Tag: Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

Microsoft Windows Server 2016 TP4

Microsoft have released Microsoft Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 4.

I am really excited about this release cause now Microsoft RemoteFX have added support for OpenGL and OpenCL with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS) previously Microsoft RemoteFX only supported DirectX.

RemoteFX technology works with GPU vendors such as NVIDIA, INTEL and AMD

Whats new in Windows Server 2016 TP4

What’s New in Microsoft Nano Server. Microsoft Nano Server now supports the DNS Server and IIS server roles, as well as MPIO, VMM, SCOM, DSC push mode, DCB, Windows Server Installer, and the WMI provider for Windows Update. Its Recovery Console supports editing and repairing the network configuration. A Windows PowerShell module is now available to simplify building Microsoft Nano Server images.

Windows Containers: Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview now includes containers, which allow many isolated applications to run on one computer system. They build fast and are highly scalable and portable. Two different types of container runtime are included with the feature, each with a different degree of application isolation. Windows Server Containers achieve isolation through namespace and process isolation. Hyper-V Containers encapsulates each container in a light weight virtual machine. For some additional information on containers, see Containers: Docker, Windows and Trends.
What’s new in Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) in Windows Server Technical Preview. Active Directory Domain Services includes improvements to help organizations secure Active Directory environments and provide better identity management experiences for both corporate and personal devices.
What’s New in Active Directory Federation Services. Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview includes new features that enable you to configure AD FS to authenticate users stored in Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) directories. For more information, see Active Directory Federation Services Overview [Role/Tech Overview].
What’s New in Failover Clustering in Windows Server Technical Preview. This topic explains the new and changed functionality of Failover Clustering. A Hyper-V or Scale-out File Server failover cluster can now easily be upgraded without any downtime or need to build a new cluster with nodes that are running Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview.
What’s new in Hyper-V on Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview. This topic explains the new and changed functionality of the Hyper-V role in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview, Client Hyper-V running on Windows 10, and Microsoft Hyper-V Server Technical Preview.
Windows Defender Overview for Windows Server Technical Preview. Windows Server Antimalware is installed and enabled by default in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview, but the user interface for Windows Server Antimalware is not installed. However, Windows Server Antimalware will update antimalware definitions and protect the computer without the user interface. If you need the user interface for Windows Server Antimalware, you can install it after the operating system installation by using the Add Roles and Features Wizard.
What’s New in Remote Desktop Services in Windows Server 2016. For the Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview, the Remote Desktop Services team focused on improvements based on customer requests. We added support for OpenGL and OpenCL applications, and added MultiPoint Services as a new role in Windows Server.
What’s New in File and Storage Services in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview. This topic explains the new and changed functionality of Storage Services. An update in storage quality of service now enables you to create storage QoS policies on a Scale-Out File Server and assign them to one or more virtual disks on Hyper-V virtual machines. Storage Replica is a new feature that enables synchronous replication between servers for disaster recovery, as well as stretching of a failover cluster for high availability..
What’s New in Web Application Proxy in Windows Server Technical Preview. The latest version of Web Application Proxy focuses on new features that enable publishing and preauthentication for more applications and improved user experience. Check out the full list of new features that includes preauthentication for rich client apps such as Exchange ActiveSync and wildcard domains for easier publishing of SharePoint apps.
What’s new in the Windows console. The underlying console host (Conhost.exe) has been updated in several ways, adding new and different functionality to the Windows command prompt, the Windows PowerShell prompt, and any other character-mode applications. For details, see What’s New in the Windows Console in Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview and Console Improvements in the Windows 10 Technical Preview , but you should take note of these important changes:
- The new console functionality is enabled by default. If an existing application doesn’t work properly with the new console, you can select Use legacy console on the Options tab and then restart your application. You can also control individual aspects of the new functionality with registry keys; see details at the linked topics.
- Console windows can be resized dynamically with the mouse. This could cause issues with some console applications.
- Quick Edit mode is enabled by default. If this conflicts with your application, you can disable it on the Options tab.
- There are new keyboard shortcuts for copy, paste, and history navigation. If these conflict with your application, you can disable them on the Options tab (look for Enable CTRL key shortcuts and Extended test selection keys).
- The default font type for new console windows is TrueType. You can still use raster fonts, but they won’t scale properly on some displays.
- Text wraps and reflows by default when you resize a window. If necessary, you can disable this on the Layouts tab.
- In some cases, after upgrade installation, fonts in the console window might be very small. To adjust this, use the Fonts tab.
What’s New in Windows PowerShell 5.0. Windows PowerShell 5.0 includes significant new features—including support for developing with classes, and new security features—that extend its use, improve its usability, and allow you to control and manage Windows-based environments more easily and comprehensively. Multiple new features in Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) are also described in this topic.
What’s New in Networking in Windows Server Technical Preview. The majority of what you’ll find for networking is new in TP3. We bring a scalable network controller for programming policies, an L4 load balancer for high availability and performance, enhanced gateways for hybrid connectivity, and an underlying network fabric that converges RDMA traffic together with tenant traffic, DNS policies that control how your DNS servers respond to incoming requests, and better integration of DNS and IPAM.

