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XenDesktop HandbookAn architects guide to desktop virtualization

Version 7.x

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Introduction...............................................3

Methodology.............................................4

Project Plan..............................................5

OverviewQuick Access Links

Project Accelerator

This is the struggle to achieve successwithin your user community

These are the deciding factors of desktop virtualization

as well as other technologies. Click Hereto visit Citrix

Project Acceleratoran interactive online tool creating

customized sizing and design recommendations based on

the methodology, best practices and expert advice identied

within this handbook.

Lack ofJustication

Lack ofMethodology

Lack ofCondence

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Overview Introduction

In traditional business environments, workers suffer from

productivity loss in many ways, including downtime during PC

refreshes, patches and updates, or simply when they are away from

the ofce. Application and desktop virtualization centralizes apps

and desktops in the datacenter, rather than on local devices. Thisallows IT to deliver apps and desktops to users on demand, to any

device, anywhere.

Experience from the eldTake the following response from a desktop virtualization user. As

a remote employee for [company], I struggled every time I needed

to access the companys intranet, which forced me to VPN into

the network. I also kept data on my local device because tryingto access it over my broadband connection was too slow. Some

coworkers did the same and lost data due to a virus, thankfully I was

luckier.

Depending on my mood (and the weather), changing devices and

locations was a challenge as I had to have my applications and

data copied to many different endpoints. I know this was unsecure,

but I didnt care because I was more concerned with exibility.

Since moving to a virtual desktop, Im able to use any device. Im

able to work from any location. And best of all, I dont have to worryabout copying my data and applications onto all of my personal

devices. I paid for these devices; I dont want work to clutter up my

personal space.

Unfortunately, organizations sometimes struggle to achieve this

level of success. Why does one organization succeed while another

organization struggles?

If we compare the factors between success and failure between

desktop virtualization and other technology related projects, we see

that there is little difference:

Lack of justication Without a solid business reason, desktop

virtualization is simply a new way to deliver a desktop. A business

justication gives the project team a goal to strive towards.

Lack of a methodology Many people who try and struggle to

deploy a desktop virtualization solution do so because they jump

right in without understanding or implementing the appropriate

prerequisites. A structured methodology provides the path for the

project.

Lack of experience For many who embark on a desktop

virtualization project, there is a lack of experience, which creates a

lack of condence in the design. Architects begin to second-guess

themselves and the project stalls.

Our hope is that this handbook can alleviate the anxiety associated

with desktop virtualization by showing how challenges can be

resolved in a manner that is technically sound, but also feasible and

effective for organizations facing deadlines and other organizational

challenges.

Citrix Consulting has successfully employed the methodology,

experience and best practices shared within this handbook across

thousands of desktop virtualization projects.

The Citrix Virtual Desktop 5.xand Virtual Desktop 7.x handbooks are

not the only resource to guide you through the desktop virtualizationjourney. Citrix also provides Project Accelerator; an interactive

online tool creating customized sizing and design recommendations

based on the methodology, best practices and expert advice

identied within this handbook.

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MethodologyThe Citrix Virtual Desktop Handbook follows the CitrixConsulting methodology. A proven methodology that has been

successfully employed across thousands of desktop virtualization

projects. Each phase includes guidance on the important questions

to ask, what tools to use and tips to help you succeed. The Citrix

Consulting methodology consists of ve phases:

Dene Builds the business case for desktop virtualization by

creating a high-level project roadmap, prioritizing activities and

estimating storage and hardware requirements.

Assess Key business drivers are rated so that work effort canbe prioritized accordingly. In addition, the current environment is

reviewed for potential problems and to identify use cases for the

project. This information will be used to set the direction of the Citrix

deployment, upgrade, or expansion.

Design Dene architecture required to satisfy key business

drivers and success criteria identied during the assess phase.

Topics such as environment scalability, redundancy and high

availability are addressed.

Deploy During the deploy phase,

FlexCast Infrastructure is installed and

congured as described in thedesign

phase. All components of the infrastructure

should be thoroughly unit and regression

tested before users are provided with access to the

environment.

Monitor Dene architectural and operational processes required

to maintain the production environment.

The Citrix Consulting methodology follows an iterative Assess >

Design > Deploy process for each major initiative of your project.

In doing so, your organization is left with tangible improvements tothe environment at the end of each engagement. For example, high

priority user groups can progress through the assess, design and

deploy phases earlier than other user groups

Note: The Virtual Desktop Handbook provides content on the

Assess and Design phases of the Citrix Consulting methodology.

Additional phases will be released soon

1DEFINE 2 ASSESS 5MONITOR

4DEPLOY

3DESIGN

ProjectAcceleratorClick Here

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Overview Project Plan

A detailed, up-to-date project plan is vital to the success of

the project. The project manager should use the project plan

to monitor costs, manage project staff, follow progress against

milestones and track key dependencies such as hardware, storage,

training, licenses and certicates so that they can be addressedbefore they can become bottlenecks. The project plan should be

regularly distributed between project team members to ensure that

everybody is aware of progress as well as remaining tasks.

At the start of the project, only plan for the Assess phase. You wont

be able to plan for the Design or Deploy phases yet because youll

need a better understanding of the FlexCast models, capabilities,

user groups and applications required. After the roadmap stage,

update the project plan to include separate design and deploy

activities for each user group identied, ordered by priority. This will

help to ensure that the business receives maximum value from their

investment as soon as possible and allow infrastructure to be built

out in manageable IT projects that minimize risk and maximize the

chance for project success.

A sample project plan, created in Microsoft Project 2010 format,

accompanies this document. A high-level overview is shown below:

Note: Some of the tasks in the project plan template have been schedule