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 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

Background

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

Analysis

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 SessionBytes Sent/sec Input Audio Bandwidth Output Audio BandwidthNetwork Connections Input Clipboard Bandwidth Output Clipboard Bandwidth

Input COM 1 Bandwidth Output COM 1 BandwidthObject: Citrix MetaFrame XP Input COM 2 Bandwidth Output COM 2 BandwidthApplication Enumerations/sec Input COM Bandwidth Output COM BandwidthApplication Resolution Time (ms) Input Control Channel Bandwidth Output Control Channel BandwidthApplication Resolutions/sec Input Drive Bandwidth Output Drive BandwidthData Store Connection Failure Input Font Data Bandwidth Output Font Data BandwidthDataStore bytes read/sec Input Licensing Bandwidth Output Licensing BandwidthDataStore bytes written/sec Input LPT 1 Bandwidth Output LPT 1 BandwidthDataStore reads/sec Input LPT 2 Bandwidth Output LPT 2 BandwidthDataStore writes/sec Input Management Bandwidth Output Management BandwidthDynamic Store bytes read/sec Input PN Bandwidth Output PN BandwidthDynamicStore bytes written/sec Input Printer Bandwidth Output Printer BandwidthDynamicStore reads/sec Input Seamless Bandwidth Output Seamless BandwidthDynamicStore writes/sec Input Session Bandwidth Output Session BandwidthFiltered Application Enumerations/sec Input Session Compression Output Session CompressionLocalHostCache bytes read/sec Input Session Line Speed Output Session Line SpeedLocalHostCache bytes written/sec Input Text Echo Bandwidth Output Text Echo BandwidthLocalHostCache reads/sec Input ThinWire Bandwidth Output ThinWire BandwidthLocalHostCache writes/sec Input VideoFrame Bandwidth Output VideoFrame BandwidthZone Elections Latency - Last RecordedZone 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 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

Testing

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.

Summary

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?Thank You!