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Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server
Server and Network Optimization for Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server
Scott Thompson – Director ConsultingRob Ruzicka – Director ConsultingScott Thompson – Director ConsultingRob Ruzicka – Director Consulting
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)
Agenda• Background• Analysis• Design & Configuration• Testing• Summary• Questions
BackgroundBackground
ICA Traffic
• Port Numbers– Server TCP 1494 and 80– Client High Port #
netstat –a will show listing of ports in use*IMA uses a different set of port numbers
ICA Protocol Packet Composition
ICA Priority Packet Tagging• Virtual channel prioritization• Implemented at layer 6 (presentation)• Used by 3rd party vendors
Logon ProcessPresentation 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
AnalysisAnalysis
Analysis• 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?
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
Monitoring Tools
Object: Citrix IMA Networking Object: ICA Session Object: ICA Session
Bytes Sent/sec Input Audio Bandwidth Output Audio Bandwidth
Network Connections Input Clipboard Bandwidth Output Clipboard Bandwidth
Input COM 1 Bandwidth Output COM 1 Bandwidth
Object: Citrix MetaFrame XP Input COM 2 Bandwidth Output COM 2 Bandwidth
Application Enumerations/sec Input COM Bandwidth Output COM Bandwidth
Application Resolution Time (ms) Input Control Channel Bandwidth Output Control Channel Bandwidth
Application Resolutions/sec Input Drive Bandwidth Output Drive Bandwidth
Data Store Connection Failure Input Font Data Bandwidth Output Font Data Bandwidth
DataStore bytes read/sec Input Licensing Bandwidth Output Licensing Bandwidth
DataStore bytes written/sec Input LPT 1 Bandwidth Output LPT 1 Bandwidth
DataStore reads/sec Input LPT 2 Bandwidth Output LPT 2 Bandwidth
DataStore writes/sec Input Management Bandwidth Output Management Bandwidth
Dynamic Store bytes read/sec Input PN Bandwidth Output PN Bandwidth
DynamicStore bytes written/sec Input Printer Bandwidth Output Printer Bandwidth
DynamicStore reads/sec Input Seamless Bandwidth Output Seamless Bandwidth
DynamicStore writes/sec Input Session Bandwidth Output Session Bandwidth
Filtered Application Enumerations/sec Input Session Compression Output Session Compression
LocalHostCache bytes read/sec Input Session Line Speed Output Session Line Speed
LocalHostCache bytes written/sec Input Text Echo Bandwidth Output Text Echo Bandwidth
LocalHostCache reads/sec Input ThinWire Bandwidth Output ThinWire Bandwidth
LocalHostCache writes/sec Input VideoFrame Bandwidth Output VideoFrame Bandwidth
Zone Elections Latency - Last Recorded
Zone Elections Won Latency - Session Average
Latency - Session Deviation
• Windows 2000 Server objects and counters– Citrix resource manager, Microsoft System Monitor, HP
Openview, IBM Tivoli, etc.
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
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
Monitoring Tools
Monitoring Tools
Monitoring Tools• 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
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)
Design and OptimizationsDesign and Optimizations
DesignTo 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
TestingTesting
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.
SummarySummary
Summary• 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
References• Citrix White Papers
– Optimizing Citrix Technology for Operation over Wireless Wide Area Networks
– Networking Issues Affecting Citrix MetaFrame Environments
– Citrix ICA Priority Packet Tagging– ICA Client Bandwidth Analysis– MetaFrame Advanced Concepts Guide
• Citrix Server SDK 2.2– Citrix Session Monitoring and Control
• Whitepaper on SMC and C+ Example
• Multi Router Traffic Grapher
Questions?Questions?Thank You!Thank You!