Citrix loadbalancing

[localzuk]

Right, I'm a bit confused about Citrix load balancing.

 

I have 2 citrix servers in a farm, and I want to load balance between them (I'm using Citrix XenApp Advanced). The administrators guide is less than useless.

 

I have 2 types of clients - HP T5735's running their debian image, and Thinstation based machines.

 

Could someone give me some pointers, as everything is simply going to the first server still.

 

Cheers

[Ric_]

You need to publish a desktop (or app) and include both your servers in the list of available servers (right-click the app in Citrix Access Management Console->Properties->Basic->Servers).

 

Then use the Load Manager Application (right-click the app in Citrix Access Management Console->All Tasks->Manage Load) and select the load evaluator to use... my servers are pretty much matched so I just use the load evaluator to limit the number of logons to a server.

[localzuk]

So, then in the ICA client, I simply point that at any server in the farm?

[Ric_]

So, then in the ICA client, I simply point that at any server in the farm?

 

Create a DNS records named ica and point to both IP addresses to give some resilience in case one server dissapears. Then point the ICA client to 'ica' for browsing.

 

Alternatively, you can add both your servers into the ICA client - this way just makes it easier to add more servers at a later date.

[localzuk]

Ok, that makes sense. Now just to move the Citrix license server onto it's own box (well, a virtual box).

[Ric_]

Ok, that makes sense. Now just to move the Citrix license server onto it's own box (well, a virtual box).

 

lol... good luck navigating 'My Citrix'! You have to release your licenses (or something) and then re-allocate to your new license server... making sure that the hostname case is correct and the wind is blowing in the right direction!

 

I recently moved my license server and ended up having to speak to some nice woman at Citrix who guided me through the process.

[localzuk]

lol... good luck navigating 'My Citrix'! You have to release your licenses (or something) and then re-allocate to your new license server... making sure that the hostname case is correct and the wind is blowing in the right direction!

 

I recently moved my license server and ended up having to speak to some nice woman at Citrix who guided me through the process.

 

Yeah, I think I have that process figured out now. Not simple though! Not much of the 'setting up' of citrix does seem to be simple actually. Just the 'let it run' bit.

[localzuk]

Oh, and thanks for all that - load balancing is working nicely now.

[Oops_my_bad]

Thanks for that Ric,

 

But, you mention setting effectively a DNS round robin mechanism - do you know if this mean it is still "properly" load balanced via your citrix data collector or is it just DNS distributing the load?

 

I did have a play today (and got onto different servers) but couldnt tell if it was DNS roundrobbin or properly load balanced??

[Geoff]

No it will correctly load balance. The DNS round robin is just so the ICA client can find a server. Once it has, it'll negotiate and figure out which is best to connect to.

[Oops_my_bad]

Thanks for clearing that up!