Archive
@WorkWeb & @WorkMail release candidates available – #Citrix, #CloudGateway
Finally! The apps are available at MyCitrix! Stay tuned for test results etc…
//Richard
PVS support in XenServer 6.1 – via @_POPPELGAARD – #XenServer, #Citrix, #PVS
Good blog post from Thomas Poppelgaard!
And this is something that many have waited for, either they upgraded and ran into the issues and had to revert back to 6.0.2… but now it’s fixed! 🙂
Citrix have released Hotfix XS61E009 & XS61E010 for XenServer 6.1 and now you are able to have Citrix Provisioning Services with XS 6.1 and use VVS.
I have been waiting for this for a while.
Issues Resolved In This Hotfix XS61E009
- Virtual Machines (VMs) with out of date XenServer Tools, may not be flagged as “out of date” in XenCenter. This hotfix resolves this issue and enables customers to be notified in XenCenter when new XenServer Tools are available.
- Booting a Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) target device using a Boot Device Manager (BDM) image can take an extended time to complete. This hotfix resolves this issue.
Issues Resolved In This Hotfix XS61E010
- Customers using XenServer Platinum Edition to license Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) may find that one PVS license per VM is checked out, rather than one PVS license per XenServer host. This may lead to a shortage of PVS licenses and an inability to provision VMs. Installing this hotfix along with CTX135672 – Hotfix CPVS61016 (Version 6.1.16) – For Citrix Provisioning Services 6.1 – English resolves this issue.
- Attempts to shut down Microsoft Windows Vista and later VMs can cause intermittent blue screen errors, with a "STOP: 0x0000009f..." error message.
- Adding more than eight NICs to Microsoft Windows Vista and later VMs, using the xe CLI can lead to a blue screen error on reboot.
- Copying data to a Microsoft Windows 2003 VM can cause the VMs to hang and lead to a grey screen error.
- When Dynamic Memory Control (DMC) is enabled, attempts to migrate Microsoft Windows XP and later VMs using XenMotion can cause the VMs to hang and lead to blue screen error.
- When the Citrix Xen Guest Agent service is running, Cut and Paste will not work between a XenDesktop virtual desktop and the endpoint device.
- Microsoft Windows XP and later VMs may hang during the boot process and may have to be forced to reboot.
- Attempting to install or upgrade the XenServer Tools on Microsoft Windows Vista and later VMs, which do not have access to a paravirtualized or an emulated network device can cause the installation process to hang.
- Manually installing the Legacy XenServer Tools without changing the device_id to 0001 can result in a "STOP: 0x0000007B..."error when rebooting a Windows VM. After installing this hotfix, customers will not be able to manually install the Legacy XenServer Tools by running xenlegacy.exe…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
VRC white paper about impact of AV on VDI performance – @LoginVSI, @LoginConsultant
New VRC white paper about impact of antivirus on VDI performance
The independent research initiative Project Virtual Reality Check (VRC) released the long awaited ‘Phase V’ white paper which provides new insights in the impact and best practices of various antivirus solutions on VDI performance.
By testing and comparing different solutions and configurations Project VRC discovered the best practice to perform a pre-scan of the master image before deployment.
Another key finding is that antivirus off-loading architectures makes a big difference from a storage IO point of view, but not always from a session density point of view.
This Project VRC white paper with all Login VSI test results and best practices can be downloaded for free here:
Download the Project VRC white paper
Read other white papers based on tests with Login VSI
//Richard
#Citrix #NetScaler 10 Build 73.5 released
Citrix has released yet another build….
These are the release notes:
Build 73.5
Replaces build: None
Release date: January 2013
Release notes version: 1.0
Language supported: English (US)
Changes and Fixes
Access Gateway
- Documentation: Starting with this maintenance release, for Access Gateway issues, see http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX133966.
Application Firewall
- Issue ID 0348647: On a NetScaler appliance that has the application firewall configured, if the client sends a web form with data that contains a plus sign (+), that form field triggers a form field consistency violation. This applies for data that the user types into the form, and for data in hidden fields that was generated by a javascript or sent to the user from the server. To work around this issue, ensure that no field contains a plus sign, or temporarily disable blocking for the form field consistency check.
