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David Hart Doug Brown

Out-of-the-Box Tools for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server. David Hart Doug Brown. Senior Systems Engineers Citrix Systems, Inc. Today’s Agenda. Common Administration and Support Issues Out-of-the-Box Tools for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server

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David Hart Doug Brown

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  1. Out-of-the-Box Toolsfor Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server David HartDoug Brown Senior Systems Engineers Citrix Systems, Inc.

  2. Today’s Agenda • Common Administration and Support Issues • Out-of-the-Box Tools for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server • Where to Download and Contact Information

  3. Important Disclaimer! Tools, Scripts and Programs discussed in this presentation are NOTofficial Citrix Systems, Inc. products and are NOTsupported by Citrix technical support They are provided “As-Is”without any implied warranty or guarantee to work in your particular environment

  4. Common Administrationand Support Issues

  5. Streamline Administration and Support of MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Several Out-of-the-Box tools exist to facilitate smooth operation of MetaFrame XP Server Common Administration and Support areas: • Printing Issues • Server Optimizing and Tuning • MetaFrame XP and Data Store Maintenance • Connectivity and Bandwidth • Administration and Help-Desk

  6. Out-of-the Box Toolsfor MetaFrame XP Presentation Server PRINTINGISSUES

  7. Issues Addressed by Out-of-Box Tools Printing Issues • Failed auto-created client printers • Server printer driver replication • Map network print queues by client location

  8. Auto-Create Client Printers Problem… Approximately 9 out of 10 environments suffer from failed auto-created printers In order to auto-create client printers: • Client print driver name must be identical to server print driver name • Corresponding server printer driver must be loaded on server

  9. The Solution? Project Compatibility (PC)! • Enumerates all MetaFrame XP Servers in farm • Presents failed drivers with recommended compatible driver • View, edit and/or remove existing mappings from IMA • View printer drivers installed on selected MetaFrame XP Server • View and/or Edit UPD configuration per server • And much, much, more!!!

  10. System Requirements • PC 3.0 supports installation on MetaFrame XP FR3 servers but monitors all MetaFrame XP versions • PC 2.1 supports installation on MetaFrame XP FR2 servers but monitors all MetaFrame XP versions • MetaFrame XP Farm must be running in Native Mode • Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 required on MetaFrame XP Server where PC 3.0 is installed and run • PC 3.0 administrators need full administration rights to Farm and local admin rights to selected MetaFrame XP servers • Requires Internet access for use with auto database update feature (optional)

  11. Demo Time!

  12. MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Print Driver Replication Problem… Server print driver does not work after replication or network print server import • Newly replicated server print driver appears in MetaFrame XP Management Console • Clicking on print driver locks Management Console for period of time • Microsoft Event Viewer displays an error when users session attempts to Auto Create printer with specific driver

  13. The Solution? Data Store Verify (DSVerify.exe) • Multi-purpose MetaFrame XP Data Store health check and re-indexing tool • Print driver replication occasionally interrupted due to network and/or server communication issues • DSVerify removes erroneous server print driver entries from Data Store Execute from MetaFrame XP Server where installed via Command Prompt: dsverify printers /purge_replications

  14. Automating Assignment of Client Devices to Network Print Queues without Profiles ICA Client Printer Config • Extends ICA clientname-based printer mapping to include network print queues support • Network print queues and client name mapping stored in an independent database • Streamlines printer mapping by client location rather than storing in Windows profile Requirements • MetaFrame XP 1.0 (SP1) on Windows TSE(SP6), 2000(SP2) • Windows Scripting Host 5.6+ • Grant “Session Enumeration“ privilege to users in MMC * Automated discovery of Client Devices in MetaFrame XP Farm

  15. Out-of-the Box Toolsfor MetaFrame XP Presentation Server SERVER OPTIMIZING AND TUNING

  16. Issues Addressed by Out-of-Box Tools Server Optimizing and Tuning • MetaFrame XP Presentation Servers set to optimal performance settings • Registry values with the biggest impact • Server tuning “Best Practices”

  17. How can I set MetaFrame XP Server Registry to Optimal Settings? MetaFrame XP administrator wants to verify registry settings are set to “Best Practices” • What specific tuning can I apply to MetaFrame XP server to improve performance? • MetaFrame XP default installation works fine but would like a snapshot of current registry settings • Manual registry changes consume considerable time and maintenance • What changes are Terminal Services specific and which are MetaFrame XP related?

