Issue: Some of the citrix VDIs are powered off in vcenter automatically. Logs show that citrix powered off these machines. OR When users try to login to their VDI, it throws an error. Powerstate for all the VDIs in citrix site show as unknown.
Analysis and Solution:
when citrix tries to power on a VDI, it should be brokered through a citrix delivery controller (Lets say DDC1). If this delivery controller has any issue from contacting the vcenter, it will report this VDI state as unknown and power off that VDI.
Booting target device to a vDisk was showing the following error after downloading the bootstrap file: “Server [IP Address]:6930: vDisk file access permission denied.”
Solution1: Open services.msc, goto stream service, check the account that stream service is running on. Add that account that runs the “Stream Service” to the security properties of the .vhd and .pvp files. Retry your PVS vm and check.
Solution2: If you have copied the vhd/vhdx file, remove it and copy it again.
In XenDesktop setup wizard, it guides same as creating catalog, adding number of vms, create ad accounts or not,what will be the new vm name, what is the new vms boot order, PXE or BDM etc etc.. same process as creating catalog. It creates catalog in xd and manages those vms.
In Streamed VM Setup wizard, it just creates multiple vms, and adds them to pvs so that they can be monitored/managed only from pvs console.
Citrix Provisioning supports several write cache destination options. The write cache destination for a vDisk is selected on the General tab, which is available from the vDisk File Properties dialog.
Considerations and requirements:
Consider the impact of using server side persistent write cache. Persistent cache should only be used where unauthorized users have unprivileged access to a machine. Ensure that machines are not shared among users. If you are selecting cache on local hard drive, ensure that the hard-disk drive is formatted with NTFS for Window devices, with a minimum of 500 MB.
To remove any locally stored storefront sites list, go to the following keys and delete your store entries from the list:
HKCUSoftwarecitrixdazzle* HKCUSoftwarecitrixreceiverSR* HKCUSoftwarecitrixreceiverctxaccount* If you have pushed store name and link thorough a policy, run a gpupdate. If not, manually enter site name or run config file from your storefront web link.
We have two ways to update a pvs vDisk. Lets see both of them below:
Process 1 (official):
Right click on a Standard Mode vDisk and choose version and create new version. This will create avhdx and pvp files. You can do this when there are existing connections on the vDisk. Set the update target device to maintenance mode. Boot the target device VM in hypervisor. While booting, it will prompt whether you want to boot into maintenance mode or regualr mode.
PVS vDisk Capture process Complete the following tasks on the master target device you are preparing to capture the image of an operating system:
Create new VM and remove system reserved partition (Goto Remove System Partition while installing OS option given below) Install Hypervisor tools such as Hyper-V, XenServer, or VMware and restart the target device (lets call it base vm). Note: if you want to use “Cache on Hard disk” goto Cache on Hard disk steps first (given below).
XenDesktop 7.x Controller Services There are overall 11 core FMA services in every citrix site. Service Name Executable Logon Account / Startup Type Description Dependencies Citrix AD Identity Service Citrix.ADIdentity.exe NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService Automatic Manages Active Directory Computer Accounts for machines within the xenapp/xendesktop deployment. Workstation Citrix Analytics Citrix.Analytics.exe NT AUTHORITY\NetworkService Automatic Collects analytical data regarding xenapp/xendesktop site configuration to send to citrix for CEIP, if permitted by administrator. None Citrix Broker Service BrokerService.
HDX Double-Hop:
This is formerly known as ICA Pass-Through.
User logs into first storefront store on end point device receiver and initiates connection to desktop or server virtual delivery agent. This Citrix desktop or server virtual delivery agent has receiver installed in it and has second storefront details. When user launches an application from Citrix virtual desktop which is on second storefront, he logs into second storefront server and launches the application.
Session reliability is a XenApp and XenDesktop feature designed to keep sessions active when there is a network interruptions. This is for users who work from unreliable network like a mobile device, with no wifi.
User on wireless device who enters a tunnel may lose connectivity, under normal scenario, session would disconnect and user has to reconnect to his/her session. With session reliability, hdx traffic is encapsulated by CGP, over port 2598.
