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We have a production implementation of Citrix XenDesktop, XenApp and
XenServer. Just trying to get an idea of who out there is doing desktop
(or server) and application virtualization using products from Citrix?
What products are you working with and how is it working for you? 
 
I know there are a lot of VMWare people out there. I'm interested in
your setups as well. 
 
We're using Citrix Provisioning server to provision the XenDesktop
virtual OS on the fly and to update the vdisks with patches, AV, etc to
redistribute on next user logoff. The XenApp client is installed on the
virtual OS (XP) which delivers the users applications via the XenApp
Server Farm. All user settings/changes (permitted changes) to the
virtual desktop get synchronized using User Profile Manager (more
advance than roaming profiles). All settings/policy is managed through
group policy. User workstations have been replaced with Wyse Terminals
and some workstations will be converted to thin-clients.
 
Having this environment makes maintenance painless since all users
(task workers) share the same vdisk. Copy the production vdisk, boot it
in private mode, make necessary changes/updates, shutdown, change to
shared mode, increment version number and force the provisioning server
to check for vdisk updates. All a user has to do is logoff/logon to get
the OS/AV updates. The reason these updates need to be applied every so
often is because the shared vdisk discards any changes to it (not
relating to profile or user settings) while the user is logged on, this
includes antivirus updates. 
 
This stuff is fun. Let me know if anyone is using this technology on a
small or large scale. If you're not doing it and curious about the
technology and how it all works or you want to see it in production,
send me a reply. I can get more technical if you want. 
 
Have a good weekend. 
 
David Benjamin
Systems Admin
Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health
Michigan State University
4125 Beaumont Rd., Ste 202, Lansing, MI 48910
Phone: 517-432-5840|www.dcpah.msu.edu