  18. The Solution? Registry Checker (RC) • Automated tool reads MetaFrame XP registry entries and compares to recommended values • Writes changes to Visual Basic Script to be executed on system (manage versions) • Scripts to propagate additional registry changes to default and current users • Provides detail information as to how registry setting change will affect system

  19. System Requirements • Registry Checker must be installed on a MetaFrame XP 1.0 (FR1-FR3) server with Windows 2000 Terminal Services • Administrators need local admin rights to selected MetaFrame XP Presentation Server • Temporarily disable virus protection on server to allow execution of Visual Basic Script or tag as a benign and valid • WillNOT optimize settings for MetaFrame 1.8 on Windows NT 4.0 Terminal Server

  20. Demo Time!

  21. Out-of-the Box Toolsfor MetaFrame XP Presentation Server METAFRAME XP AND DATA STORE MAINTENANCE

  22. Issues Addressed by Out-of-Box Tools MetaFrame XP and Data Store Maintenance • Data Store consistency check • Remove “Dead” servers still appearing within the MetaFrame XP Farm • SQL Server health check and optimization

  23. Neglecting MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Data Store… Data Store administration and maintenance is often neglected by administrators • How do I perform a consistency check of MetaFrame XP Data Store? • Servers that are removed from the MetaFrame XP Farm still show up in MMC • Is there a way to setup an automated maintenance plan for my SQL Server Data Store • What version of Microsoft Data Access Components (MDAC) are running on my MetaFrame XP servers

  24. The Solution - Part 1? Data Store Validation Utility (DSVerify) DSVerify Database agnostic command line utility that checks consistency of data in portion of Data Store and allows for correction/clean-up • Servers – Verify server host record entries in farm and remove orphaned servers from MMC • Applications– Check consistency of published applications and remove erroneous listing • Printers - Removes all error printer replications from the Data Store • Groups - Verifies that all group objects have valid members

  25. DSVerify Command Line Switches Command Line Executable: dsverify.exe /? [SERVERS|APPS|PRINTERS|GROUPS|FOLDERS] Options and Switches: dsverify servers <ServerName> [Options] (May be left blank-defaults all servers) /Clean - Checks Data Store to correct “host id” errors for the specified server(s) /Force - Specify “/Clean” and servername to delete “Ghost” entry in Data Store dsverify apps [Options] /Verify - Verifies that all published application group objects are valied entries /Clean <PubAppName> - Removes the group object dsverify printers [Options] /purge_replications - Removes erroneous printer replications from Data Store dsverify groups [Options] /Verify - Verifies that all group Data Store objects have valid members /Clean<GroupName> - Removes the group object dsverify folders [Options] /Clean - Corrects Application Set Folder problems in the data store

  26. System Requirements • DSVerify command utility can be run from any MetaFrame XP 1.0 (SP1) • Dsverify only needs to run from single farm server that has a direct connection to the Data Store • Before using “/clean” option always ensure Data Store recently backed up • Administrators need full administration to Farm and local admin rights to selected MetaFrame XP • If cleaning a server in the Data Store is best to perform during “off-peak” maintenance hours • Use in conjunction with “queryhr.exe” or“DBCheck” (FR3) to query Farm servers

  27. The Solution - Part 2? Microsoft SQL Server Optimizing Tools SQL Server Query Analyzer Allows “health check” query and troubleshooting of SQL Server in addition determines MetaFrame XP servers connected to SQL server • Server/Management/Current Activity/Process Info • Determine high utilization due to single connection or IMA service hanging on ODBC request

