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Intermittant errors within Citrix Metaframe 1.8 Build260 SP3

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M29

Technical User
Apr 18, 2002
2
IE
We are a company with 130 odd users running citrix over cisco routers (20 sites). We are running w2k terminal server (SP2), with Citrix sitting ontop. We have 2 servers with load balancing running. The types of applications that we are running are the standard Office apps along with JDE Oneworld, and a mumps legacy s/ware.

We have been experiencing numerous problems within the citrix realm and was wondering if any guru's out ther may have any ideas?

1) Users are experiencing problems with mouse keystrokes ie. when they click to save a file, and chose file location there is no response from the mouse.

2) Users cannot use the Alt + option to switch between the applications. We have been told by our support consultants that this option should work, but it does not (Yes - the biological interface at the other end did have the num lock on :x)

3) when watching the metaframe administatration, we can loose a balance of x connections on both servers (between 10 - 15 users, random number) as if lines have been dropped. But there is not a line problem as some users at the same site are logged on others are kicked off. when looking in the event log you get the error:
Application.log
Replication of Licence information failed because the licence logging service on server X could not be contacted
(Service was started on server)

4) We are getting console connections, the blue PC icon (with no information attached) in metaframe admin (can provide picture evidence), and the only way to clear these is to reboot the server.

4) Users can log on over citrix and actually load the server desktop area. This is intermittant, and all the "security" elements are in place to prevent such a security breach.

5) A user managed to save a wallpaper to her desktop. It is not stored on the local pc, as there is nothing there. Everytime she changes between screens she get's the picture flashing up - of Whinny the Poo having a "bad" day.

6) both servers have same spec and build (and at same time) but users have 2 different types of logon screens depening on what server they log on to. One has the ICA client log on, and the other the W2K server logon.

The Servers are based on:
W2k Build 2195 Sp2
Metraframe 1.8 Build 260 SP3.

I'm just an bystander in this process, but intrigued to know if there is anyone out there that can suggest any good ideas - apart from blasting the lot and starting again. It has even stumpted our support contractors as they have never seen half these things on a site before - so if you fancy a real challenge - have a think about this one.

All replies greatly welcomed!

Cheers

M29
 
Sounds like a couple of problems (at least..!!)....

Several of your issues would appear to be network related....the mouse response, losing connections to the server and loading the "server" desktop all seem to indicate some sort of network fault....are the user profiles loaded from within the Citrix servers or from another server on your network...???

Do both servers drop connections...???

Are users at all your sites affected by losing connection to the servers...??? How do the WAN connections/routers link onto your LAN...??? Are they all connected to the same hubs/switches in the same location..??? Do your servers connect at this location as well...???

 
Hello Highland,

Thanks for your reply - it's appreciated!

In answer to your questions:

1) The mouse problem - a use can be on the phone, as soon as you shadow the user as admin, admin can activate whatever options the user requires. Get the user to log out then back in - no worries, all is working ok until the next time. There is no connectivity issues otherwise how would you connect to the session.

2) The network faults is what I thought, but it gets slightly daunting when you see user A and B working in the same office and user A still has a connection and user B gets disconnected. So in that case I would rule out router / connectivity issues to the servers. As How could one user be functional and not the other. Also - this is totally random. It occurs on both servers, not user specific - it's a bit like doing the lotto. This senario goes on most if not all sites. we have checked the applications that are currently running and there is no link there either.

3) linkages need more inverstigation but as far as I'm aware:
client ->hub -> cisco router over IP -> servers with no servers on satellite sites, only centrally. But will get more info on this one.
 
The shadowing is linking and taking control of the "user" session on the server not the actual client PC, so there could still be a connectivity issue between the "original" client PC and it's associated server session....??!!!

Your investigations seem to point to a networking problem with the actual servers...is it possible to move/check their connectivity to their hub/switch...????

Also had an ineresting problem a couple of days ago regarding Network Cards and Switches, it was to do with the way Network Cards autonegotiate the speed and duplex settings with the switch they connect to....after checking our servers we noticed a couple of them weren't connecting at 100Mbs/full duplex...we had to change the card driver from a forced setting of 100Mbs/FD to auto before the switch recognised the link and negotiated the speed correctly....here's a link to the article....


It's probably also worth checking the current registry size, if its near or at the maximum setting then this can affect performance, logins....everything...!!!!
 
The mouse problem could be down to the ICA client version.
We have this happening on local ICA logons unless the PC is running the latest ICA Client. I.e. for WIN32 Ver. 6.20.985
 
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