2. Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Scott Thompson – Director Consulting Rob Ruzicka – Director Consulting Scott Thompson – Director Consulting Rob Ruzicka – Director Consulting

3. Objective To provide optimization recommendations that will improve overall customer satisfaction –This presentation focuses on: WAN performance of ICA traffic Login process improvements (authentication, policies, profiles, login scripts)

4. Agenda Background Analysis Design & Configuration Testing Summary Questions

5. Background

6. ICA Traffic Port Numbers –Server TCP 1494 and 80 –ClientHigh Port # netstat –a will show listing of ports in use *IMA uses a different set of port numbers

7. ICA Protocol Packet Composition

8. ICA Priority Packet Tagging Virtual channel prioritization Implemented at layer 6 (presentation) Used by 3rd party vendors

9. Logon Process Presentation Server DNS Server AD Domain Controller File Server Initiate ICA session request –XML Request –ICA Connection Query DNS for SRV record Kerberos authentication Load profile Policies applied Logon script executes XMLICA

10. Analysis

11. Analyze before you optimize –What versions of software are being used? ICA Client? Feature Release? –What does the authentication process look like? Where are the Active Directory boxes located? Is the authentication process efficient? –Is DNS responding quickly and correctly? –What policies are being applied to the server? –What policies are being applied to the client? –How is the network designed? What route does the ICA session traffic take? What is the latency of the route? Is QoS implemented?

12. Metrics and Baseline Statistics Latency –LAN <10ms –Wired WANs 100-500ms –Wireless WANs 300-3000ms Bandwidth utilization –70% of capacity is generally considered fully utilized Health statistics –CRC errors –# Frames Dropped –# Broadcasts –# Multicasts Polling intervals –Data collection frequency must allow accurate depiction of traffic patterns

13. Monitoring Tools Windows 2000 Server objects and counters –Citrix resource manager, Microsoft System Monitor, HP Openview, IBM Tivoli, etc.

14. Monitoring Tools Resource manager for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server –Server and user level statistics Network interface card traffic Session level latency –Crystal Reports templates Session history Identify trends Network manager for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server –Integration with HP OpenView, IBM Tivoli NetView, and CA UniCenter

15. Monitoring Tools Citrix Session Monitoring & Control –Software Development Kit (SDK) A component of the Citrix Server SDK API that can be used to write applications that monitor, measure, prioritize and control bandwidth usage by ICA sessions on MetaFrame XP Presentation Servers MetaFrame XP Presentation Server, Feature Release 2 –Citrix SMC Console An out-of-the-box example that can be used for testing, monitoring, and troubleshooting Need C+ compiler to create SMC executable

16. Monitoring Tools

18. Microsoft System Monitor –Access to all Citrix counters Microsoft Network Monitor –Allows view of ICA/IMA traffic flows, windows authentication, etc –Understand impact of switch

19. Monitoring Tools Microsoft Operations Manager –Provides consolidated information via one console Management Packs for W2K, DNS, AD, SQL, HP Servers –MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Management Pack for MOM 2000 Server and user level statistics MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Provider for WMI –For HP Openview, IBM Tivoli, and Microsoft Operations Manager. –Disconnected sessions, session data Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG)

20. Design and Optimizations

21. Design To estimate # of Citrix supportable WAN sessions: –Plan for an average of 20 Kbps per ICA session (Server to Client) –If more bandwidth exists, ICA may use it –This does not include printing Your results will vary; examine scalability white papers or conduct scalability tests for more accurate planning

22. Optimizations Feature Release 2 Features –Bandwidth Efficiencies Bigger TCP window and more buffers Better utilization of maximum packet size Improved data compression Bandwidth requirements dropped by 50% in some cases –Bulk Data Channels Performance increased with client drive mappings, clipboard, and printing Screen traffic remains responsive –Printer Creation No longer serial, improves logon time Feature Release 3 Features –SpeedScreen Browser Acceleration Initially supports MS Outlook v6.0 and IE v5.5 and later Applications published in 16-bit Color Depth or higher Dedicated VC sends images in native format instead of bitmap Dedicated VC frees ThinWire to be more responsive to user input

