Provisioning Services

Name: Provisioning Services
Uploaded: 2017-08-06T09:43:23+00:00
Duration: PTM25S7
Channel: Melvyn Miller
Description: Provisioning Services

Provisioning Services
Faster Deployments Provisioning Services XenDesktop Setup Wizard Streamed VM Setup Wizard Raul Davila Escalation Engineer May 2015

Agenda Overview – How the Wizards automate and accelerate deployment
Process flow Under The Hood Upgrade and Compatibility Troubleshooting Resources Questions Agenda

Overview

Wizard Scenarios New Environments Quick Disaster Recovery
On-demand resources How many of you have had to manually create hundreds or even thousands of Virtual Desktops in a new Environment? Sometimes you don’t even have time and you need to create a few hundred Virtual Desktops to recover from a disaster. Or there’s a specific Holiday season in which you need more resources for the Sales team These are just a few of the scenarios where you can take advantage of the PVS machine creation Wizards.

Overview of the PVS Wizards
Leveraging the Wizards to accelerate VM deployment So how do the Wizards accelerate deployment? Here’s an example of the manual procedure of creating the Virtual Desktops in a XenDesktop deployment. The manual way: - Create the virtual machine - Create the machine account in Active Directory - Create and initialize the Write Cache disk if the vDisk is configured to use Write Cache on local hard disk - Create the XenDesktop Catalog - Add the machines as Desktops to the XenDesktop Catalog The XDSW automates the process completely making it, not only faster, but less prone to human error. Keep in mind that the SVMSW can also be used with XenDesktop as long as PvD is not required

Main differences between the PVS Wizards
XenDesktop interaction Cross version compatibility The XenDesktop Setup Wizard must be used to create PvD enabled Virtual Machines Streamed VM Setup Wizard does not initialize the Write Cache The XenDesktop Setup Wizard allows usage of multiple storages Main differences between both Wizards XenDesktop interaction: The Stream VM Setup Wizard does not interact directly with XenDesktop Cross version compatibility: XDSW requires the same level of XD version as the PVS Server. XDSW must be used to create PvD machines SVMSW doesn’t initialize the WC: The Write Cache disk must be initialized in the Template The XenDesktop Setup Wizard allows usage of multiple storages: The storages are read from the Host Connection in XenDesktop

XenDesktop Setup Wizard
Process flow Under the Hood

Let’s take a look at the process in the XenDesktop Setup Wizard and what it does behind the scenes.

Validate Access to the XD Site Validate Roles Check Catalog permissions Enumerate Scopes Enumerate Host Connections First thing is to enter the address of the XD Controller When we click next the Wizard will: Validate Access to the XD Site: First interaction with the DDC Validate Roles: Enumerate Admins and look for our account (account of user logged into the PVS Console) Check Catalog permissions: Check for Catalog creation/modification permissions (add new catalogs or add machines to existing Catalogs) Enumerate Scopes: To which Catalogs does the user logged into the PVS Console has access to? Enumerate the Host Connections: To extract the information about Networks and Storages

Select Host Connection Logon to the Hypervisor Check the Storages and Networks Enumerate the Templates Logon to the Hypervisor: Enter credentials of an account with proper access to the Hypervisor Check the Storages and Networks: Query Hypervisor for available resources. This information is used, among other things, to enumerate the Templates Enumerate the Templates: If the Host Connection points to a cluster/pool, then only templates that reside in Shared Storage accessible to all hosts in the cluster/pool will be enumerated.

Select the Template Select the correct VDA version installed in the vDisk Note: Selecting a wrong version might lead to Unregistered Desktops We are presented with the list of templates enumerated from the Hypervisor VDA Version selection: It’s very important to select the correct VDA version to avoid Unregistered Desktops. The VDA version has no impact on PVS itself, but it does change the way the Wizard behaves later on when creating or selecting a Catalog. XenDesktop will use this information to make some features available in Studio depending on the VDA version installed on the Desktop.

