Lab 3 - XenDesktop Install

Overview

In this exercise you will use the CLI to deploy a Windows 2012 template image and install backend services for XenDesktop. For the purposes of simplifying the workshop, all key XenDesktop roles (Studio, Delivery Controller, StoreFront, Citrix Licensing) will be installed in a single VM.

As previously discussed, in a production environment these roles would be sepearated on multiple VMs to provide scalbility and high availability. Additionally, you will install the MCS Plugin for AHV on the Delivery Controller VM. This plugin leverages the Citrix Provisioning SDK to allow Citrix Machine Creation Service to deploy and configure VMs running on Nutanix AHV. In a production environment the MCS Plugin would be deployed on each Delivery Controller VM.

Creating the VM (via CLI)

Using an SSH client, execute the following:

> ssh nutanix@<NUTANIX-CLUSTER-IP>
> acli
<acropolis> vm.create XD num_vcpus=4 num_cores_per_vcpu=1 memory=8G
<acropolis> vm.disk_create XD cdrom=true empty=true
<acropolis> vm.disk_create XD clone_from_image=<Windows 2012 Disk Image Name>
<acropolis> vm.nic_create XD network=<Network Name> ip=<XD IP Address>
<acropolis> vm.on XD

Note

When using acli, you can use the Tab key to autocomplete fields. Pressing Tab twice lists available namespaces and values.

In Prism > VM > Table, select the XD VM and click Launch Console.

Complete the Microsoft Out of Box Experience (OOBE) wizard:

  • Select Country, App language, and Keyboard layout, click Next.
  • Review the licensing agreement, click I Accept.
  • Enter a password for the local Administrator account (e.g. nutanix/4u), click Next.

Log in to the XD VM as Administrator.

Enable Nutanix Guest Tools (via CLI)

Using an SSH client, execute the following:

> ssh nutanix@<NUTANIX-CLUSTER-IP>
> ncli vm list | grep XD -B 1
> ncli ngt mount vm-id=<VM-UUID-OUTPUT-FROM-PREVIOUS-COMMAND>

If not installed in the base image, install NGT within the guest console (See Installing Nutanix Guest Tools). Restart XD VM.

> ncli ngt get vm-id=<VM UUID>

When NGT has been successfully enabled, Communcation Link Active will be set to true

> ncli ngt unmount vm-id=<VM UUID>

Preparing XenDesktop VM

In the XD VM console, open PowerShell and execute the following to update the hostname and join the NTNX domain:

PS > Add-Computer -DomainName NTNX.local -NewName XD -Restart

When prompted, provide your NTNX\Administrator credentials and click OK.

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After the VM restarts, log in as NTNX\Administrator.

Note

If not using a fully patched Windows 2012 R2 image, you will need to install Microsoft patch KB2919355 before proceeding with XenDesktop installation (CTX220340).

Installing XenDesktop

Using an SSH client, execute the following:

> ssh nutanix@<NUTANIX-CLUSTER-IP>
> acli
<acropolis> vm.disk_update XD ide.0 clone_from_image=<XD ISO Name>

In the XD VM console, open the XenDesktop Installer and click the Start button to the right of XenDesktop.

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Click Get Started

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Accept the licensing agreement and click Next.

Select all components (Delivery Controller, Studio, Director, License Server, and StoreFront) and click Next.

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Select all features (Microsoft SWL Server 2014 Express, Windows Remote Assistance) and click Next.

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Select Automatically to allow the installer to configure the Windows Firewall service to allow traffic for selected XenDesktop components.

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Review selections and click Install.

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During installation of prerequisites you will be prompted to restart the VM, click Close and allow the VM to restart. After restart, log in as NTNX\Administrator and the installation will continue.

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After installation, select I do not want to connect to Smart Tools or Call Home and click Next.

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Click Finish to complete the installation.

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Installing MCS Plugin for AHV

Copy the NutanixAcropolix-MCS-XD7.9_or_later.msi file to the XD VM.

In the XD VM console, open the installer and click Next.

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Select I accept the terms in the License Agreement and click Next.

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Click Next.

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Click Install.

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Click Finish.

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Configuring XenDesktop Site

In the XD VM console, open Citrix Studio from the Start Menu.

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After launching Citrix Studio for the first time, you’ll be prompted with three different options to configure your newly installed Delivery Controller. Click Deliver applications and desktops to your users.

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Select A fully configured, production-ready Site, specify a Site name and click Next.

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Observe the three separate databases being created and their locations, utilizing the local SQL Express instance we installed. Click Next.

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Select Use the free 30-day trial and click Next.

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Fill out the following fields to configure the connection to your AHV cluster and click Next:

  • Connection Type - Nutanix AHV
  • Connection Address - Refer to your Environment Details Worksheet
  • User Name - admin
  • Password - Refer to your Environment Details Worksheet
  • Connection Name - Specify a friendly name for the connection, such as your Nutanix cluster name
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Specify a name for the network and storage resources for the cluster (e.g. the Nutanix cluster name), and select the IPAM enabled network created during the Cluster Configuration lab. This will be the DHCP pool used by provisioned desktops and XenApp servers.

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The workshop will not explore Citrix’s AppDNA or App-V Publishing features, so both can be left unselected before clicking Next.

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Review selections and click Finish to start site creation.

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Once complete, Studio will indicate that configuration was successful.

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Selecting the PowerShell tab will detail all the steps taken by the Site Creation Wizard.

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Select Citrix StoreFront > Stores and review the configuration.

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Takeaways

  • The Nutanix MCS Plugin provides an integrated and fully supported experience for adding AHV clusters in Citrix Studio.

  • Both Citrix and Nutanix support multiple hypervisors, including AHV, vSphere, Hyper-V, and XenServer. Choice of hypervisor and hardware platform with Nutanix prevents a business from being locked in to a single solution.

  • The acli and ncli tools provide a programmatic interface for infrastructure and VM operations.

    Note

    Nutanix also provides SDKs and fully documented APIs. See developer.nutanix.com for API reference, code samples, and more. You can also find an interactive API Explorer within Prism under the <Username> drop down menu.

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