23. Optimizations MetaFrame XP Presentation Server –Throttle printer bandwidth –Remove unneeded mappings Local drives, printers –IMA Architecture Design Network diagram and traffic analysis are prerequisites Data store to local host cache traffic –Consider data store replication Zones –Eliminate UDP broadcasts Use TCP/IP+HTTP to communicate using Citrix XML Service MetaFrame Secure Access Manager + Presentation Server by default does not rely upon UDP broadcasts

24. Optimizations Citrix ICA Client –Use latest version Updateable through web interface or Auto Client Update Apply consistent client software –Audio Adds 16Kbps (Low) to 1.3Mbps (High) to session –Video resolution and colors Are millions of colors needed for application set? –Client settings Use data compression –Maximum data compression can be set within.ICA file Use disk cache for bitmaps Queue mouse movements and keystrokes –Reduces number of small packets (<64 bytes) sent to server –Discards intermediate mouse packet, uses single larger packet Use SpeedScreen Latency Reduction For High Latency links >500ms consider reducing the maximum TCP packet size

25. Optimizations Windows Server configuration –Network interface cards Manually configure 100Mbps/Full Duplex Review LAN bandwidth needs Teaming is recommended Multi-homing is not recommended –Review network protocols SPX/IPX, SNA, etc. from the client device may no longer be necessary Verify binding order of protocols

26. Optimizations Profiles –Mandatory, roaming, and locally cached –Roaming may cause issues with over-writing –Size impacts login time GPO’s –Reduce cursor blink rate –Adjust MenuShowDelay –Turn Off automated spell check in MS Office –Turn Off animated help wizard –Many others listed in whitepapers Login scripts –WSH can improve speed; security concerns addressed with signing Configure signature verification via server Registry entry Use “Scripting.Signer” object in WSH scripts Authentication process –FSMO, sites, name resolution, and GPO’s –User Authentication delays cause user perception issues –Ensure Terminal Services License Server is identified properly

27. Bandwidth Management Cisco –Network Based Application Recognition (NBAR) Currently not recommended –Requires session sharing to be disabled (user logon would occur every time a user launches a published application) –Only Seamless published applications, not published desktops –Common Queuing Options Custom Queuing has been implemented very successfully New Queuing options: low-latency and class-based WFQ Hardware QoS Devices –Utilize Citrix ICA Priority Packet Tagging –Vendor examples: Sitara, Packeteer, Peribit

28. Testing

29. WAN Testing Procedures –Repeatable steps that allow verification of results Analysis tools Networking equipment –Latency generators –Routers with serial interfaces –Switches Infrastructure equipment –MetaFrame XP Presentation Servers –Client devices (laptops, thin clients, desktops) Equipment should ideally be identical to production.

30. Summary

31. Analyze & understand your environment before optimizing –Plethora of analysis tools available Many design and optimizations available –Keep your environment current –Only a small subset were covered –Provided references have lots of detail! Test the optimizations before implementing

32. References Citrix White Papers –Optimizing Citrix Technology for Operation over Wireless Wide Area NetworksOptimizing Citrix Technology for Operation over Wireless Wide Area Networks –Networking Issues Affecting Citrix MetaFrame EnvironmentsNetworking Issues Affecting Citrix MetaFrame Environments –Citrix ICA Priority Packet TaggingCitrix ICA Priority Packet Tagging –ICA Client Bandwidth AnalysisICA Client Bandwidth Analysis –MetaFrame Advanced Concepts GuideMetaFrame Advanced Concepts Guide Citrix Server SDK 2.2 –Citrix Session Monitoring and ControlCitrix Session Monitoring and Control Whitepaper on SMC and C+ Example Multi Router Traffic Grapher

33. Questions? Thank You!