  28. SQL Query Analyzer Snapshot Ad-Hoc MetaFrame XP Data Store Integrityand Consistency Check“DBCC CHECKDB”

  29. Additional Sample SQL Commands in Query Analyzer Display Processes from MetaFrame XP Servers: Select * from sysprocesses where program_name ='Citrix IMA’ Additional Sample SQL Query Commands: • - SQL Server Activity information • Kill (spid) - Terminates SQL connection on database • sp_helpdb databasename - Shows size information • sp_help- Will list all database objects • sp_helptext sp_name - List stored procedure text • Sp_configure - List and change SQL server settings • Print @@version - Display SQL Service Pack Level • Example SQL version 8.00.760 = SP3

  30. Trace SQL Server Communication… SQL Profiler • Traces SQL Activity • Traces many type of SQL events • Save to file or table • Avoid high CPU load by running on separate machine • One instance of Profiler can create multiple traces • Filters isolate data

  31. Database Integrity Check allocation and structural integrity of user/ system tables and indexes Update Database Statistics Resample distribution statistics of indexes created on user tables to optimize navigation through tables during SQL statements Performs Database Backup Entire database backed up as part of the maintenance tasks Automating SQL Server Data Store Administration… Database Maintenance Plan Wizard

  32. SQL Server Maintenance Plan Setup • Select the database(s) to be included in Maintenance Plan • Reorganize data and index pages to increase performance and reduce search time • Choose specific days & times for each part of a SQL Maintenance Plan via the Schedule section

  33. ODBC Connectivity from MetaFrame XP Server to Data Store with MDAC IMA Service uses ODBC to contact Data Store MDAC Component Checker • Identifies version of MDAC/ODBC in use on MetaFrame XP Server • Identifies version mismatches • Register/unregister COM objects Requirements • Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 and Windows 2003

  34. Out-of-the Box Toolsfor MetaFrame XP Presentation Server CONNECTIVITY AND BANDWIDTH

  35. Issues Addressed by Out-of-Box Tools Connectivity and Bandwidth • Connections to MetaFrame Web Interface over WAN and wWAN • MetaFrame XP communication via Independent Management Architecture (IMA) • Troubleshoot firewall and server port access • Basic network traffic sniffing and tracing

  36. Connecting to MetaFrame Web Interface with Clients over Different Network Types… Can I deploy optimized Web Interface Server regardless of client bandwidth connection? • Deployed Web Interface servers based on remote connection types and would like to consolidate • Would be nice to have the option for user to disable ICA session options for low bandwidth • Most of my workforce mobility clients do not need to map printers or enable audio on the road Mobile Office Branch Home

  37. The Solution? Connection Speed (ConnSpeed) Select Client Connection Speed

  38. ConnSpeed and Web InterfaceSystem Requirements Provides ICA “tuning” for three connection modes associated with variable types of bandwidth/latency • Users without native ICA client can be prompted to install or automatically default to Citrix Java client Requirements • Internet Information Server 5.0 (IIS) or later • Web Interface 2.0 / Web Interface 1.6 with Project Columbia 6.01.37 (Non Java Client fallback) • Administrators need local admin rights to IIS 5.0+ Web Server(s) • Modify text Connection Speed drop down box byediting CHTMLLogin.vbs

  39. Independent Management Architecture (IMA) Tracing and Profiling Citrix Enterprise Tracer • Enable IMA debugging information to log • Troubleshoot IMA install issues • Pinpoint high resource utilization of IMA service • Low level profiling of Local Host Cache and Data Store Requirements • MetaFrame 1.x or MetaFrame XP 1.0 on Windows NT 4.0 / Windows 2000 • Only use for debugging issues since high resource utilization • FTP log if Citrix Technical Support Issue opened

  40. MetaFrame XP Server and Firewall Port Scanning and Troubleshooting… SuperScan • Powerful connect-basedTCP port scanner, pinger and hostname resolver • Attempt connection to servers on network to detail running services • Scan from a range of addresses and ports with logging functionality • Great for troubleshooting IMA(2512), SQL(1433) and Secure Gateway(443) ports Requirements • Windows 98, XP, NT4.0, 2000 and 2003 with TCP/IP Stack