- Issue ID 0354289: On a NetScaler appliance that has the application firewall configured, chunked requests sent by mobile devices to XML services might receive 400-level HTTP responses.
Configuration Utility
- Issue ID 0324797: The NetScaler configuration utility does not display the queue depth value for the configured priority queuing policies. This issue is observed only in a cluster setup.
- Issue ID 0334292: If you navigate to HTTP Compression >..
Continue reading release notes here!
//Richard
OpenStack vs CloudStack: The Latest Score – #CloudStack, #OpenStack
A little update below from Joe Panettieri, good reading! And thanks Oded Nahum for sharing!
And I must agree that I would not count out CloudStack! 😉
OpenStack vs CloudStack: The Latest Score
OpenStack remains the largest and most active open source cloud computing project, Network World notes. But research from Chinese blogger Qingye “John” Jiangsuggests that momentum is building for CloudStack, and interest in Eucalyptus and OpenNebula remains strong. For cloud services providers (CSPs) and consultants, it’s critically important to track each of the four open source cloud platforms. Here’s why.
During Q4 2012, interest in CloudStack grew faster than rival open source cloud platforms. But Jiang’s data shows that:
- OpenStack has the largest total population, followed by Eucalyptus, CloudStack, and OpenNebula;
- OpenStack has the largest active population during the past quarter, followed by CloudStack, Eucalyptus, and OpenNebula;
- OpenStack has the largest active population during the past month, followed by CloudStack, Eucalyptus, and OpenNebula.
Partner Views
Those findings are important to CSPs and consultants that are selecting cloud platforms upon which to build services. OpenStack has been the poster child for open source cloud computing for more than a year now but the bandwagon has some challenges.
Dell, for one, says OpenStack lacks maturity and the hardware giant won’t launch its public cloud (based on OpenStack) for roughly a year. Dell also alleges that Hewlett-Packard’s own public cloud uses a “dramatically forked” version of OpenStack containing proprietary HP technology.
Still, OpenStack consulting opportunities seem to be emerging rapidly. Mirantis, for instance, has emeged as the largest OpenStack systems integrator. The company’s clientele apparently includes Cisco, Dell, GE, Agilent, NASA, HP, AT&T, The Gap, Axcient and Nexenta.
Moreover, Rackspace (NYSE: RAX) continues to see OpenStack progress. CTO John Engates recently offered his perspectives — including some OpenStack milestones — to ZDnet.
Here Comes CloudStack
Meanwhile, it has been awhile since I’ve heard from the CloudStack community. But the CloudStack chatter will likely grow very loud…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
Magic Quadrant for Application Delivery Controllers – #Citrix, #NetScaler, #F5
The application delivery controller has evolved into a key component of the data center architecture, and enterprises should evaluate ADCs based on how they integrate with this architecture and support more-advanced features, such as user and traffic control and monitoring.
Market Definition/Description
Application delivery controllers (ADCs) provide functions that optimize enterprise application environments. The market evolved from the load-balancing systems that were specifically developed to ensure the availability and scalability of websites. Enterprises use ADCs to optimize reliability, end-user performance, data center resource use and security for a variety of enterprise applications.
Magic Quadrant
Source: Gartner (October 2012)
Vendor Strengths and Cautions
A10 Networks
A10 continues to gain market share and brand awareness, especially in Asia, and it is aggressively targeting the North American market. Its product development has placed focus on developing a scalable high-performance platform with a strong feature set but a more limited focus on establishing a data center architectural vision. While strong in its product focus, A10 has demonstrated more limited innovation and still has a more narrow feature support than leading vendors. A10 is a good choice for enterprises seeking a cost-effective…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
Get Ahead with AppDNA – Free Training Available – #Citrix, #AppDNA
Yes, it’s free training for partners!!! Go get it!
Give yourself a head start in 2013 – Register for the free AppDNA course “Simplifying Application Migration with Citrix AppDNA 6.1″
If your organization needs to understand AppDNA software or plans to add the AppDNA product to the sales portfolio, then this 4-hour online course – complete with a virtual lab environment – is for you! Understand the value of AppDNA application migration software, including how to successfully implement it and accelerate customer migrations.
This course is available to partners at no cost through March 31, 2013. Register today and start…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
Jan. Edition of XenDesktop Technical Newsletter Now Available – #XenDesktop, #Citrix
It’s out again with more exciting topics! Check it out!!!
