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Software components

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Cisco UCS firmware 1.3(1i)

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XenServer 5.6, XenCenter 5.6

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XenDesktop 4

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Windows 7 – 32 bit, 1vCPU, 1.5 GB of memory, 30 GB per virtual machine

6.4 Testing Methodology

All validation testing was conducted on-site within the Cisco labs with joint support from both Citrix and NetApp

resources. The testing results focused on the entire process of the virtual desktop lifecycle by capturing metrics

during the desktop boot-up, user logon, user workload execution (also referred to as steady state), and user logoff

for both the Hosted Shared and Hosted VDI models. Test metrics were gathered from the hypervisor, virtual

desktop, storage, and load generation software to assess the overall success of an individual test cycle. Each test

cycle was not considered passing unless all metrics were within the permissible thresholds as noted as success

criteria. Test were conducted a total of three times for each hardware configuration and results were found to be

relatively consistent from one test to the next

6.4.1 Load Generation

Within each test environment load generators were utilized to put demand on the system to simulate multiple

users accessing the XenDesktop environment and executing a typical end-user workflow. To generate load within

the environment, an auxiliary software application was required to generate the end user connection to the

XenDesktop environment, provide unique user credentials, initiate the workload, and evaluate the end user

experience. Based on the environment design, different load generators were used between the Hosted VDI and

Hosted Shared environment.

In the Hosted VDI environment an internal Citrix automated test tool was used to generate end user connections

into the environment and record performance metrics through an agent running on the core XenDesktop

infrastructure components. In the Hosted Shared environment, the standard Login VSI launcher was used

simulate multiple users making a direct connection to the shared desktop of the XenApp servers via an ICA

connection.

6.4.2 User Workload Simulation – Login VSI from Login Consultants

One of the most critical factors of validating a XenDesktop deployment is identifying a real-world user workload

that is easy for customers to replicate and standardized across platform to allow customers to realistically

reference for a variety of worker tasks. To accurately represent a real-world user workload, third-party tools from

benefit of taking measurements of the in-session response time, providing an objective way to measure the

expected user experience for individual desktop throughout large scale testing, including login storms.

Computing (SBC) and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) environments is completely platform and protocol

independent and hence allows customers to easily replicate the testing results in their environment. Login VSI

calculates an index based on the amount of simultaneous sessions that can be run on a single machine.

such as: Microsoft Office 2007, Internet Explorer including Flash applets and Adobe Acrobat Reader (Note: For

the purposes of this test, applications were installed locally, not streamed or hosted on XenApp). Like real users,

the scripted session will leave multiple applications open at the same time. Every session will average about 20%

minimal user activity, similar to real world usage. Note that during each 12 minute loop users open and close files

a couple of time per minutes which is probably more intensive that most users.

The following outline the automated Login VSI simulated user workflows that were used for this validation testing: