Citrix GIS Application Migration: Lessons Learned for Developers and Users John Zastrow, Tetra Tech; Chris Jacobson, Forest Service; Jay Frankland, Forest.

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: [email protected]: [email protected]