Installation guide

32 Implementing Windows Terminal Server and Citrix MetaFrame on IBM ^ xSeries Servers
Fifteen x335 servers were configured in this way to support 1,000 concurrent MetaFrame
users. We recommended a sixteenth server so that, in the event of a server failure, the 1,000
users can be supported without a drop in quality of service. The design can be scaled out by
installing additional x335 servers if required.
Figure 4-3 Large MetaFrame XPe farm running on xSeries 335 servers
Each x335 server has two 32 GB, with 15,000 RPM drives connected to the onboard RAID
adapter and configured as a RAID-1 logical drive. This gives an effective disk space of 32 GB
per server.
One x335 server was installed with Windows Server 2003, Citrix MetaFrame XPe, and the
appropriate applications. While building the server, it is important not to join the domain and
to keep the local administrative password blank. We then used Microsoft’s sysprep utility to
prepare this server as our Master Terminal Server image. Using a disk imaging utility, such as
Symantec Ghost, the customer can distribute this image to the other x335 servers. After each
server is imaged, each server can join the domain. By using sysprep, large numbers of
identical MetaFrame servers can be rapidly installed.
The customer configured the servers using a drive partitioning scheme that we found useful.
The operating system was placed on the C: drive, with data on the D: drive. Both were
formatted using NTFS. A third FAT partition formed the E: drive. Using imaging software, such
as Symantec Ghost, images of the operating system and data drives can be created and
stored on the E: drive. It is a good idea to make a new image after the initial installation and
then prior to any major change to the server. Then, in the event of a system failure, you can
bring the server back online rapidly by restoring the server from these backup images. Only
use ghost partition images on the same server from which it is imaged.
When all MetaFrame servers were installed in the Citrix farm, a published application was
created using the Citrix Management Console to distribute a Windows desktop. All of the
servers in the farm were selected to distribute the Windows desktop published application.
Load balancing allows the desktop published application to be available as a single selection
for the user rather than the user having 16 desktop applications from which to choose. When
the user connects to the Citrix servers, a MetaFrame server in the farm configured as the
Data Collector (DC) seamlessly directs them to the least busy server. Several other servers
were configured as backup Data Collectors for extra redundancy. From the user’s perspective,
connecting to a “server farm” of 16 servers was the same as connecting to a single
MetaFrame server. If a server fails or is made unavailable for maintenance purposes, users
connect to one of the remaining servers.
Rack fitted with 19 IBM x335 servers:
16 MetaFrame XPe Servers
2 Active Directory Domain Controllers
(one running Windows Licensing Service)
1 SQL Data Store