Select the vDisk that will be assigned to the Devices Only vDisks in Standard Mode are shown Only vDisks in Standard Mode are shown: Make sure the vDisk you want to assign to the Targets is in Standard Mode.

Create a new Catalog New-BrokerCatalog Same naming requirements as XenDesktop Select existing Catalog Catalog Creation: The Wizard will: - Leverage Powershell to invoke the New-BrokerCatalog cmdlet and create the catalog - Use the VDA Version selected in the previous step and pass it as a parameter to the New-BrokerCatalog cmdlet Catalog Naming Scheme: The Wizard will not let you enter any invalid characters for the Catalog Name Existing Catalog selection: the VDA Version selected in the previous steps will determine which existing catalogs are listed in the dropdown

Selecting the correct Operating System will determine if the Personal vDisk Option will be available. Also determines the possible Catalog Types If Server Operating System is selected, the Wizard will proceed directly to the Resources page where you can select CPU, RAM, etc… The operating system selected in this step also determines what catalog types are available

User Experience – Only for Desktop Operating Systems Random vs Static Personal vDisk User Experience: This step will only be shown if “Windows Desktop Operating System” was selected in the previous step. Random vs Static: This step allows you to select the type of Catalog that will be created Personal vDisk: We also define if the Desktops will be using Personal vDisk

Virtual Machine resources The Wizard will ignore any Write Cache disks in the Template Configure Personal vDisk options Configure how many machines will be created and the resources for the newly created virtual machines. Virtual Machine resources: Configure the RAM and CPUs for the new Virtual Machines Write Cache Disk: The wizard uses the size of the Hard Disk attached to the template as a base size for the Write Cache disk. But it will create it from scratch, rather than cloning the Hard Disk in the template. You can modify the size in the Wizard. XDSW will delete all the disks attached to the template. If you have secondary disks in the template containing applications, those disks will not be available in the Virtual Machines created by the Wizard. If you have such a configuration, use the Streamed VM Setup Wizard instead. Personal vDisk options: Write Cache Disk and PvD Disk should not be the same size. At runtime, the disks are identified by the size so they should be different. For Non-PvD Targets: the configuration is the same except for the PvD information (PvD disk size and PvD drive letter)

Boot Options PXE boot BDM disk Boot Options: Choose between PXE or BDM PXE Service can run on the PVS servers or it can be external – you also have the choice of using DHCP options 066 (Next-Server directive), 067 BDM Partition: Creates an 8MB Virtual Disk to boot from. The Bootstrap is included in the BDM Partition. About BDM configuration: All configuration that goes into the BDM Partition comes from whatever is configured on ARDBP32.BIN at the moment the Wizard is run. You can change this configuration through the PVS Console before running the Wizard.

Active Directory computer accounts Automatic computer account creation Console user needs correct permissions to create accounts in Active Directory Select how the computer accounts will be handled. Either create new accounts or use existing accounts. Automatic computer account creation: The wizard will automate creating the computer accounts in the selected OU in the next step of the Wizard Console Permissions: User logged on at the PVS Console needs the Active Directory Create Accounts permission:

Importing Existing computer accounts Import from AD or from a file Import from an OU CSV File Format: Name,Type,Description Importing accounts: First of all, select whether to import the accounts from an OU or from a CSV File Import from an OU: Click on the Browse button to select an OU from which the existing accounts will be imported into the PVS Database and assigned to the newly created Devices Import from a file: Click on the Import button to select a Comma Delimited file with the information about the computer accounts to be imported Imported accounts are checked against PVS, XenDesktop and the Hypervisor. Because of this, it can take a long time to import.

