Upgrade to XenApp 7.

6
7 things you need to know
Daniel Feller (@djfeller)
Lead Architect
October 2014

Number 1
Do I have to upgrade?

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No
XenApp 6.5 still relevant
Many XenApp 7.6 features will benefit XenApp 6.5

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Require multi-zone deployment

XenApp 6.5
Why stay

No immediate OS change requirement

Unable to move to App-V for app streaming
New XenApp 7.6 features improve XenApp 6.5

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XenApp 6.5 users immediately benefit from new features

Breakthrough storage
performance

Help Desk support and

troubleshooting with Director

Enhanced profile
management

Updated HTML 5 and

Chrome Receivers

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Enhanced Lync support

New StoreFront support for

SmartCards and folders

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16

Virtually eliminate
IOPS without
special hardware or
complex
configurations

IOPS per User

14
12
10
8

6
4
2
0

Windows
2008R2
Native Disk
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Windows
2012R2

PVS (Disk Cache)

Windows 7
PVS (RAM Cache)

User Experience

Performance

HDX SuperCodec
Driver-less, hassle-free printing
App-V Integration
Higher frame rates
Instant app access

Built-in WAN optimization

vGPU sharing
Greater single server density
Greater site scalability
HDX Optimized routing

Why Upgrade to 7.6

Security
Content-based security
Strong mobile security
Location aware connectivity

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Management
HDX Seamless Local Apps
AWS Integration
CloudPlatform Integration
User experience network analysis
Single image management
App migration and remediation

Number 2
Why are people making such a big deal with the 6.5 to 7.6 upgrade?

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Farm

Zone

Backup ZDC

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Data Store

Zone

Primary ZDC

Primary ZDC

Backup ZDC

MetaFrame Member Servers

MetaFrame Member Servers

Wasted
resources

What
happens
when ZDC
bottlenecks?
Zone

Backup ZDC

MetaFrame Member Servers

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Potential issues if
elected as ZDC
Data Store

Primary ZDC

Do I need to rearchitect to add

more users?

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Farm

Zone

Primary ZDC

Zone mesh impact

=
Zones(Zones-1)

Backup ZDC

Upgrade/Migration
challenges

MetaFrame Member Servers

Delivery Controller

Resources
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SQL Database

Active
Active

Delivery Controller

SQL Database

Add new controller

to grow
Apps and
Desktops

Resources
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Sizing
simplified

Bridging the knowledge gap

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XenApp 6.5 Terminology

XenApp 7.6 Terminology

Independent Management Architecture (IMA)

Farm
Worker Group
Worker
Data Collector
Delivery Services Console
Data Store
Load Evaluator
Web Interface

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FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA)

Delivery Site
Catalog / Delivery Group
Virtual Delivery Agent
Delivery Controller
Studio / Director
Database
Load Management Policy
Web Interface or StoreFront

Number 3
Does this mean that I have to dismantle my 6.5 environment if I want to go to 7.6?

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NO!
If 6.5 is running perfectly, then leave it alone until you decide to upgrade the OS.
For new apps, start with 7.6 and integrate

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Merge XenApp 6.5 and 7.6 into a single store

StoreFront
or
Web Interface

XenApp 6.5 Farm

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XenApp 7.6 Site

Merge XenApp 6.5 and 7.6 into a single store

Web Interface

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StoreFront

Number 4
Im ready to upgrade to 7.6, what options do I have?

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In-Place Upgrades
7.0, 7.1 & 7.5 to 7.6

StoreFront
XenApp 7.6
7.5 Site
Catalog

Catalog

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Migrate Servers
Same OS (6.5 to 7.6)

StoreFront
XenApp 6.5 Farm
Worker Group

XenApp 7.6 Site

Migrate

Worker Group

Catalog
In-place
upgrade

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Rebuild Servers
New OS (6.5 to 7.6)

StoreFront
XenApp 6.5 Farm
Worker Group

Worker Group

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XenApp 7.6 Site

Migrate

Catalog

Number 5
Three options? Come on Citrix, which approach is best?

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IT DEPENDS
On what you are upgrading

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Upgrade path based on expected outcome

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Goal

Characteristics

Approach

IMA to FMA
(No OS Change)

XenApp 6.5 to 7.6

Windows 2008R2 to 2008R2

Migrate server
1. Migrate farm
2. Install VDA

FMA to FMA
(No OS Change)

XenApp 7.0, 7.1, 7.5 to 7.6

Windows 2012R2 to 2012R2

In-place upgrade
1. Install VDA

IMA to FMA
(With OS Change)

XenApp 6.5 to 7.6

Windows 2008R2 to 2012R2

Rebuild server
1. Migrate farm
2. Check app compat
3. Install OS and apps
4. Install VDA

FMA to FMA
(With OS Change)

XenApp 7.0, 7.1, 7.5 to 7.6

Windows 2008R2 to 2012R2

Rebuild server
1. Check app compat
2. Install OS and apps
3. Install VDA

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Citrix AppDNA: Accelerate Application Compatibility

Focused on
Windows desktop programs
Web-based applications

Typical migration projects

Windows XP to Windows 7 or 8
Windows 2008 to Windows 2012
Web applications moving from IE6 to IE11

How it works:
Peeks inside application and target OS
Reports RAG status of each application Red, Amber, or Green
Produces detailed lists of items that need to be fixed or tested
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AppDNA Report Layout

Before

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After

Package

Validate

Application
Life-Cycle

Patch
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Publish

Retire

Number 6
Technically speaking, how do I perform an upgrade?

