Citrix Virtual Classroom. Virtual desktops made easy with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box. Self-paced exercise guide

Transcription

1 Virtual desktops made easy with Citrix VDI-in-a-Box Self-paced exercise guide

2 Table of Contents Table of Contents... 2 Overview... 2 How to log into the lab environment... Error! Bookmark not defined. Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box... 6 Exercise 2: Importing Images Exercise 3: Editing the Draft Image Exercise 4: Preparing and Testing the Image Exercise 5: Creating Templates Exercise 6: Assigning Templates to Users and Groups Exercise 7: Connecting To Desktops Overview Citrix VDI-in-a-Box is an easy, affordable, all-in-one desktop virtualization solution that makes the benefits of desktop virtualization available to every business. VDI-in-a-Box eliminates over 60 percent of traditional VDI infrastructure including management servers and shared storage (SANs) by creating a Page 2

3 grid of off-the-shelf servers using local storage. The solution enables Windows administrators to rapidly deliver centrally-managed virtual desktops to any user, on any device with the same rich high-definition end-user Citrix experience Virtual as our enterprise Classroom class XenDesktop. In this lab, you will learn how to configure VDI-in-a-Box, import a Windows image, install the Desktop Agent, and prepare the image for deployment to users. You will also walk through how to test and save the image and create templates. Hands-on Training Module This training module has the following details: Objective Provide hands-on experience with configuring the VDI-in-a-Box appliance and creating virtual desktops Audience Primary: Citrix Partners and System Administrators Lab Environment Details This section is used to describe the lab environment and the virtual machines that are used VM Name IP Address Description AD.training.lab Windows Server 2008 R2. Domain controller for training.lab, DNS, DHCP services, and license server. vdimanager_xen_v5_1_ VDI-in-a-Box virtual appliance (DHCP reservation) Win7Import DHCP Windows 7 Golden Image for importing into VDIin-a-Box Win7Client Windows 7 Desktop to use as an endpoint device for administrating VDI-in-a-Box and connecting to desktops. NOTE: This is a shared lab environment image and not all virtual machines will be used. NOTE: If prompted with a dialog to restart on any virtual machine, always select Restart Later. Required Lab Credentials Below are the login credentials required to connect to the workshop system and complete the lab exercises. Page 3

4 Domain/Machine Username Password Description Training.lab Administrator Citrix123 Domain Administrator Training.lab Vdiread Citrix123 Account for syncing with AD Local Administrator citrix Local Admin account for editing images Training.lab Vdiuser Citrix123 Account for logging into a VDI desktop Local Vdiadmin kaviza Account for logging into ViaB 5.1 Admin Page 4

5 How to log into the lab environment The Citrix self-paced lab Virtual environment Classroom is hosted on a cloud-based Citrix XenServer. Connecting to your server from the portal page is as easy as Step-by-step login instructions Step Action 1. Once logged in at the self-paced portal, click Launch XenCenter to open the lab environment. 2. When XenCenter loads, right-click the XenCenter node and select Add. 3. On the Add New Server screen enter the XenServer IP address provided on the portal and in the Password field enter the password provided on the portal. The user name will always be root. Page 5

6 Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box Overview In this exercise we will set up a new VDI-in-a-Box grid by configuring the virtual appliance. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 5 minutes. Step Action 1. Start by powering off the the SQLServer, SQLServer2, VDA, XA1, XA2 and XD virtual machines from within XenCenter as they will not be used for these exercises. 2. Power on the Win7Import and vdimanager_xen_v5_1_0 virtual machines. 3. Logon to the Win7Client virtual machine as training\administrator with password Citrix Launch Internet Explorer and browse to Click Continue on the security warning regarding the certificate (we are using the default self-signed certificate). 5. Login as vdiadmin with password kaviza. 6. Click Get Started. Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box Page 6

7 Step Action 7. Click Continue. 8. Enter your hypervisor IP address as well as root with the appropriate password (found in the portal). Then click Next. (If copying and pasting, ensure there are no extra spaces.) Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box Page 7

8 Step Action 9. Select Local Storage for the Datastore and Internal for the Network Label. Then click Citrix Next. Virtual Classroom 10. Select the option to create a new VDI-in-a-Box grid and click Next. Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box Page 8

9 Step Action 11. Select Microsoft Active Directory. Enter for the IP address (AD.training.lab domain controller). Enter training.lab for the domain name. Enter vdiread for the username. Enter Citrix123 for the password (this is a domain user service account) and click Next. 12. Select Yes when prompted with Have you reserved a dedicated IP address for VDI-in-a- Box Manager? (a DHCP reservation was previously configured). Then click Done. END OF EXERCISE Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box Page 9

