New Citrix Installation - no experience!!!!

[Guest_imported]

We are looking to roll out Citrix for our users for the first time!

We have 30 remote users that definitely require access to a SQL based accounting application I would also like to set them up with Outlook via Citrix?

We have a spare server which we were looking to use as our Citrix server.

It is a Compaq DL380 has 5 18Gb drives and 1 online spare
1 Gb RAM (although we have another 512Mb spare)
2 x 1.133Mhz Processors
Dual NIC 10/100 load balanced

We have purchased W2k advance server and Citrix XPe for the roll out and have 30 users licenses.

I would like some advice as to whether the hardware would be suitable or would need upgrading memory etc.

How much memory should be allocated per user?

The main reason for the install was SQL but I would like to know how much of an additional impact on resources it would be to use Citrix with outlook aswell on the same server?

Based on the hardware that we have what would be the maximum number of users we could expect to run before performance would suffer?

 

[CitrixEngineer]

I presume you mean that the available server is in addition to the server that will have the database installed?

The server should easily support 30 users of the SQL database/accounting package, but if the database is installed on it, that will de a different story completely.

By using a database client and the Outlook client (again, presuming that the Exchange server is separate) you would be using Terminal Services in exactly the way it is designed, so should see few issues. Printing is likely to be a bear, so proceed with caution in this area. Make sure that your users are running Terminal Server compatible printers, where possible.

It depends on the application as to how much memory is required per user. Since I do not know what package it is, a rule of thumb cannot even be guessed at.

Best way, as with all new implementations - and all applications over Citrix - is to pilot it with 10 or so users. Use RM (built into MetaFrame XPe) to measure and create a baseline of resource usage. Your SQL server will come in handy - an SQL Data Store and SQL Summary Database (if you are running FR2) will give superb support to your server and allow for future expansion in the farm.

The book Inside MetaFrame XP by Ted Harwood will help greatly.

You might also want to consider whether to use roaming profiles for your remote users if they are likely to work from several locations.

I hope this helps CitrixEngineer@yahoo.co.uk

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks for the help,

Yes the server we have available would be for Citrix only.

We currently have a separate exchange server and SQL server (similar spec to the citrix server). Our remote users are working from PST files for Exchange and running SQL across the wide area network which is causing a great deal of performance problems as you can imagine.

We do not use roaming profiles as our users do not need to hotdesk or move around the office at all.

We run Outlook for email and a SQL application called Dream (SquareSum).

I will have a look at the book you recommend.

Many Thanks

 

[hongjo]

Unless your clients are Windows 2000 or XP Pro (not home), you will also need a Terminal Services license for each of your remote users.