Using XenDesktop? Then you need to get the XenDesktop Technical Newsletter! The newsletter is comprised of the best technical resources from across Citrix Services: Consulting, Technical Support, Education, and Technical Readiness. In its third year the newsletter is designed to help customers run their XenDesktop optimally and get more out of their investment in Citrix desktop virtualization. And its FREE!
I am pleased to announce that the January 2013 edition of the newsletter is now available.
Check out the archive page, where you can access both the current and past issues, as well as subscribe to the FREE monthly newsletter.
The January edition of the newsletter is packed with great content, including:
- Optimal XenApp 6.5 VM Configuration (Blog)
- Introduction to the new Project Accelerator (Blog)
- Deploying XenApp 6.5 using PVS (Blog)
- Insider Troubleshooting tips for Administrators (eBook)
- Whats new with Excalibur (Blog)
- Top Knowledge Center content for December 2012 (Articles, hotfixes, whitepapers, etc…)
- How to configure Access Gateway 5 standalone for use with XD5 (tech note)
- XenDesktop Tools & Hotfixes
- And much more.
If you have any..
Continue reading here!
//Richard
#Microsoft and Others Fail Antivirus Test – #ForeFront, #FEP, #AV
Microsoft is still behind the competition…
How many of you out there are using ForeFront Endpoint Protection (FEP) to secure your clients/servers?
Below is a good article from Neil J. Rubenking about the latest (Nov/DEc 2012) report from AV-Test:
Based in Magdeburg, Germany, independent lab AV-Test evaluates and rates antivirus products on a variety of different criteria. Every couple of months the researchers summarize their testing and report on which products achieved certification. In the latest such report, several vendors failed to make the grade.
One of the many individual tests involved in AV-Test certification measures how well products stand up to zero-day attacks—viruses or other threats so new that no antivirus signature exists. AV-Test CEO Andreas Marx noted that the 25 consumer products in the current test averaged 92 percent detection of zero-day attacks. “This means,” said Marx “that one out of ten malware attacks succeeded.” He also pointed out that while the products averaged 91 percent cleanup of existing infections, many didn’t remove all traces. “Only 60% could be put back in a condition similar to the pre-infection state,” Marx observed.
Certification Failed
Products can earn six points each for repair of existing malware infestations, protection against new attacks, and overall usability. Here usability means the product doesn’t slow system performance and doesn’t falsely report valid programs or activities as malicious. In order to receive certification, a product must earn a total of 11 points.
Just as in the previous test, Microsoft didn’t make the cut, though with ten points it came close. PC Tools also failed with ten points.
The big loser this time around was AhnLab. In the previous test AhnLab squeaked by with 11 points. The latest test saw that score drop to 8.5 points, well below the certification cutof…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
Why Windows RT will die – #Windows, #RT
I have to agree with this blog post a lot! I don’t see a future for RT, sorry Microsoft!
It should be no surprise that Microsoft’s Windows RT Surface tablet sold only a million units in the fourth quarter, about a half of what analysts expected. Windows RT is an operating system without a future. Here’s why it will die.
UBS analyst Brent Thil said that a million Surface tablets sold That’s about half of what he expected. Computerworld says that in a note to investors, he said that people were buying the iPad rather than the Surface.
Plenty of other reports have found that the Surface is selling poorly. Even Steve Ballmer admits that Surface sales have been modest.
You can attribute sluggish sales to plenty of factors, such as poor distribution. But there’s a deeper reason: Windows RT has no future. It’s an operating system so rife with problems, it’s hard to imagine it succeeding.
One big issue is confusion about exactly what it is. It looks like a Windows 8 tablet, but it isn’t. It can’t run Windows 8 apps unless they’ve been specifically modified to run on Windows RT. It won’t run the Desktop or Desktop apps.
Despite that, it sells for $500, as much as an iPad. Because of all this,Samsung has cancelled plans for selling an RT tablet in the U.S. Mike Abary, Samsung senior vice president in charge of the PC and tablet businesses in the United States, explained the decision this way to CNet:
“There wasn’t really a very clear positioning of what Windows RT meant in the marketplace, what it…
Continue reading here!
//Richard
The IT Melting Pot! 