Citrix or Xenserver on ESX Host ?

[TonyJK]

We are going to replace the Citrix Server.

We find that a number of sites have already got Citrix Server as a VM in ESX Host. However, my supervisor would like to use XenServer.

From my understanding, XenServer is similar to ESX that provides virtualization and it should not be implement as a VM for production. Is it correct ?

Besides, is there any document available for implementing Citrix on ESX Host ?

Thanks

[dragooner]

AMM....I have test the citrix xenserver in the esx hosts. It was really could be run.But,if you want to use this infrastructure in the product environment, I thought you should do much more test work.

[mjpagan]

Are you looking to run XenApp or XenServer in a VM on VMware?

Mike P

MCSE, VCP3/4

[TonyJK]

We intend to run XenApp on a VM.

Re XenServer, my supervisor would like to run Citrix NetScalar on it.

Thanks

Message was edited by: TonyJK

[dragooner]

It's a really good idea which run Xenapp on the VM. But, if you want to have a good customer experienced, you‘d better run it on the physical servers.

[TonyJK]

Do you suggest running XenApp and XenServer on two separate physical boxes ?

Thanks

[Rumple]

Remember that XenApp is really glorified Terminal Services so it runs ON windows...so its pretty good in a VM (but it depends on user loads).

XenServer is used to "Virtualize" Citrix sessions...so its better on bare metal (and is really good for really Heavy processing loads in Citrix)

[mjpagan]

I have a number of terminal and Citrix servers running on ESXi. There is a small penalty that you pay for not having it on native hardware but with the benefits of virtualization (snapshot, HA, vMotion, hardware independence) it is worth the cost.

I have not run XenServer on ESXi and would only do so in a demo/lab situation.

Mike P

MCSE, VCP3/4

[dragooner]

Rumple said a important thing,use VM or use physical server depended on your user loads.

I had talked with the Citrix venders, they suggested use physical server. In my opinion, VM or physical server all depends on your use load and your application scale.

[a_p_]

I think there's a little confusion about wording, so let me clarify this first.

- VMware ESX(i) - Bare metal hypervisor, installed on a physical system

- Citrix XenServer - Bare metal hypervisor, installed on a physical system

- Citrix XenApp - Application virtualization based on MS Windows Server

So what you need is either ESX(i) or XenServer installed on the physical system.

Then you can configure virtual machines like XenApp.

I guess the reason, your supervisor wants to have XenServer is because of licensing. Citrix includes various licenses in it's Platinum editions.

Personally I am a consultant and have many customers with tons of virtualized XenApp loads running on XenServer 5.x and/or ESX(i) 4. And - to be honest - both hypervisors work. With current hardware (e.g. 2 x Intel E5440, 20GB RAM, BBWC) I usually have up to 4 XenApp servers running on each physical system without any issues. You may have a small penalty compared to a physical installation, however because of being able to run multiple VM's you have a huge cost saving effect (hardware, power, cooling, cabeling...).

The only thing you absolutely should make sure, is that your physical hardware is on the vendor's HCL.

André