User guide

© 2011 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. This document is Cisco Public Information. Cisco Validated Design Page 20
farm master server. The farm master is able to focus on its role of managing the farm when an additional
XenDesktop Controller acts as a dedicated XML server. The XML server is responsible for user
authentication, resource enumeration and desktop launching process. A failure in the XML broker service
will result in users being unable to start their desktops. It is for this reason why it is recommended to have
multiple Controllers per farm
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Data Store: Each XenDesktop farm requires a database called the data store. Citrix XenDesktops uses the
data store to centralize configuration information for a farm in one location. The data store maintains all the
static information about the XenDesktop environment.
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Virtual Desktop Agent: The Virtual Desktop Agent (VDA) is installed on the virtual desktops and enables
direct ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) connections between the virtual desktop and user
devices with the Citrix online plug-in
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Citrix Online Plug-in: Installed on user devices, the Citrix online plug-in enables direct ICA connections from
user devices to virtual desktops. The plug-in software is available for a range of different devices so users
can connect to published applications from various platforms. You can deploy and update the online plug-in
using Citrix Receiver.
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Citrix XenServer: XenServer is an enterprise-class virtual machine infrastructure solution that creates the
foundation for delivering virtual desktops and offers advanced management features. Multiple virtual
machines can run on XenServer, which takes advantage of the advanced virtualization features of the
latest virtualization-enabled processors from Intel and AMD.
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Citrix XenApp: Citrix XenApp is an on-demand application delivery solution that enables any Windows
application to be virtualized, centralized, and managed in the datacenter, and instantly delivered as a
service to users anywhere on any device. XenApp can be used to deliver both virtualized applications and
virtualized desktops. In the Hosted VDImodel, XenApp is typically used for application virtualization.
All the aforementioned components interact to provide a virtual desktop to an end-user based on the FlexCast
Hosted VDI desktop delivery model using the Provisioning Services feature of XenDesktop. This architecture
provides the end-user with a pristine desktop at each logon based on a centralized desktop image that is owned
and managed by IT.
The following steps outline the sequence of operations executed by XenDesktop to deliver a Hosted VDI virtual
desktop to the end user.