  41. Network protocol analyzer for Unix and Windows with “Promiscuous” support Examine data from a live network or capture file Analyze traces from 3rdparty protocl analyzers (NetMon, LANalyzer, etc.) 407+ protocols supported Refine and save protocol data via display filter Requirements Windows 9x, XP, NT4.0, 2000 and 2003 Need to Determine and Analyze Network Traffic in MetaFrame XP Farm Infrastructure… Ethereal * Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 and 2000 offer limited version of NetMon

  42. Out-of-the Box Toolsfor MetaFrame XP Presentation Server ADMNISITRATION AND HELP-DESK

  43. Issues Addressed by Out-of-Box Tools Administration and Help-Desk • Streamline MetaFrame XP Management Console functions • Facilitate Server Maintenance • MetaFrame XP Farm License Status Thresholds and Alerts • User Shadowing Interface • Un-publish applications • Hide server system drives • Application installs andRegistry calls

  44. Streamline manual tasks outside of MetaFrame Management Console (MMC)… Perform MetaFrame XP administration process via scripting common functions • How can I un-publish all applications from server before downing for scheduled maintenance? • Log available MetaFrame XP connection licenses and indicate when critically low • Enforce logoff of specific published application sessions in idle status after particular time limit • Is it possible to remove hung auto-created printers on servers and restart “Spooler”?

  45. The Solution? MetaFrame COM (MFCOM) • MFCOM script writing to access most MetaFrame XP server monitoring and management functions • Create tools for tasks frequently performed that would take more mouse clicks if done via MMC • 400+ Farm properties and functions exposed • No need to be a “true developer” to write scripts to access MFCOM

  46. Virtual Channel SDK Virtual Channel Apps Processes ICA Client Object Servers Application Session Init Sessions Sample MFCOMObject Relationship Licenses Processes Farm Processes Sessions Virtual Ch WFAPI SDK Accounts Shadowing Zones Servers Citrix Server SDK Overview Server Client MFCOM SDK Client Query Licensing Session Query Zones Session Control Accounts Enumeration App Publishing Virtual Channel

  47. Scripting MFCOM System Requirements • Any COM-compliant tool or language (VB Script, Visual C++, Visual Basic, etc.) • Running VB Scripts requires Windows Scripting Host 5.6 or later • MetaFrame XP 1.0 server (SP1) on Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 • MFCOM runs on MetaFrame XP server as an NT process service - “mfcom.exe” • MFCOM service automatically starts upon server boot and upon connection request • Run VB Script from MetaFrame XP Server(s) unless using “MFReg.exe”

  48. Sample Administration VB Scripts Using MetaFrame COM svrOffline and svrOnline Automate un-publishing of applications before performing maintenance and avoid Load Manager issues • Take MetaFrame XP server "offline" by svrOffline script that un-publishes all applications published from server • Published app names are stored to a text file in a path specified in the command line • Server brought back "online" and applications re-published by the svrOnline script Syntax: cscript svrOffline.vbs <server> <text file path> cscript svrOnline.vbs <server> <text file path>

  49. Demo Time!

  50. Additional VB Scripts Using MFCOM for MetaFrame XP Server pubAppRpt List all published apps and the users/groups assigned to them via command prompt session (Pipe to file via ‘>filename.txt’)cscript pubAppRpt.vbs PrinterCleanup Removes hung auto-created printers and restarts ‘Print Spooler’ cscript PrinterCleanup.vbs [include text file with servers to clean] MFLicenses Report available and “critically low” MetaFrame XP server connection licenses to the ‘Application Log’ in event viewer cscript MFLicenses.vbs AppIdle Enforce specific published application idle session logoffscscript AppIdle.vbs <timeout threshold> <published application> svrSessionCnt Display idle, active and total session counts for specified server cscript svrSessionCnt.vbs <server name>

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