Metafram Presentation Svr 3 Questions...anybody??? 2

[ITschoolGuy]

Hello -

I am currently responsible for a network of 25 users in two different physical locations. The main location has a Windows 2000 Active Directory Domain, with a 2k3 server running Exchange and another 2k3 server running Terminal Services and Citrix Metaframe Presentation Server 3.0.

The satellite location has a 2k3 server setup as a domain controller and it replicates with the main DC (primarily to reduce authentication traffic across the T1s that link these two sites). All workstations run XP Pro SP2.

I set this all up myself having had no prior experience with Citrix and it works, for the most part. I do have three issues I'm curious about though:

1. The users in the satellite office connect to a published application using the ICA client. The performance is fine once they're logged on...but the connection and logon process itself takes upwards of two minutes to complete. This was not the case when I first set this up and I can think of nothing that I've changed along the way. Any ideas on how to speed up the initial connection process?

2. Quite often, the remote users will find that they cannot print (because their workstations have lost the typical client mappings for drives and printers). I end up having to log them off and reset their Term Svcs connection profile to fix it. Any thoughts on why this happens or an easier way to deal with it?

3. Finally, I would like to be able to remote control client sessions (shadowing??). I have ensured that the Active Directory user accounts have the proper settings and yet whenever I try a remote control session, it errors out...telling me that the user may not be logged on. Does anyone know what else I need to do to get this to work?

I know this is a lot to absorb in one post but I'd sure appreciate any insights.

Thanks very much.


Chris

 

[patrickrouse]

1. Perhaps you're using a roaming profile that's stored on the DC that's on the opposite end of the WAN from the Citrix Server. How do you have this configured?

2. Have you installed 3rd party printer drivers on the Citrix Server? These often cause spooler failures or BSOD, so I wouldn't recommend using drivers that did not come with Windows Server, or the Citrix UPD.

3. You must be logged onto a session to shadow a session.

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.sessioncomputing.com

 

[ITschoolGuy]

Hello Patrick -

Yes, indeed...my users in the satellite office are using roaming profiles stored on the DC in their location (which is on the opposite end of the WAN from the Citrix box). Interestingly, this didn't seem to be a problem for the first few months...it's just gotten progressively slower for them to logon to the published app.

All printer drivers come directly from HP (i.e. I'm not using the Windows native printer drivers). However, I don't have any spooler failures or blue screens...just the occasional loss of client side printer mappings.

As to the shadowing, I'm not sure I understand. The user whom I want to remote control is logged on via ICA client...and I am logged on directly to the Citrix server.

Thanks for replying. I really appreciate your input.


Chris

 

[patrickrouse]

How big are the profiles being copied across the network?

I'd be really careful about using 3rd party drivers, even ones from HP that they certify for use w/ Citrix. If they were bug free, they wouldn't release new versions every few months. I have a LaserJet 4050, 4200, 2100 and 2300 all using LaserJet 4 Plus drivers w/o incident. All remote users use the Citrix Universal Driver.

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.sessioncomputing.com

 

[fbacchin]

Just a tip about shadowing : You must be logged in a ICA session if you want to shadow an ICA session . OK ?

 

[ITschoolGuy]

Thank you for the replies.

As to the roaming profiles...some are a bit large but mostly they're pretty standard. No custom settings or extra files that need to load across the network. What I don't get, though...why would roaming profiles have an impact? The profile is already loaded by the time the user opens Program Neighborhood to start the Citrix connection.

BTW, I think I get the shadowing thing now. I have to be logged in using an ICA session to do it, yes?? I can't remote control user sessions if I'm sitting at the Citrix server console or if I am logged in via Remote Desktop/TCP...is this accurate?

Thanks again to both of you. Any additional info you have would, of course, be great!!

Thanks.

Chris

 

[patrickrouse]

When a user launches a Citrix Published Application, or logs-on to a specific Citrix Server / Terminal Server the Terminal Server Profile is loaded on the Citrix Server / Terminal Server. In the absense of a defined Terminal Server Profile, the standard Windows Roaming Profile is used (don't share the standard Windows Roaming Profile with Terminal Server, unless you want to induce problems).

This statement is FALSE, in regards to the user's Terminal Server Profile.

"The profile is already loaded by the time the user opens Program Neighborhood to start the Citrix connection."

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.sessioncomputing.com

 

[ITschoolGuy]

Patrick -

Wow...this has been a learning experience! I thank you for your input. I have one final question and then I think I can leave you alone.

Given what I have described here, would it make sense for me to set the Terminal Services Profile path (for the users in the satellite office) to the Citrix server or to their local DC?

I really appreciate all your helpful insights!

C-

 

[patrickrouse]

Their TS Roaming profile should be on the DC that's on the same side of the WAN as the Citrix Server. You may also want to think about Network Home Folder placement, whether or not you'll want to use their local Home Folder on their DC, or a specific TS Home Folder (that's stored on the DC where the Citrix Server resides) when they logon to Citrix.

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.sessioncomputing.com