XenApp 7.6 - Upgrade Guidev5

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?
2014 Citrix. Confidential.
No
XenApp 6.5 still relevant
Many XenApp 7.6 features will benefit XenApp 6.5
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
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
Enhanced Lync support
New StoreFront support for

SmartCards and folders
18
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
6
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
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?
Farm
Zone
Backup ZDC
Data Store
Zone
Primary ZDC
Primary ZDC
Backup ZDC
MetaFrame Member Servers
Wasted
resources
What
happens
when ZDC
bottlenecks?
Zone
Backup ZDC
Potential issues if
elected as ZDC
Data Store
Primary ZDC
Do I need to rearchitect to add

more users?
10
Farm
Zone
Primary ZDC
Zone mesh impact

=
Zones(Zones-1)
Backup ZDC
Upgrade/Migration
challenges
Delivery Controller
Resources
11
SQL Database
Active
Active
Delivery Controller
SQL Database
Add new controller

to grow
Apps and
Desktops
Resources
12
Sizing
simplified
Bridging the knowledge gap
13
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
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?
14
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
15
Merge XenApp 6.5 and 7.6 into a single store
StoreFront
or
Web Interface
XenApp 6.5 Farm

16
XenApp 7.6 Site
Merge XenApp 6.5 and 7.6 into a single store
Web Interface
17
StoreFront
Number 4
Im ready to upgrade to 7.6, what options do I have?
18
In-Place Upgrades
7.0, 7.1 & 7.5 to 7.6
StoreFront
XenApp 7.6
7.5 Site
Catalog
Catalog
19
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
20
Rebuild Servers
New OS (6.5 to 7.6)
StoreFront
XenApp 6.5 Farm
Worker Group
Worker Group
21
XenApp 7.6 Site

Migrate
Catalog
Number 5
Three options? Come on Citrix, which approach is best?
22
IT DEPENDS
On what you are upgrading
23
Upgrade path based on expected outcome
24
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

In-place upgrade
1. Install VDA
IMA to FMA
(With OS Change)
XenApp 6.5 to 7.6

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

Rebuild server
1. Check app compat
2. Install OS and apps
3. Install VDA
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
25
AppDNA Report Layout
Before
26
After
Package
Validate
Application
Life-Cycle
Patch
27
Publish
Retire
Number 6
Technically speaking, how do I perform an upgrade?
28
Upgrade process
Step 1
Plan
1.
29
Check app
compatibility
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
30
Define user distribution
StoreFront
Merge XenApp 6.5 apps with XenApp 7.6
Configure both farms
31
Define app aggregation
XenApp 6.5
Export Tool
Data Collector
XML File
Farm-to-Site
Migration
XenApp 7.6
Delivery Controller
32
Import Tool
Migration Tool
33
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
PowerShell
In action
Export
34
Import
Migration Tool Advanced Concepts
Simulate
Import
Import by
Worker
Groups
Import by
App Folders
35
-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
36
In-place
Upgrade Utility
XenApp 7.6
Delivery Group
XenApp Workers (FMA-to-FMA)
37
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
38
Number 7
How can I make future upgrades even easier?
39
Delivery Controller
SQL Database
Get on FMA
Multiple versions, multiple languages
All within a single site
Resources
40
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
41
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
43
Migration guidance for XenApp customers
MOVE
XenApp 4.5, 5 & 6
workloads
PLAN
XenApp 6.5
workloads
ACT
New Deployments
44
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
45
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
46
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
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
47
WORK BETTER. LIVE BETTER.
48

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Upgrade to XenApp 7.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Require multi-zone deployment

No immediate OS change requirement

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

XenApp 6.5 users immediately benefit from new features

Help Desk support and

Updated HTML 5 and

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Enhanced Lync support

New StoreFront support for

IOPS per User

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

PVS (Disk Cache)

Built-in WAN optimization

Why Upgrade to 7.6

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

MetaFrame Member Servers

MetaFrame Member Servers

MetaFrame Member Servers

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Do I need to rearchitect to add

Zone mesh impact

MetaFrame Member Servers

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Add new controller

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Bridging the knowledge gap

XenApp 6.5 Terminology

XenApp 7.6 Terminology

Independent Management Architecture (IMA)

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA)

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Merge XenApp 6.5 and 7.6 into a single store

XenApp 6.5 Farm

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

XenApp 7.6 Site

Merge XenApp 6.5 and 7.6 into a single store

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

XenApp 7.6 Site

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

XenApp 7.6 Site

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Upgrade path based on expected outcome

XenApp 6.5 to 7.6

XenApp 7.0, 7.1, 7.5 to 7.6

XenApp 6.5 to 7.6

XenApp 7.0, 7.1, 7.5 to 7.6

2014 Citrix. Confidential.

Citrix AppDNA: Accelerate Application Compatibility

Typical migration projects