Select OU for the Machines Finish the Wizard to create the Machines Select OU: Finally Select the Organizational Unit where the computer accounts will be created. This step is shown only if we’re creating new accounts. Click Finish and let the Wizards complete the process of creating the virtual machines

Virtual Machine Creation Process
Hypervisor Interaction Details

VM Creation – Hyper-V Leverage PowerShell and SCVMM
Verify VM doesn’t exist Get the Template Properties Build PowerShell job to create the Virtual Machine Finalize VM creation and configure Virtual Hardware The XDSW leverages PowerShell to send commands to SCVMM to create the Virtual Machines in Hyper-V Verify VM doesn’t exist Get the Template Properties Boot Order, Network Adapters, DVD Drives, etc… Build PowerShell job to create the Virtual Machine Get the Job ID of the PowerShell job Monitor the Job until it’s completed Finalize VM creation and configure Virtual Hardware Add Virtual Network Cards, WriteCache disk, PvD and DVD drives

VM Creation – XenServer
Use XenAPI to automate XenServer Verify VM doesn’t exist Get the Template Properties Clone the VM Configure Virtual Hardware The XDSW communicates with XenServer through the XenAPI SDK The process is similar to that of Hyper-V Verify VM doesn’t exist in the hypervisor Get the Template Properties Boot Order, Network Adapters, DVD Drives, etc… Clone VM and monitor the Job until it’s completed Finalize VM creation and configure Virtual Hardware Add WriteCache disk, BDM, PvD and DVD drives

VM Creation – VMWare Leverage vCenter Verify VM doesn’t exist
Get the Template Properties Clone the VM Finalize VM creation and configure Virtual Hardware The XDSW communicates with VMWare through vCenter Verify VM doesn’t exist in the hypervisor Get the Template Properties Boot Order, Network Adapters, DVD Drives, etc… Clone VM and monitor the Job until it’s completed Finalize VM creation and configure Virtual Hardware Add WriteCache disk, BDM, PvD and DVD drives

Streamed VM Setup Wizard
Process flow Under the Hood

Select the correct Hypervisor For Hyper-V, SCVMM console must be installed on the PVS Server Select the correct Hypervisor: And enter the necessary credentials For Hyper-V: SCVMM Console must be installed on the PVS Server. Only the console is needed

Select the template to be used Templates must reside in shared DataStores After logging in to the Hypervisor we select the template to be used to create the Virtual Machines. Template Enumeration: If a Cluster or Pool is selected in the first step of the Wizard, then only the Templates that reside in Storage that is accessible to all the hosts will be enumerated.

Select the vDisk that will be assigned to the Devices Only vDisks in Standard Mode are shown Only vDisks in Standard Mode are shown: Make sure the vDisk you want to assign to the Targets is in Standard Mode.

Select an existing Device Collection The Streamed VM Setup Wizard does not create new Device Collections In this step we select the Device Collection where the Targets will be created. The Streamed VM Setup Wizard does not create new Device Collections: If a new Device Collection is needed you need to create it manually

Additional VM Configuration Write Cache size is inherited from the Virtual Machine Template Configure the resources for the newly created virtual machines. Virtual Machine resources: Configure the RAM and CPUs for the new Virtual Machines Write Cache Disk: This works differently than the XDSW. The wizard shows the size of the Hard Disk attached to the template for the Write Cache disk. This Hard Disk will be cloned so it needs to be already partitioned and formatted according to the PVS requirements for a Write Cache Hard Disk.

Steps for Computer Account creation are the same as in XenDesktop Setup Wizard When creating or importing the Active Directory accounts, the process is exactly the same as in the XenDesktop Setup Wizard.

Select OU for the Machines Finish the Wizard to create the Machines Select OU: Finally, select the Organizational Unit where the computer accounts will be created. This step is shown only if we’re creating new accounts. Click Finish and let the Wizards complete the process of creating the virtual machines

Upgrade and Compatibility

Upgrade and Compatibility
PVS Upgrade could require a XenDesktop upgrade PVS 6.x reaches End Of Life on June 17, 2015 PVS Version XenDesktop Version Provisioning Services 7.6 XenDesktop 7.0, 7.1, 7.5 and 7.6 Provisioning Services 7.1 XenDesktop 7.0 and 7.1 As part of any PVS upgrade strategy, we need to include the XenDesktop side in the Upgrade Project. This is only required if the XenDesktop Setup Wizard will be used. Even so, it is a best practice to upgrade both environments to the same level whenever possible. CRITICAL: PVS 6.x reaches End Of Life on June 17, 2015 Provisioning Services 6.1 XenDesktop 5.5 and 5.6

