Citrix XenDesktop enables to provide (virtual) desktops for a list of predefined users. This technology saves money because only the server (where virtual desktops used by authorized users are running) has to be powerful. Clients receive a picture (a set of pixels) of the desktop used remotely.

The client that allows you to use a desktop (virtual or not) remotely is named "Citrix Receiver". This program can also be downloaded from your XenDesktop server, if you wish.

In this tutorial, we will use a virtual machine with Windows 7 to make available virtual machines created with MCS technology. These virtual machines are created on a "Citrix XenServer" server.

Used configuration :

• Serveur 1 / IP : 10.0.0.101 / A server under Win. Server 2012 with an Active Directory (and a certification authority racine created to avoid paying SSL certificate)
• Serveur 2 / IP : 10.0.0.102 / A server under Win. Server 2012 where we will install XenDesktop. This server is linked to the Active Directory server and this serves as the main server (everything goes through that server)
• Serveur 3 / IP : 10.0.0.103 / the XenServer 6.2 virtualization server with :
  • A virtual machine with Windows 7 x64 where we will install the Virtual Delivery Agent to allow XenDesktop to create 2 VM by using the MCS technology.
  • 2 virtual machines that we will create by MCS. MCS allows you to create several copies of a VM (the Virtual Delivery Agent must be installed on the virtual machine to duplicate)
• Computers running Windows or another operating system supported by Citrix Receiver to test the desktops delivered by XenDesktop.

Note: The Certificate Authority is not required, but it allows you to test your configuration without paying SSL Certificate. This can also be used if you use this technology only in a local network (intranet).

1. Install the Delivery Controller
2. XenServer installation and configuration
3. Secure XenServer over HTTPS
4. Configure the Citrix website (Citrix Receiver in web version)
5. Securing StoreFront (HTTPS)
6. Installing a virtual machine and the VDA
7. Creating the machines catalog
8. Assigning users to machines (delivery groups creation)
9. Citrix Receiver : Installation and client test
10. Shutdown virtual machines listed in Citrix Studio
11. Shutdown the XenServer virtualization server

1. Install the Delivery Controller

First, install the "Delivery Controller" on the server 2. By installing this component, you also install :
- Citrix Studio : To manage all the configuration of XenDesktop (desktops delivery, adding machines, ...)
- Citrix Director : To monitor the operation of XenDesktop (Monitoring)
- Etc.

To do this, insert the XenDesktop CD and click on the "Start" button in front of XenDesktop.

Click on "Delivery Controller".

Accept the license agreement.

Leave the boxes checked and click "Next".

Note: If desired, you can install the license server to another server.

Click "Next".

Select "Automatically" and click "Next".

Note : If you want access to desktops delivered by XenDesktop, from the outside; Don't forget to redirect the necessary ports in your router.
To do this, follow this : Making a server accessible from the Internet.

Click "Install".

Installation takes half a hour.

During installation (after 10 minutes), XenDeskop ask you to restart the computer.
Then, the installation will continue.

Once the installation is complete, click "Finish".

If you have installed Citrix Delivery Controller with a local user, Citrix Studio will not work and will display this error.

In this case, log off and log on with the Administrator account for your domain.
Note : In our case, our domain is called "InformatiWeb".

Now, Citrix Studio works.

2. XenServer installation and configuration

Since we will use the XenServer server virtualization, we will install XenServer.

To install, update and configure XenServer, follow our tutorial : Citrix XenServer - Installation, configuration, updates and use

During the installation of XenServer, check the box "Enable thin provisioning (Optimized storage for XenDesktop)". This isn't mandatory but is recommended.

Use a fixed IP address for your XenServer server.

Enter a name for your server and DNS servers to use.
Since you have installed Active Directory on your network, specify the IP address of that server at the line "DNS Server 1".
Then, specify the IP address of your router (where ISP DNS servers IP addresses are writted) and the IP address of a public DNS server Google (8.8.8.8 or 8.8.4.4).

Once the XenServer installation and server configuration are complete, we will configure the DNS server for that your server has also a domain name.
Note : The server will only have a domain name. It will not be linked to Active Directory.

When you install an Active Directory on a server, the wizard also installs the DNS server, but the wizard creates only a forward lookup zone. To avoid future problems, create the reverse lookup zone by following this : Configuring the DNS server (for LAN).
Then, create pointers associated with existing records by right click on each record, and click "Properties".
Note : ad-server and xendesktop recordings were created automatically by the Active Directory because we have linked these 2 machines to our Active Directory.

Check the "Update associated pointer (PTR) record" box.

Refresh the list of the reverse lookup zone.

Then, create an A record (in the forward lookup zone) for your xenserver server.
Note : Don't forget to check the "Create Associated Pointer (PTR) Record".

3. Secure XenServer over HTTPS

For security reasons, we will secure the connection to XenServer server using HTTPS. To do this, follow our tutorial : Citrix XenServer - Securing the connection using SSL (HTTPS)