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Disaster Recovery and XenApp 7.15

Hello. Setting up our Disaster Recovery environment for our XenApp 7.15/Windows 2016 environment. IN the past with XenApp 6.15, we would setup a local database in the DR zone - but the XenApp Servers in the environment would actually point to production and just be part of the farm. When we exercise DR, we would go onto the DR systems and re-point their database using the dsmaint config /dsn:"c:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\Independent Management Architecture\mf20.dsn to point to the Database that was restored within DR and it would no longer sync with production during our test.

Because so much resides in the database in XenApp 7.15 as well, wondering, is there a similar process or is there a recommended process for setting up a DR environment?

Thanks in advance.

James Rankin

Dependent on the components you have in play (Storefront, PVS, etc.) DR may be more or less complicated.

Citrix have a very detailed overview provided here - https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/tech-zone/design/design-decisions/cvad-disaster-recovery.html

jnordeng

ASKER

Ok thanks - We have separate Netscaler's and StoreFront systems in our DR environment. I'll take a look at the article.

Thanks

jnordeng

ASKER

Ok this is basically the strategy reading these docs, but I guess I'm looking for more of the how to's. Wondering, since I have separate Netscaler's, Storefront, DDC's and VDA's in a separate location/subnet space for DR. I'm trying to determine do I connect the DDC to our existing Prod or create as it's own? IF I create as it's own, how can I replicate changes that occur in the Prod environment? When we do our annual DR test we used to actually restore the prod database in DR and cut communications to Prod and perform our test within that environment - so the XenApp servers were then pointed to the DR Database by using the dsmaint command to repoint it. Aside from the test, when communications were live our DR servers shows up as a separate zone in Citrix and could see the XenApp Servers - just couldn't access the apps there due to FW Rules. So was thinking I would do something similar now?

This is not a cloud implementation but two on-prem different locals. Therefore I am trying to determine not only configuration but how we'd validate during a test?

Additional thoughts?

jnordeng

ASKER

Think Zones is the right way to go - this is what we did in XenApp 6.5 - so in reading though we used every machine in the farm was part of the AppCenter and within the zone. IN XenApp 7.15 - the Delivery Controller's are separate from the VDA's. In reading it discusses that Machine Catalogs should be everything in that region. So I'm guessing that includes the Delivery Controller's as well as the VDA's - thoughts?

The more important question - if I setup these zones - how do I ensure that nothing is trying to reach out to a seperate zone? How do I perform our DR test?

Thanks in advance to add clarity around the how to's.

jnordeng

ASKER

Hoping updating this ticket will get some responses.

So I am at the point now of setting up Citrix Studio and thought I would like the DR Delivery Controller's into the production Database, but segment off as another zone. However; it is giving me weird permission issues trying to Connect this Delivery Controller to an existing Site. Worked with DBA and they confirmed I have the right prod username and password and they also confirmed this user has the permissions to do this task. However; get the following:

Error Id: XDDS:E3C75A28

Exception:

Citrix.Console.Models.Exceptions.PermissionDeniedException You do not have the necessary permissions on the remote site to perform this join operation.

at Citrix.Console.DeliveryCenter.UI.Dialogs.JoinExistingSiteDialogViewModel.OkBackgroundOperation(IProgressReporter progressReporter)

at Citrix.Console.Common.OperationTimer.TimeBlock(Action operation)

at Citrix.Console.CommonControls.ProgressDisplay.GenericProgressOperationWithFeedBack.PerformOperationInternal()

at Citrix.Console.CommonControls.ProgressDisplay.ProgressWindowOperation.PerformOperation()

at Citrix.Console.CommonControls.ProgressDisplay.ProgressWindowViewModel.PerformAction(Action operationComplete)

DesktopStudio_ErrorId : UnknownError

ErrorCategory : PermissionDenied

Inner Exception:

Citrix.Console.Models.Exceptions.PermissionDeniedException Incorrect user name or password. Please check your credentials and try again.

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellInteraction.ThreadedDatabaseScript`1.RunScript()

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellInteraction.PowerShellScript`1.Run()

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellSdk.DatabaseService.Scripts.ValidateDatabaseCredentialsScript.ValidateConnection()

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellSdk.DatabaseService.Scripts.ValidateDatabaseCredentialsScript.RunScript()

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellInteraction.PowerShellScript`1.Run()

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellSdk.SiteService.Scripts.JoinExistingSiteValidationScript.RunScript()

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellInteraction.PowerShellScript`1.Run()

at Citrix.Console.DeliveryCenter.UI.Dialogs.JoinExistingSiteDialogViewModel.OkBackgroundOperation(IProgressReporter progressReporter)

DesktopStudio_ErrorId : UnknownError

ErrorCategory : PermissionDenied

DesktopStudio_PowerShellHistory : VerifyDatabaseServerExistsScript

1/13/2021 10:37:09 AM

Inner Exception:

Citrix.Console.Common.Exceptions.LogOnFailedException Incorrect user name or password. Please check your credentials and try again.

at Citrix.Console.Common.Services.CredentialsService.Citrix.Console.Common.Services.ICredentialsService.StartImpersonatingUser(UserCredentials credentials)

at Citrix.Console.PowerShellInteraction.ThreadedDatabaseScript`1.RunScript()

Thoughts?

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

jnordeng

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abcd ab01

please lose this ticket. thankd