Author: Ram Prasad (Page 1 of 8)

I have recently executed Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktop POC on Nutanix Hypervisor (AHV) platform, writing this post to share my technical knowledge gained in this project.

Project Goal:

• Procure & Deliver Hardware (3 physical servers) with NVIDIA Graphics cards
• Racking & Stacking of Hardware
• Install Nutanix Hypervisor (AHV) on physical Servers
• Build Citrix Virtual Apps & Desktop Infra on Nutanix platform
• VDI POC is only for Intranet users
• Install & deliver basic applications like Office, Adobe and Intranet apps on VDI
• Install & deliver high Graphics intensive applications CAD/CAM.
• Deploy VDI for the total of 100 users

Refer the below high level design document which contains Prerequisites, Dependencies, Hardware Requirements, VDI Models, NVIDIA requirements etc..

Hardware Installation Checklist to install Nutanix for Citrix POC

Below IP’s s are posted here for example/reference for better understanding

Refer below document for installing Nutanix AHV Cluster on HP Servers

Post Installation of Nutanix, Installed Citrix Infrastructure components. I am not covering these installation steps in this post as many articles are available on internet.

This POC has a requirement of GPU workloads hence we have installed NVIDIA License server & NVIDIA Graphic drivers on host & guest machines. Follow below document to know the NVIDIA Installation procedure

This POC has a requirement of delivering Linux VDI workloads for CAD/CAM applications, Follow below post to know the VDA & Graphics installation procedure for Linux

Step by Step to install Linux Virtual Delivery Agent Installation for RHEL – Tech Blog (ramprasadtech.com)

Knowledge Base References

Note: This post will be updated with few more updates

Inspired from https://james-rankin.com/articles/spreading-users-over-multiple-file-shares-with-fslogix-profile-containers/

James Rankin blog script created based on free space criteria but our requirement is based on user count. Below is the snippet for your reference

<# This script created for spreading users over multiple file shares with FSLogix Profile Containers
With Ref https://james-rankin.com/articles/spreading-users-over-multiple-file-shares-with-fslogix-profile-containers/
Script customized as per Citrix VDI  requirement, Azure Subscription will be connected with User Assigned Managed Idenity(UAMI) and UAMI is assigned to Citrix Master Image.
Script is added in Task Scheduler of Master Image and Machine catalog is created with "Machine Profile" option so that all cloned VDI's get UAMI property #> 

# This script count the directories in each share and FSLOgix VHD location is added based on count retrieved. We took directories count as users count can not be measured.

# This Script also created to address the Azure File Handle limit which is 10k per share 

# This script fetches directories count from MULTIPLE AZURE FILE STORAGES AND MULTIPLE SHARES

########### Set TLS 1.2 ###########

[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12

########### Connect Using User Assigned Managed Identity (UAMI) ###########

Connect-AzAccount -Identity -AccountId <UAMI Client ID>

########### Provide Profile Storage Account Details ###########

# Provide "Profile Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$profilestorageaccount1 = ""        
$profilestorageaccount1RG = "" 
$profilestorageaccount1shares = @(
"profile1",
"profile2"
)
# Provide "Profile Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$profilestorageaccount1sharesfullpath = @(
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\profile1", 
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\profile2"
)

# Provide "Profile Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$profilestorageaccount2 = ""
$profilestorageaccount2RG = ""
$profilestorageaccount2shares = @(
"profile3",
"profile4"
)
# Provide "Profile Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$profilestorageaccount2sharesfullpath = @(
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\profile3",
"\\<storageaccountname>c.file.core.windows.net\profile4"
)

# Provide "Profile Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$profilestorageaccount3 = ""        
$profilestorageaccount3RG = ""      
$profilestorageaccount3shares = @(
)
# Provide "Profile Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$profilestorageaccount3sharesfullpath = @(
)

# Provide "Profile Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$profilestorageaccount4 = ""
$profilestorageaccount4RG = ""
$profilestorageaccount4shares = @(
)

# Provide "Profile Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$profilestorageaccount4sharesfullpath = @(
)

# Provide "Profile Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$profilestorageaccount5 = ""
$profilestorageaccount5RG = ""
$profilestorageaccount5shares = @(
)
# Provide "Profile Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$profilestorageaccount5sharesfullpath = @(
)


########### Provide Office Storage Account Details ###########

# Provide "Office Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$officestorageaccount1 = ""
$officestorageaccount1RG = ""
$officestorageaccount1shares = @(
"office1",
"office2"
)
# Provide "Office Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$officestorageaccount1sharesfullpath = @(
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\office1",
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\office2"
)

# Provide "Office Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$officestorageaccount2 = ""
$officestorageaccount2RG = ""
$officestorageaccount2shares = @(
"office3",
"office4"
)
# Provide "Office Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$officestorageaccount2sharesfullpath = @(
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\office3",
"\\<storageaccountname>.file.core.windows.net\office4"
)

# Provide "Office Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values


$officestorageaccount3 = ""
$officestorageaccount3RG = ""
$officestorageaccount3shares = @(
)
# Provide "Office Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$officestorageaccount3sharesfullpath = @(
)

# Provide "Office Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$officestorageaccount4 = ""
$officestorageaccount4RG = ""
$officestorageaccount4shares = @(
)
# Provide "Office Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$officestorageaccount4sharesfullpath = @(
)

