Tweaking performance in your Terminal Services environment is a key aspect of creating a positive end-user experience. There are several resources available today on the Internet regarding performance in a Windows Terminal Server/Citrix environment. Among these are Performance articles on MSTerminalServices.org, DABCC’s Methodology in a Box, and Brian Madden’s Performance Tuning article — to name a few. Now, there is an “Official blog of the Windows Client and Server performance teams“. This blog describes some of the new performance features in the upcoming Microsoft Windows platforms (Vista and Longhorn).

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Have you ever wanted to get an inside look at the Terminal Services team at Microsoft? Channel 9 on MSDN has posted a video interview with Tad Brockway. Tad is the Program Group Manager for the Terminal Services Product Development Team. In this video interview, Tad gives an introductory overview of Terminal Services, some future technologies such as RAIL (Remote Applications Integrated Locally)

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Technorati : Longhorn, Microsoft, Remote Programs, Terminal Services, Vista
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I have been reading more and more about Microsoft Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS) and how this technology solves a business-to-business automation scenario as well as some other interesting scenarios. One of these other interesting scenarios is from a developer’s perspective in solving Single Sign On (SSO) situations. Here is an interesting article from the November 2006 issue of MSDN Magazine about using ADFS for SSO: http://msdn.microsoft.com/msdnmag/issues/06/11/Sin...t.aspx.

I have linked to articles by Jay Tomlin before giving some possibilities of ADFS. Recently Jay has published a video and some more links on his web site about ADFS and Citrix Web Interface. I encourage you to check them out.

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Jay Tomlin has written an excellent article detailing the possibilities of new authentication mechanisms in Citrix Web Interface 4.5 Among these are web portal SSO, soft certificate logins and third-party single sign-on where the user needn’t know their domain password. To find out more about these possibilities, be sure to read Jay’s article.

Technorati : ADFS, Authentication, Citrix, Kerberos, Web Interface
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Device redirection over Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) has been enhanced in Windows Vista and Windows Server codename “Longhorn” with the introduction of the new Plug and Play Device Redirection Framework. This new feature is aligned with Terminal Server vision of providing rich remote experiences and provides the ability to redirect certain types of PnP devices using Remote Desktop or Remote Programs. The goal is to let applications access Plug and Play devices seamlessly regardless of whether they run locally or remotely.

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Technorati : Longhorn, Plug and Play Device Redirection, RDP, Vista
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At iForum Global 2006 Citrix announced its official entrance into the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) space via a set of technologies codenamed Project Trinity. Project Trinity builds on several existing Citrix technologies such as Remote Desktop Broker and PortICA. Project Trinity is still taking shape as it emerges. Luckily, you can follow the progress of Project Trinity at citrixcommunity.com.

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Press Release:

2X Software Server Based Computing Guide illustrates strategies for implementing Server Based Computing

London, UK, 29 November 2006 - 2X today announced the release of the 2X Server Based Computing Guide, which describes ways in which to optimize IT network infrastructures whilst cutting hardware, energy and administration costs.

Businesses worldwide face an escalating desktop PC management problem, requiring tremendous resources, both in staff and capital. As a result, the typical IT infrastructure has become increasingly complex, resource-intensive, and expensive.

“Only the more advanced thin client approach will be able to outdo cost intensive Windows fat clients in companies’ networks. Desktop Centralization like VMware’s Virtual Desktop Infrastructure or Microsoft’s Terminal Server can stop the day-to-day fat client management and maintenance from becoming a bigger headache. At 2X we are proud to contribute to this by presenting the Server Based Computing Guide explaining how to use 2X thin client technology to distribute Desktops and Applications to cost efficient thin clients and converted PCs,” said Nikolaos Makris, CEO 2X

What the 2X Server Based Computing Guide offers:

The Guide supports IT decision makers and administrators with all the necessary information to choose the right SBC solution for their Network infrastructure. It is divided into two main parts. Part one describes different application publishing scenarios with 2X ApplicationServer and 2X LoadBalancer on Windows Terminal Server.

The second part explains how to convert a network in a native thin client environment connecting to Virtual Desktops, Linux and Windows Terminal Servers and publishing applications to the 2X ThinClientServer multiple OS desktop.

Server Based Computing Core advantages

* Less Administration - Allows central management of users, patches software, (updates and upgrades) data, and backups

* Hardware Independence - Supports virtually all client devices and computer hardware and very low system

* Reducing Energy Costs - Thin clients have a very low system requirement and less energy consumption than standard PCs

* Easy Access - Employees, customers and Partners telework / roam more easily using published desktops and applications

* Reduction in TCO - Total Cost of Ownership reduction by up to 50%

For more information about 2X Server Based Computing Guide visit:

http://www.2x.com/solutions/. The Guide is available for download at:

http://www.2x.com/solutions/2xsolutionsguide.pdf. User to user support is available via the 2X forums at http://forums.2x.com

About 2X

2X Software Ltd - 2X is a software developing company for the booming server-based computing market. Thin client computing controls spiraling PC management costs, centralizes application and desktop management, improves security and performance and allows users to work remotely. The company’s product line includes: 2X ThinClientServer Enterprise edition and PXES edition, 2X LoadBalancer for Terminal Services/Citrix, 2X ApplicationServer for Windows Terminal Services and 2X SecureRDP for Windows Terminal Services. 2X is a privately held company with offices in Frankfurt, Cyprus, UK and Malta. Its management team is backed by years of experience in developing and selling network infrastructure software. 2X is a Microsoft and RedHat partner. For more information visit: www.2x.com, www.2xsoftware.de (German), www.2xsoftware.it (Italian), www.

2xsoftware.fr (French), www.2xsoftware.es (Spanish).

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

For more information:

Please email Tamara Borg at tamara@2x.com 2X Software Ltd: Tel: (+44) 845 222 0425; Fax: (+44) 845 222 0426

URL: http://www.2x.com.

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Microsoft just released the Terminal Services Client 6.0 for Windows XP SP2 and Windows Server 2003 SP1. This new client version provides a way to use any of the new Terminal Services features introduced in Microsoft Windows Vista and Microsoft Windows Server Code Name “Longhorn” from a computer running Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Microsoft Windows Server 2003 with Service Pack 1. Download the client from the links below:

Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) for Windows XP (KB925876)

Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB925876)

Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) for Windows Server 2003 (KB925876)

Remote Desktop Connection (Terminal Services Client 6.0) for Windows Server 2003 x64 Edition (KB925876)

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The Terminal Services Team has written a nice article about behavioral differences between Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server Codenamed Longhorn in Remote Administration mode. The article explains architectural changes, console connection ( /console switch) changes, and the “Restrict user to one session” policy.

Read full article here.

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Baselining Terminal Servers is an important aspect of setting up your Server Based Computing architecture. One of the key tools to baselining is Microsoft’s Performance Monitor (perfmon.exe). Performance Monitor can be used to get statistical data that is useful in troubleshooting performance issues as well as capacity planning. There are some excellent resources available on the web to help aide in the baseline process.

Michael Burke has written a 2 part series that covers this topic in depth. You can view Part 1 and Part 2 at MSTerminalServices.org.

John Kellett has also written a nice article about base lining Terminal Servers using Microsoft Performance Monitor.

Another great article to read on this topic is Brian Madden’s article titled “Terminal Server and Citrix MetaFrame Server Sizing Techniques“. Brian’s article takes things a step further by explaining techniques to generate test scripts using software such as AutoIT, WinBatch, or WinTask. You can then use these scripts with a “replay” engine such as the Citrix Server Test Kit (CSTK). Also, another great sizing utility is Denamik’s LoadGen.

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