10 Summary Key Takeaways The key takeaways for this exercise are: Hypervisor and grid configuration with VDI-in-a-Box is quick and simple. The VDI-in-a-Box virtual appliance is configured from a standard browser. Grid-wide virtual IP address feature allows user devices to access the grid through a single virtual IP address hosted by one of the servers in the grid. VDI-in-a-Box automatically starts to use another Active Directory server if the primary server fails. Administrators can specify two or more Active Directory servers in a prioritized list. Exercise 1: Configuring VDI-in-a-Box Page 10

11 Exercise 2: Importing Images Overview In this exercise we will go through the process of importing a Windows 7 image into VDI-in-a-Box. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 10 minutes. Step Action 1. You should now be prompted to generate the base image. Click Continue. Exercise 2: Importing Images Page 11

12 Step Action 2. Select Win7Import, name the image Win7, and enter a description. Click Import and wait Citrix for the Virtual import process Classroom to complete. Note: If asked for credentials use administrator with password citrix. Note Please note that this will take a few minutes as the virtual machine is copied. Move to the next Exercise. Summary END OF EXERCISE Key Takeaways The key takeaways for this exercise are: How to import a new image into the VDI-in-a-Box environment. VDI-in-a-Box will check to ensure that a virtual machine is suitable for import before beginning the actual import process. Exercise 2: Importing Images Page 12

13 Exercise 3: Editing the Draft Image Overview In this exercise the Desktop agent will be automatically installed onto our draft image. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 10 minutes. Step Action Note The Desktop Agent installation will start automatically. Note When the VM is ready move to the next step. Exercise 3: Editing the Draft Image Page 13

14 Step Action 1. Click View button. 2. Select Yes to all five and click Done. 3. Click Connect. Exercise 3: Editing the Draft Image Page 14

15 Step Action 4. Type the local credentials administrator with password citrix. Select Connect using Citrix RDP. Virtual Classroom 5. Double-click the Firefox setup icon on the Desktop. 6. Proceed through the install of Firefox accepting defaults and deselect the last option to Launch Firefox now before clicking Finish. Note: This demonstrates that software and configuration changes may be performed to the desktop image at this stage. 7. Click the Start Button and choose Disconnect. 8. Click Next on the Edit Image step to start the Prepare Image step. 9. Proceed to the next Exercise. END OF EXERCISE Exercise 3: Editing the Draft Image Page 15

16 Summary Key Takeaways The key takeaway for this exercise is: How to install the VDI-in-a-Box Desktop Agent to allow HDX connections to the virtual machine. Edit the draft image to add any necessary updates, settings, or patches as well as any applications to be included in the deployed image. A checklist is provided to help ensure the image meets all prerequisites for producing desktops. Exercise 3: Editing the Draft Image Page 16

17 Exercise 4: Preparing and Testing the Image Overview In this exercise we will configure the image details for our environment. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 10 minutes. Step Action 1. Organizational Unit: OU=VDI,DC=training,DC=lab Leave Pooled desktops checked and click on Prepare. 2. Click Confirm. Note: It might take a few minutes for the operation to complete. Exercise 4: Preparing and Testing the Image Page 17

18 Step Action 3. The new image will be prepared Wait a few minutes for the process to complete. 4. Click the Connect button and then Connect again on the dialog. 5. Enter credentials: administrator / citrix and click Log in. Open the ICA file to launch the connection. 6. Verify that the Mozilla Firefox application shortcut is still on the Desktop. Exercise 4: Preparing and Testing the Image Page 18

19 Step Action 7. Verify that the virtual machine has been joined to the domain by going to System Citrix Properties. Virtual Classroom 8. Click the Start button and choose Disconnect. 9. Click the Save button and then click Confirm. This process will take a few minutes. END OF EXERCISE Exercise 4: Preparing and Testing the Image Page 19

20 Summary Key Takeaways The key takeaway for this exercise is: Preparing the image involves specifying virtual desktop provisioning parameters. How to complete the test and save procedures of the VDI-in-a-Box image management cycle. On the Prepare Image page, pooled or personal desktops can be selected. Pooled desktops are single-disk desktops derived from the published image, which you are in the process of building with this wizard. Personal desktops are two-disk desktops joining the published image with a personal vdisk. An image prepared for use with a personal desktop can also be used to generate pooled desktops, allowing you flexibility in how you use your published image. Use the test image to verify the prepared draft image is suitable for generating your desktops and that users can connect to their desktops through HDX and RDP. The test image and any changes made to it are deleted when the draft image is saved. Exercise 4: Preparing and Testing the Image Page 20