# Provide "Office Storage Account Name and Storage Resource Group Name"  else LEAVE BLANK values

$officestorageaccount5 = ""
$officestorageaccount5RG = ""
$officestorageaccount5shares = @(
)
# Provide "Office Storageaccount Shares FULL PATH" in above SHARES ORDER ONLY

$officestorageaccount5sharesfullpath = @(
)


########### Fetch the Directories in the Profile Shares ###########
$ProfileDirShareCount = @()
$profileorderedShares = @()

if($profilestorageaccount1shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $profilestorageaccount1RG -AccountName $profilestorageaccount1
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $profilestorageaccount1 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $profilestorageaccount1shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $profilestorageaccount1sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $ProfileDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($profilestorageaccount2shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $profilestorageaccount2RG -AccountName $profilestorageaccount2
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $profilestorageaccount2 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $profilestorageaccount2shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $profilestorageaccount2sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $ProfileDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($profilestorageaccount3shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $profilestorageaccount3RG -AccountName $profilestorageaccount3
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $profilestorageaccount3 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $profilestorageaccount3shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $profilestorageaccount3sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $ProfileDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($profilestorageaccount4shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $profilestorageaccount4RG -AccountName $profilestorageaccount4
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $profilestorageaccount4 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $profilestorageaccount4shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $profilestorageaccount4sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $ProfileDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($profilestorageaccount5shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $profilestorageaccount5RG -AccountName $profilestorageaccount5
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $profilestorageaccount5 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $profilestorageaccount5shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $profilestorageaccount5sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $ProfileDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}

$SortedProfileShares = $ProfileDirShareCount | Sort-Object freespace | select share
foreach ($item in $SortedProfileShares) {
    $profileorderedShares +=  $item.Share.ToString()
}


########### Fetch the Directories in the Office Shares ###########
$OfficeDirShareCount = @()
$officeorderedShares = @()

if($officestorageaccount1shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $officestorageaccount1RG -AccountName $officestorageaccount1
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $officestorageaccount1 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $officestorageaccount1shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $officestorageaccount1sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $officeDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($officestorageaccount2shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $officestorageaccount2RG -AccountName $officestorageaccount2
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $officestorageaccount2 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $officestorageaccount2shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $officestorageaccount2sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $officeDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($officestorageaccount3shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $officestorageaccount3RG -AccountName $officestorageaccount3
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $officestorageaccount3 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $officestorageaccount3shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $officestorageaccount3sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $officeDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($officestorageaccount4shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $officestorageaccount4RG -AccountName $officestorageaccount4
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $officestorageaccount4 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $officestorageaccount4shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $officestorageaccount4sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $officeDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}
if($officestorageaccount5shares.Count -gt 0)
{
    $i = 0
    $keys = Get-AzStorageAccountKey -ResourceGroupName $officestorageaccount5RG -AccountName $officestorageaccount5
    $value = $keys[0].Value
    $context = New-AzStorageContext -StorageAccountName $officestorageaccount5 -StorageAccountKey $value

    foreach($sharename in $officestorageaccount5shares)
    {
        $directories = Get-AzStorageFile -ShareName $sharename -Context $context
        $dircount = $directories.count
        $shareSpace = New-Object -TypeName psobject
        $path = $officestorageaccount5sharesfullpath[$i]
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name Share -value $path
        $sharespace | Add-Member -membertype NoteProperty -Name freespace -value $dircount
        $officeDirShareCount += $shareSpace
        $i = $i + 1
    }
}

$SortedOfficeShares = $OfficeDirShareCount | Sort-Object freespace | select share
foreach ($item in $SortedOfficeShares) {
    $officeorderedShares +=  $item.Share.ToString()
}

########### Remove the Existing VHDLocations Available ###########
$FSLogixProfilePath="HKLM:\software\FSLogix\Profiles"
$FSLogixODFCPath="HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\FSLogix\ODFC"
$FSLogixKeyName="VHDLocations"
if ((get-item -path $FSLogixProfilePath).GetValue($FSLogixKeyName) -ne $null) {
        Remove-itemProperty -path $FSLogixProfilePath -Name $FSLogixKeyName -force
} else {
        # do nothing, no key to delete
}
if ((get-item -path $FSLogixODFCPath).GetValue($FSLogixKeyName) -ne $null) {
        Remove-itemProperty -path $FSLogixODFCPath -Name $FSLogixKeyName -force
} else {
        # do nothing, no key to delete
}
########### Adding New VHDLocation for Profile ###########

### Reason for changing VHDLocation property type to Multi string value is because  that FSLogix need to searches the user profile in all shares hence to keep all shares , regkey should be Mutistring

New-ItemProperty $FSLogixProfilePath -Name $FSLogixKeyName -Value $profileorderedShares -PropertyType MultiString -Force

########### Adding New VHDLocation for Office ###########


New-ItemProperty $FSLogixODFCPath -Name $FSLogixKeyName -Value $officeorderedShares -PropertyType MultiString -Force


########### Write OutPut ###########

$folderPath="C:\Temp"

$ProfileDirShareCount | Export-csv -Path "$folderPath\Profile_Shareleastlog_$((Get-Date).ToString('MM-dd-yyyy_hh-mm-ss')).csv" -NoTypeInformation
$OfficeDirShareCount | Export-csv -Path "$folderPath\Office_Shareleastlog_$((Get-Date).ToString('MM-dd-yyyy_hh-mm-ss')).csv" -NoTypeInformation