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Upgrade process
Step 1
Plan
1.

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Check app
compatibility

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Step 2

Rollout

Update infrastructure
1. License Server
2. StoreFront
3. Delivery Controllers

Step 3

Rollout

Upgrade workers
1. XenApp servers (phased)

Step 4
Migrate users
1. Receiver
2. User groups

Rollout

Web Interface
Merge XenApp 6.5 apps with XenApp 7.6

Configure both farms

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Define user distribution

StoreFront
Merge XenApp 6.5 apps with XenApp 7.6

Configure both farms

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Define app aggregation

XenApp 6.5

Export Tool

Data Collector

XML File

Farm-to-Site
Migration
XenApp 7.6
Delivery Controller

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Import Tool

Migration Tool

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Export

Import-Module .\ExportPolicy.psd1
Import-Module .\ExportXAFarm.psd1
Export-Policy .\MyPolicies.XML -LogFile .\MyPolicies.Log
Export-XAFarm .\MyFarm.XML -LogFile .\MyFarm.Log

Import

Import-Module .\ImportPolicy.psd1
Import-Module .\ImportXAFarm.psd1
Import-Policy .\MyPolicies.XML -LogFile .\MyPolicies.Log
Import-XAFarm .\MyFarm.XML -LogFile .\MyFarm.Log

Review

Review policy filters and ignored policies

Review delivery groups and ignored application list

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PowerShell
In action

Export

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Import

Migration Tool Advanced Concepts

Simulate
Import
Import by
Worker
Groups
Import by
App Folders
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-Preview

MatchWorkerGroup Productivity Apps

DeliveryGroupName Productivity Apps

MatchFolder Productivity Apps

DeliveryGroupName Productivity Apps

XenApp Workers (IMA-to-FMA)

XenApp In-place upgrade utility

Removes XenApp 6.5 worker from farm
Removes XenApp 6.5 software
Installs XenApp 7.6 VDA

XenApp 6.5
Worker

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In-place
Upgrade Utility

XenApp 7.6
Delivery Group

XenApp Workers (FMA-to-FMA)

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User Migration

Phased migration
Add users to new delivery group when ready
Start small and grow

Fast rollback
Do not modify XenApp 6.5 farm
StoreFront will fallback if issue with
XenApp 7.6

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Number 7
How can I make future upgrades even easier?

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Delivery Controller

SQL Database

Get on FMA
Multiple versions, multiple languages
All within a single site
Resources
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Image management
Provisioning Services

One imaging solution for

Image maintenance

Virtual apps and VM hosted apps

Physical and virtual instances
Advanced storage optimization

Develop - Test Production

Automated updates
Instantaneous rollback

VIRTUALIZE

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CENTRALIZE

PROVISION

Some things to help you

7 Things to Remember

1. Do you have to upgrade? No

2. What makes the 6.5 to 7.6 upgrade unique? IMA to FMA
3. Can I integrate 6.5 and 7.6? Yes, with StoreFront or Web Interface
4. What are my options for upgrading? In-place, migrate or rebuild
5. Which option is recommended? It depends
6. Steps to do an upgrade? License, StoreFront, Controller, Worker(s), Users
7. How can I make future upgrades easier? FMA, Provisioning Services and
AppDNA
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Migration guidance for XenApp customers

MOVE
XenApp 4.5, 5 & 6
workloads

PLAN
XenApp 6.5
workloads

ACT
New Deployments
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Migrate to Windows Server 2012R2 and XenApp 7.6

Leverage AppDNA
Greater scale, performance, user experience and operations

No immediate need to move

Extend XenApp 6.5 with 7.6 features like storage performance,
Lync support and integrated helpdesk support & troubleshooting

Start with Windows Server 2012R2 apps through XenApp 7.6

Full feature set including built-in provisioning, image management,
storage optimization, HDX and security

Tools and resources

Only Citrix has the expertise from 20+ years of server migration
Automated Analysis
Assess and remediate inter-app and OS conflicts with
proven AppDNA technology

Recommendations & Best Practices

Best practices documentation, design guides, architectural reviews, how-to
videos in one place www.citrix.com/xenapp/upgrade

Citrix Support Migration Virtual Team Update

Assist organizations planning to migrate from XenApp 6.5 to XenApp 7.6
Program overview & FAQ http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX200219

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Additional Resources

Upgrade: http://www.citrix.com/xenapp/upgrade
Training: http://training.citrix.com
CXA-104-1W: Citrix XenApp 7.6 Overview
CAD-100-1W: Introduction to Citrix AppDNA

Guides

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XenApp Reviewers Guide: http://www.citrix.com/products/xenapp/tech-info.html

XenApp Blueprint: http://www.citrix.com/products/xenapp/tech-info.html
XenApp Design Guide: http://www.citrix.com/products/xendesktop/use-cases.html
XenDesktop 7 Design Handbook: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX139331
eDocs: http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/xenapp-xendesktop-76/xad-xamigrate.html

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Upgrade at your own pace

XenApp 6.5 and XenApp 7.6 can co-exist
Tools supporting upgrades of XenApp and the OS
Current and future upgrades do not require downtime
Upgrade utility is real. It is not a test, a fling or an experiment

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WORK BETTER. LIVE BETTER.

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