Jeff Rodgers
asked on
Citrix XenApp 5.0 not load balancing in a small 2 server farm.
I have a small Citrix XenApp 5.0 farm, 2 Win 2008- 32 bit servers with Citrix XenApp 5.0 installed. One of the servers is Advanced (server1), the other is Enterprise (server2)
(don't ask... predecessor orded the wrong licenses and then installed them)
Server1 is taking all of the login's. Server 2 is not receiving any clients. Login is enabled in Citrix Access Management Console for both servers. Server 2 is also the zone collector.
Remote desktop is enabled on both, and firewall conditions are set to allow all necessary traffic. Users can remote desktop into either server no problem.
If I publish an app exclusively on either server, it works fine through XenApp. (i.e. if I publish Notepad on server 1, users can open notepad on server 1. If I publish notepad from Server2 only , users can open notepad from server 2. But if I publish the app on both servers 1,2 only server 1 will open.)
Both servers can reach the licensing server. Citrix license console shows 45 Enterprise licenses, and 40 Advanced licenses.
Qfarm /zoneapp returns Server 1 having a load of 4500, the Server2 is at 20,000. This tells me it could be a load balancing problem, but am unsure whate to check from here.
Am I missing something? Help!!!
(don't ask... predecessor orded the wrong licenses and then installed them)
Server1 is taking all of the login's. Server 2 is not receiving any clients. Login is enabled in Citrix Access Management Console for both servers. Server 2 is also the zone collector.
Remote desktop is enabled on both, and firewall conditions are set to allow all necessary traffic. Users can remote desktop into either server no problem.
If I publish an app exclusively on either server, it works fine through XenApp. (i.e. if I publish Notepad on server 1, users can open notepad on server 1. If I publish notepad from Server2 only , users can open notepad from server 2. But if I publish the app on both servers 1,2 only server 1 will open.)
Both servers can reach the licensing server. Citrix license console shows 45 Enterprise licenses, and 40 Advanced licenses.
Qfarm /zoneapp returns Server 1 having a load of 4500, the Server2 is at 20,000. This tells me it could be a load balancing problem, but am unsure whate to check from here.
Am I missing something? Help!!!
AcceleraSolutions
Load balancing is configured per version of the license you have installed. YOu cannot load balanance between two different license types. Sorry I have run into this as well in the past.
ASKER
Ok but... should the servers not be balancing to a degree anyways? It always worked in the past where the two servers would naturally "load balance".
I am ending up with 45 people logged into one server while the other sits idle.
Anyway to turn off the load balance or priority such that it balances out?
I am ending up with 45 people logged into one server while the other sits idle.
Anyway to turn off the load balance or priority such that it balances out?
I believe you are going to need to turn off the load balancing so that users just naturally connect. Try assigning the default load balancer instead of an advanced configuration. If you only ever have 45 users connecting can you just push your other server to Enterprise?
ASKER
We actually have about 80 users... many are on holidays right now (somewhere warm... sigh )
How would one "turn off the load balancing"?
How would one "turn off the load balancing"?
I am not aware of a way to just turn it off. What happens if you just assign the default load balancer??? Same thing?
ASKER
Yes same thing.
I'm not aware of how to turn of a load balancer for Citrix. There is not a service, and if you disable the load balancing (In Power Shell) it completly removes the server as being able to connect If you set your user load to something low like 5, and that 5 fills up, do your connections then go to the other server? If not, you may have to either upgrade or downgrade your exisitng licenses.
ASKER
Unfortunately it appears not.
I think the workaround may have to be having a second farm and assigning users manually based on geographic location. Head Office on one, Remote locations on another.
I think the workaround may have to be having a second farm and assigning users manually based on geographic location. Head Office on one, Remote locations on another.
You can control which icon users see via Security Groups. So if you already have a security group for a location that would help. Sorry we can't get it working, the only option would be to upgrade or downgrade your licenses and I can tell you from exepereince, Citrix does not like to downgrade licenses.
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I assume if you right click on the published app inside Access Managent Console, and go the Properties --> Servers , you do see both servers listed as supporting this published app, right?
ASKER
Yes that is correct. Both servers are visible from the AMC Servers container.
In fact I can manage both servers from the AMC
In fact I can manage both servers from the AMC
I mean the Properties of the published application itself. If you look at the properties, you should see a tab for servers, and the published application should list which servers are currently supporting it, as in the picture below.
Application-Properties.JPG
Application-Properties.JPG
ASKER
Yes. The applications are published on both servers.
Jeff any luck with downgrading or upgrading your licenses?
ASKER
I am still working on it... our Citrix Subscription Advantage is almost due.
With many of the advancements in Windows Server 2008 R2, I am trying to leverage this against Citrix.
The argument of course is that if you don't downgrade, we will just move away from Citrix and you will lose a customer.
In the grand scheme of things, there is very little Windows 2008 R2 won't accomplish for us that Citrix does. In some respects it will actually simplify our reality.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks for your help!
With many of the advancements in Windows Server 2008 R2, I am trying to leverage this against Citrix.
The argument of course is that if you don't downgrade, we will just move away from Citrix and you will lose a customer.
In the grand scheme of things, there is very little Windows 2008 R2 won't accomplish for us that Citrix does. In some respects it will actually simplify our reality.
I will keep you posted.
Thanks for your help!
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ASKER
No luck... Citrix's attitude is as usual... spend money... upgrade all of your licenses to the same level.
I have decided that for our limited environment, we can make due with RemoteApp and Remote Desktop services. We will not be renewing our Citrix licensing.
I will award you the points as you followed up and were quite helpful.
I have decided that for our limited environment, we can make due with RemoteApp and Remote Desktop services. We will not be renewing our Citrix licensing.
I will award you the points as you followed up and were quite helpful.