XenDesktop 5 (Machine Creation Services (MCS) + Microsoft KMS activation) = works
Summary
Citrix XenDesktop 5 Support Statement for Microsoft KMS activation with Machine Creation Services (MCS).
Background
XenDesktop 5 introduced a new technology for creating virtual desktops simply and easily for the VDI use case. This is referred to as Machine Creation Services or MCS:
(http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/index.jsp?topic=/xendesktop-rho/cds-sys-reqs-provision-rho.html)
Topic1
MCS does not support or work with KMS based Microsoft Windows 7 activation by default, however the following workaround has been provided and will be supported by Citrix Support should an issue arise.
Creating a Master Image
- Create a master image virtual machine and install Windows, Virtual Desktop Agent, and all software required.
- Make a snapshot this master image (call the image “masterImage”).
- Rearm the virtual machine (use slmgr /rearm) and shut down the virtual machine.
- Make a snapshot the virtual machine again (call this “masterImage-rearm”)
- Use the masterimage-rearm snapshot at the master image for creating a catalog.
- When the MCS machines are created and boot they should request activation from the KMS server using unique identities. The machines will activate every time they are booted, this means that after this, virtual machine has been booted 25 times (or 25 machines have been booted once then the KMS server will activate because it will have reached its minimum machine activation count).
Updating a Master Image
- Start the master image snapshot (not the master image-rearm).
- Update whatever is required.
- Take a snapshot (masterimage2).
- Rearm the snapshot (slmgr /rearm).
- Take a snapshot (masterimage2-rearm).
- Update the catalogue to use the masterimage2-rearm snapshot.
Note: (As described) you must go back to the un-rearmed master image each time you do updates as there is a limit to three rearms per machine. If you only update the originally rearmed virtual machine then the process will only work 3 times. Also note that you must not restart the master images that have been rearmed, as this completes the rearm process, this completion of rearm must be done on the VMs that MCS has created for this process to work.
More Information
XenDesktop 5 with Provisioning Services 5.6 Service Pack 1 fully supports the use of Windows 7 activation using KMS and you will be supported if an issue arises and you need to call Citrix Support.
Trackback from your site.
Thomas Poppelgaard
| #
Hi Steve normal I install the GRID driver to device and when its workin, I disable the default VGA device.
Have you applied latest hotfix to the XS6.1 there are some crucial hotfixes to the GPU pass-through, that could crash the GRID’s, when you power on a VM with GPU pass-through.
Steve
| #
Just a quick question on your setup. We just got a system similar to yours (R720, 2xGrid K2 cards, XenServer 6.1, XenApp 6.5). The GRID K2 driver installs (320.00), but the device shows up as stopped in device manager. Did you use any special options when installing the nVidia driver? Or somehow remove the default VGA device?
Dan
| #
Hi Thomas,
Some features in your screenshots (eg create appointments and contacts) seem to be missing from the iOS version of @WorkMail that got released in April, do you know if these features are still coming in a future release? The Android client is far more functional by comparison.
Regards
Dan
Christian Eilskov
| #
You can see the DHCP options here:
http://www.wyse.com/kb and search for 21501
You can transfer a image using Wyse Device Manager(WDM), the same goes for smaller updates like new ICA client and so.
Thomas Poppelgaard
| #
Thank you Barry =)
The deep compression codec for Citrix XenDesktop HDX 3D Pro will be intergrated for Citrix XenApp in Excalibur so there is a big difference with bandwidth consumption. This means that XenApp in Excalibur will be the best platform for user density and works great over WAN with high latency as HDX 3D Pro have been known to deliver for several years. Yes i know of cases with WAN optimization, I will gather these and share them.
Best regards
Thomas