I recently came across NetWrix, a software company that specializes in system administration tools and utilities. They seem to really have hit a niche that has been a pain point for many administrators over the years. Whats even better is that NetWrix offers free versions of several of their products and not just limited evaluations either.
SSL Error 47 with Citrix Password Manager
SSL Certificates play a big role in a Citrix Password Manager deployment. They help to ensure the password data in the central store is genuine and they also allow for encrypted communications between the Password Manager service and the Password Manager agent. There are lots of things that can go wrong with certificates that will stall your Password Manager deployment.
Disable Multimedia Acceleration in XenDesktop
I recently came across a multimedia application that uses the Indeo codec for its video components. While this codec is supported by HDX it is only supported when it runs within the context of Windows Media Player, QuickTime, or one of the other supported video players. This particular application made use of its own player which prevented the HDX technologies from enhancing the performance of the videos.
Transfer Logins Between SQL Server Instances
There are any number of reasons that you might need to transfer the logins between instances of SQL Server. One of the most common times this is necessary is when performing a SQL Server consolidation or migration. The good news is that its a fairly easy task to perform for several generations of SQL Server.
XenApp 5 FP 2 First Impressions
I did my first XenApp 5 Feature Pack 2 upgrade/install today and I have to say that for the fist time the installer is actually quite nice. If you hadn’t heard, Citrix has finally combined all of the components of XenApp into a single ISO image.
XenServer Multipathing with IBM DS4800
I was recently tasked with configuring multipathing in Citrix XenServer 5.5 for use with an IBM DS4800 SAN. At first glance I thought, piece of cake, I’ve done quite a few setups like this with Dell, EMC, and HP storage gear so the IBM should be the same right? WRONG!
Office Suite Scalability on Terminal Services
A colleague of mine recently pointed me to this great article on the scalability of office productivity suites on terminal services. The tests reviewed OpenOffice 2.1, Microsoft Office 2003, and Microsoft Office 2007.
Can Citrix Certifications Ever Keep Up with Product Releases?
Lately I have been on a tear when it comes to taking Citrix certification tests. I’m eagerly awaiting the release of the exams needed to upgrade my CCEA to the new CCEE. But a troubling trend has begun to emerge, the exams and certifications seem to have a longer development cycle than the products themselves.
Underutilized Features of XenApp Platinum
Anyone who has worked with or around Citrix licensing knows that there is an incredible amount of value that can be obtained by either upgrading or purchasing XenApp Platinum Edition licenses. But most people who go the route of Platinum licenses aren’t utilizing all of the features.
Hot Desktop Functionality Broken in Password Manager Agent
In working on a new deployment of the Hot Desktop feature within Citrix Password Manager I discovered that there are a few problems with the latest Password Manager agents.