateway

Alternative

Protocol VPN

Alternative

Protocol

ICA/HDX

SSL

Solution 1

Solution 2

Often times both

Introducing Remote PC

XenApp

XenApp

Physical

Alternative

Protocol VPN

Remote PC

1. Install XenDesktop Broker 2. Deploy Remote PC VDA 3. Obtain Receiver from App Stores

XenApp

Remote PC

Service

SSL 11010 SSL 1011011010 SSL 1011011010 1011011010 1011011010 1011011 1011101

Cloud Gateway

Live Demo

13

Remote PC Technical Overview

Components – Simple!

• Virtual Desktop Agent (VDA)

○ Windows XP x86/x64 (SP3/SP2)

○ Windows 7 Ult, Pro & Ent SP1 x86/x64

• XenDesktop Controller

○ XenDesktop 5.6

• Web Interface 5.4

○ No enhancements

• CloudGateway/StoreFront Services

• For complete list of requirements see eDocs

○ http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/xendesktop-56fp1/cds-remotepc-sys-reqs.html

Additional Requirements for Laptops

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• Disable the Hibernate feature

• Disable the sleep feature

• Set the close lid action to do nothing

• Set the press the power button action to shut down

• Disable video card enerty saving features

• Disable network interface card energy saving features

• Disable battery saving technologies

N O T E Docking and undocking the laptop is not supported

Microsoft Windows 8 RT

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• XenDesktop 5.6 VDA is not supported on Windows 8

• Installable VDA client from the Excalibur Tech Preview for physical Windows 8 machines

• No support for Tech Previews, but a great way to evaluate the new HDX features coming out

Citrix WDDM Driver v2

• Citrix WDDM version 2 is compatible with Windows 7

○ Does not disable the local WDDM display driver (unlike WDDM v1)

• Results?

○ Physical Adapter is left untouched i.e. no interaction with Citrix Drivers

○ Local experience remains optimal and is not degraded

NEW!

Multi-Monitor Considerations

• No specific changes to support Remote PC ○ Most work done to match XP experience

• Up to 8 monitors supported on client ○ Non Aero only (Win7 Basic/Thinwire)

• Max per monitor resolution ○ 4096 x 4096

• Available system memory is limiting factor ○ Default = 128MB

• Resolution Limit (Aligned Monitors) ○ SUM (color depth * X Res* Y Res)

• Ref: CTX115637 - http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX115637 ○ How to calculate Session memory for non-aligned monitors

Local Smart Card Support

• Supported* for Win 7 clients only (No WinXP)

• Enable: Add the following Registry entry

HKLM\Software\Citrix\SmartCard\EnableHookDynamicSwitchingForConsoleAndRdp

REG_DWORD 1

• Ensure that the Microsoft Smart Card Service is configured to start automatically

on the remote physical PC.

• Reboot the remote PC

* See the latest Remote PC documentation for list of supported Smart Card models

Remote PC Service

Remote PC Architecture

○ Remote PC Access Service

○ RemotePCAccess.ps1

○ RemotePCAccessConfig.xml

XML Configuration

XD Controller

RemotePCAccess PoSH script

Remote PC Access Service

Physical PC

Event Log

AD

PoSH Broker SDK

Broker Service WorkStationAgent Service WCF (80)

Basic Process Flow

Step1 • Remote PC Access Service starts-up automatically

Step2

• Remote PC Access Service reads the configuration file • RemotePCAccessConfig.xml (defines the operation of the service)

• E.G. enable or disable service…

Step3 • Remote PC Access Service loads, validates and runs the PoSH script which in turn creates

catalogs/desktop groups and assigns users to newly added machines …

Licensing

Remote PC Licensing • Existing XenDesktop models apply. No additional license requirement*

• One remote user can connect to an unlimited number of physical office PCs

• Licenses are assigned per standard period (90 days)

User Licensing:

• An unlimited number of remote users can connect to one physical office PC

• Licenses are assigned per standard period (90 days)

Device Licensing:

• A XenDesktop license is consumed when any remote user connects to any physical office PC

• The license is released when the connection terminates

Concurrent Licensing:

* In compliance with Microsoft licensing of Remote Access Technologies

Included in Enterprise and Platinum Editions – VDI Edition must upgrade

MSFT Licensing Questions

26

• What type of licensing do I need from Microsoft for Remote PC?

○ None (SA/VDA) – until you decide to virtualize the OS from the hardware

○ An assigned user is allowed to remotely access their PC without additional license costs:

http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/product-licensing-faq.aspx#tab=2

“Remote Access”

Do I need a VDA license to remotely access my work PC in the office from my home PC?

No. The VDA license is not required for this scenario. If you are primary user of the licensed device,

such as a work PC in the office, you may remotely access that PC from any device. A VDI license is

required when you remotely access a virtual desktop on a server.

• What about combining with XenClient Enterprise or PVS-endpoints?

○ XC-E – unless you plan on virtualizing multiple images, then SA

○ PVS to Endpoints – VDA and VL/SA

**Please contact your Microsoft Rep for official MSFT Licensing guidance