Troubleshooting

Cannot connect to XenDesktop Controller
Troubleshooting Cannot connect to XenDesktop Controller Capture CDF Traces on the XenDesktop Controller “access for Admin:GetAdministrator denied” This particular issue might not show relevant errors in the PVS CDF Trace Issue will not manifest if the Soap Server Service account is not a XD Admin, only when the Console User is not a XD Admin Search the DDC side CDF Trace for the following text: “access for Admin:GetAdministrator denied”. If found, this is the signature that the issue is due to the Console User not being a XenDesktop Administrator. Whenever possible, when troubleshooting XenDesktop Setup Wizard issues, consider also capturing CDF Traces on the XenDesktop Controller.

Troubleshooting “Object reference not set to an instance of an object” Known issue enumerating templates: LC5783 Check permissions and access to objects Possible known issue: "Object reference not set to an instance of an object” LC5783: Fixed in and 7.6 PVS expects an item when it enumerates a particular set of objects. But the objects returned by the other side are empty. This can happen when enumerating templates and there are no templates. It could be a permissions issue. PVS doesn’t have access to a set of objects and when it tries to obtain the properties of those objects, it triggers the error because it tries to get properties of an object that doesn’t exist. Check access and permissions: On Hosts On Storages On Active Directory

Failure to create Virtual Machines
Troubleshooting Failure to create Virtual Machines Verify which object failed to create Permissions on the Hypervisor, XD and AD Communication with Domain Controllers What happens when you hit that Finish button and something goes wrong. Verify which object failed to create: Three major objects are created: VM, XD object and AD Machine Account. Order of creation: VM, AD Machine Account and finally XD Object There are dependencies between this objects that can make the process fail. The XD Object depends on the AD Machine Account successful creation Permissions on the Hypervisor, XD and AD: Check Hypervisor logs Windows Event Logs on Domain Controllers CDF Traces on XenDesktop Verify communication with Domain Controllers: Sometimes Active Directory replication can make the process fail. Capture a Network Trace or use netstat to verify which Domain Controller the Wizard is communicating with.

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Conclusion Dramatically accelerate XenDesktop and XenApp Server deployments Differences between the Wizards Process flow and VM Creation Troubleshooting PVS Wizards dramatically accelerate Desktop and XA Server deployments: Hundreds or even thousands of Desktops can be deployed in minutes. Makes process less prone to human errors. Differences between the Wizards: PvD, Write Cache Creation, Machine creation across multiple storages Process flow and VM Creation: We followed the process from the GUI perspective and what happens behind the scenes and also how the Virtual Machines are created across different Hypervisors Troubleshooting: Permissions are critical: Permissions for the Console User and the Soap Server Service account on XenDesktop, the Hypervisor and Active Directory. Most issues are due to permissions

Resources

Resources XDSW Requirements: task1-plan-6-0.html#pvs-install-task1-plan__pvs-plan-req-xd-wizard SVMSW Requirements: task1-plan-6-0.html#pvs-install-task1-plan__pvs-plan-req-streamed-vm-wizard ESX Permissions: setup-wizard-readme.html VMware vSphere 6 - Citrix Known Issues: PVS Data Tools: Citrix Insight Services:

Questions

Before you leave… Recommended related breakout session
SYN412 - Faster deployments: XenDesktop Setup Wizard and the Streamed VM Setup Wizard Thursday May 14 at 4:30 p.m. -- Valencia Ballroom D Conference Surveys are available online at starting Thursday, May 14 at 9:00 a.m. Those who provide feedback by 6pm, Friday, May 15th will receive: $20 Amazon e-gift card Name entered in a drawing for a free Trip to Synergy 2016 (5 chances) Download presentations starting Monday May, 18th from the My Event Planning tool

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