21 Exercise 5: Creating Templates Overview In this exercise we will explain what templates are used for and how they are created. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 5 minutes. Step Action 1. Click Continue on the template creation screen. 2. Template Name: Windows 7 Image Name: Win7 Description: Windows 7 Template VM Prefix: BOX Suffix: 01 Memory (MB): 1024 Leave the defaults and click Next. Exercise 5: Creating Templates Page 21

22 Step Action 3. Maximum Desktops: 10 Pre-started Desktops: 3 Make this the default template: Checked Leave the defaults and click Save and Close. END OF EXERCISE Summary Key Takeaways The key takeaway for this exercise is: How to create and configure a new template based on an OS image. Use templates to create uniform virtual desktops that meet your specifications. Templates consist of an image and policies. The image contains the operating system and applications that run on the desktop. You must have created and published at least one image before you can create a template. Exercise 5: Creating Templates Page 22

23 Exercise 6: Assigning Templates to Users and Groups Overview In this exercise we will cover the process involved in assigning our template to a user and group of users. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 5 minutes. Step Action 1. Click Continue on the user assignment screen 2. Click the Add link next to User Groups. Type VDI for the Group Name and click Enter. Exercise 6 : Assigning Templates to Users and Groups Page 23

24 Step Action 3. Select the vdiusers Group and click Add. 4. Select Windows 7 from the templates list by clicking the link, checking Windows 7, and then clicking Close. 5. Click Save. 6. Repeat the same steps to add user1 under Users. Summary END OF EXERCISE Key Takeaways The key takeaway for this exercise is: How to assign templates to users and groups. When you have created your templates, you can assign them to users, user groups, and IP addresses. Users and groups can have multiple templates assigned to them. If a user has not been assigned a template and logs on, that user receives the default template. Exercise 6 : Assigning Templates to Users and Groups Page 24

25 Exercise 7: Connecting To Desktops Overview In this exercise we will connect to a VDI-in-a-Box desktop using the HDX protocol. Step-by-step guidance Estimated time to complete this lab: 5 minutes. Step Action 1. You should now see the virtual machines created in XenCenter. 2. Click on the Console tab of the virtual machines to check their current status. 3. Switch back to the Win7Client virtual machine and click Logout. 4. Log back on as user1 with password Citrix You will be logged into your desktop. Note that if the desktop doesn t load it may take a moment or two for the desktop to finish provisioning the first time since we just created the template a few minutes ago and the initial SysPrep process needs to complete. 6. Spend a moment or two exploring the desktop and then logoff from it and the VDI-in-a- Box portal. 7. IMPORTANT! This is the last exercise for this lab. Please go back to the self-paced training web site and do the following before you go: Complete the web survey by selecting the feedback link in step number 5 on the lab details page. After completing the survey, select Logout at the top right of the self-paced training site. Exercise 7 : Connecting to Desktops Page 25

26 END OF EXERCISE Summary Key Takeaways The key takeaway for this exercise is: How to connect to VDI-in-a-Box desktops via multiple methods. After setting up a template, creating desktops from the template, and assigning them to users, log on to a desktop as a user to ensure the connection works correctly. To do this, you must first install the latest version of Citrix Receiver and Java SE Runtime Environment (JRE) 6 or 7. Please complete this survey We value your feedback! Please take a moment to let us know about your self-paced lab experience by completing a brief survey. Complete the web survey by selecting the feedback link in step number 5 on the lab details page. Revision History Revision Change Description Updated By Date 1.0 Original Version WW Technical Readiness October 2012 Exercise 7 : Connecting to Desktops Page 26

27 About Citrix Citrix Systems, Inc. designs, develops and markets technology solutions that enable information technology (IT) services. The Enterprise division and the Online Services division constitute its two segments. Its revenues are derived from sales of Enterprise division products, which include its Desktop Solutions, Datacenter and Cloud Solutions, Cloud-based Data Solutions and related technical services and from its Online Services division's Web collaboration, remote access and support services. It markets and licenses its products directly to enterprise customers, over the Web, and through systems integrators (Sis) in addition to indirectly through value-added resellers (VARs), value-added distributors (VADs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). In July 2012, the Company acquired Bytemobile, provider of data and video optimization solutions for mobile network operators Citrix Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 27