Citrix GIS Application Migration: Lessons Learned for Developers and Users John Zastrow, Tetra Tech; Chris Jacobson, Forest Service; Jay Frankland, Forest.
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Citrix GIS Application Citrix GIS Application Migration: Migration: Lessons Learned for Lessons Learned for Developers and UsersDevelopers and Users
John Zastrow, Tetra Tech; John Zastrow, Tetra Tech; Chris Jacobson, Forest Service; Chris Jacobson, Forest Service; Jay Frankland, Forest Service; Jay Frankland, Forest Service;
Consolidation Consolidation BackgroundBackground
What is Citrix?What is Citrix? Allows remote users to operate applications Allows remote users to operate applications
installed on a remote computerinstalled on a remote computer Results in applications looking and behaving as Results in applications looking and behaving as
though installed on local machinethough installed on local machine Benefits Benefits
Reduce agency infrastructure and application Reduce agency infrastructure and application support costssupport costs
Increases tools available for many usersIncreases tools available for many users Allows parallel processing through virtual instancesAllows parallel processing through virtual instances
GIS Migration ProjectGIS Migration Project Created process to evaluate and migrate desktop Created process to evaluate and migrate desktop
GIS (and related) tools to central environmentGIS (and related) tools to central environment
Collected tools from broad user base and made them Collected tools from broad user base and made them available to all users available to all users
Processed tools that meet selection criteria and pass Processed tools that meet selection criteria and pass testing for productiontesting for production
Initial GIS SubmissionInitial GIS SubmissionEvaluation Considerations for CentralizationEvaluation Considerations for Centralization
Tool is not more appropriately a desktop resource (e.g. Tool is not more appropriately a desktop resource (e.g. data loggers, GPS utilities)data loggers, GPS utilities)
Tool functions in conjunction with or in support of ArcGIS Tool functions in conjunction with or in support of ArcGIS and/or Geospatial dataand/or Geospatial data
Equivalent functionality is not provided elsewhere in a more Equivalent functionality is not provided elsewhere in a more robust or comprehensive toolrobust or comprehensive tool
A commercial or freeware license could be unequivocally A commercial or freeware license could be unequivocally obtainedobtained
No technical or performance issues preclude installation No technical or performance issues preclude installation (such as occurred with Erdas Imagine and ArcGIS Image (such as occurred with Erdas Imagine and ArcGIS Image Analyst, due to their graphic-intensive nature)Analyst, due to their graphic-intensive nature)
Process ResponsibilitiesProcess Responsibilities
Tool sponsor is involved throughout processTool sponsor is involved throughout process Step 1: GIS Migration team and later the eGIS Step 1: GIS Migration team and later the eGIS
Support teamSupport team Step 2: Independent Tester TeamStep 2: Independent Tester Team Step 3: QA Assurance GroupStep 3: QA Assurance Group Step 4: Change Management BoardStep 4: Change Management Board
There is a process available for requesting There is a process available for requesting servers imaged at PHE available through the servers imaged at PHE available through the Enterprise Operations group for developmentEnterprise Operations group for development
Forest Service Forest Service Centralized GISCentralized GIS
Local Printers and Plotters
Local Site Data CenterFile Server
(EFS)
Oracle and ArcSDE
ArcGIS Server
Oracle Content Database
`
`
Desktop PCs
Citrix Citrix Server Server FarmFarm
EnvironmentsEnvironments
Albuquerque, NMAlbuquerque, NM Development environment (PHE) - testing Development environment (PHE) - testing
and software developersand software developers Pre-production (PRP) - quality assurance Pre-production (PRP) - quality assurance
testing before deployment into productiontesting before deployment into production
Kansas City, MOKansas City, MO Forest Service Enterprise Data Center Forest Service Enterprise Data Center
(FSEDC) production data center (FSEDC) production data center
StatusStatus
All FS regions submitted GIS-related tools All FS regions submitted GIS-related tools 110 unique tools evaluated in Step 1110 unique tools evaluated in Step 1 ~ 50 progressed into testing (ArcGIS 9.2 sp4 ~ 50 progressed into testing (ArcGIS 9.2 sp4
and sp6)and sp6) 10 failed due to compatibility with Citrix itself10 failed due to compatibility with Citrix itself Others suffer a variety of issuesOthers suffer a variety of issues
~ 40 tools in production under 9.2sp6~ 40 tools in production under 9.2sp6 Almost done 9.3 testingAlmost done 9.3 testing
Some tools are replaced by native 9.3 functionsSome tools are replaced by native 9.3 functions 4 previously working tools break under 9.34 previously working tools break under 9.3
Lessons Learned: IssuesLessons Learned: Issues Surprising Few, but Many are Surprising Few, but Many are
BlockingBlocking Application Issues:Application Issues:
HHard coded pathsard coded paths Customizations outside of common environment Customizations outside of common environment
variablesvariables File extension collisions for specialized applicationsFile extension collisions for specialized applications
Packaging Issues:Packaging Issues: Some applications do not support “silent” install Some applications do not support “silent” install
modemode
Lessons Learned: Best Lessons Learned: Best PracticesPractices
Application ConfigurationApplication Configuration
Avoid requirements to read/write from local Avoid requirements to read/write from local path – DO NOT hardcode pathspath – DO NOT hardcode paths
DO NOT hardcode environment variables DO NOT hardcode environment variables (directories, user settings)(directories, user settings)
Reduce space disk usage: limited space on Reduce space disk usage: limited space on profile areas (FS specific issue)profile areas (FS specific issue)
Assume that you cannot access anything on Assume that you cannot access anything on c:\ (except maybe profile space)c:\ (except maybe profile space)
Lessons Learned: Best Lessons Learned: Best PracticesPractices
Packaging for SubmittalPackaging for Submittal
Create .msi installersCreate .msi installers
Have the installer register the extension – loading Have the installer register the extension – loading from files causes problems in Citrixfrom files causes problems in Citrix
Document your application: Document your application:
Dependencies, known issues, service pack requirementsDependencies, known issues, service pack requirements
Create a user guide: helps users and testersCreate a user guide: helps users and testers
Provide sample data (inputs and expected outputs)Provide sample data (inputs and expected outputs)
ContactContact
Chris JacobsonChris Jacobson
ISO Data Center Migration Program,ISO Data Center Migration Program,
GIS Tools/Citrix Team LeaderGIS Tools/Citrix Team Leader
Email: cjacobson@fs.fed.usEmail: cjacobson@fs.fed.us
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