Source

https://technet.microsoft.com/library/dn765472.aspx

Download Microsoft Windows Server 2016 TP4

Professional Services:

Citrix technology professional – CTP, and Microsoft Most Valuable Professional MVP, Thomas Poppelgaard provides professional services. Write to me on my email thomas@poppelgaard.com or call on my cell +45 53540356

Microsoft Most valuable professional MVP award

Hi all

I am very proud to be awarded Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) by Microsoft.

This is my first award from Microsoft and I am now part of a fine bunch of geeks. Expect many great things coming from me around Microsoft 🙂

Thank you all for your support and believing in the values I do, I will make sure to bring lots of knowledge into the MVP program.

/Thomas Poppelgaard

Citrix XenApp 6.5 Feature Pack 3

Citrix have released Feature Pack 3 for XenApp 6.5. If you are using XenApp 6.5 and have no plans moving from IMA to FMA architecture which XenApp 7.6 is then you might like the Feature Pack 3 components.

XenApp 6.5 Feature Pack 3 is an update for XenApp 6.5 customers, giving you access to new and recently released Citrix components. Download these individually and install them into your existing deployment. Some components require Platinum or Enterprise editions of XenApp 6.5.

What’s new in Feature Pack 3?

This release includes the following new components:

StoreFront 3.0 – Delivers centralized customization and branding of your users’ applications and desktop selection experience across Receivers for Windows, Mac, and Linux (on desktops) and Receivers for Web, HTML5, and Chrome (on mobile devices). For more information, see http://docs.citrix.com/en-us/storefront/3/sf-about-30.html.
HDX RealTime Optimization Pack 1.8 – For Enterprise and Platinum editions of XenApp, offers clear, crisp high-definition video calls with Microsoft Skype for Business and Lync. Users can seamlessly participate in audio-video or audio-only calls to and from other HDX RealTime users and other standards-based video desktop and conference room systems. For more information, see http://docs.citrix.com/en-us/hdx-optimization/1-8.html.
Director 7.6.300 – Includes fixes for issues in Version 7.6.200.

This release also includes the following components:

Provisioning Services 7.6 – For Enterprise and Platinum editions of XenApp. To download this component, visit https://www.citrix.com/downloads/provisioning-services/product-software/provisioning-services-76.html.
AppDNA 7.6 – For Platinum edition of XenApp. To download this component, visit https://www.citrix.com/downloads/appdna/product-software/appdna-76.html.
XenServer 6.5 Service Pack 1 – To download this component, visit https://www.citrix.com/downloads/xenserver/product-software/xenserver-65.html.
Universal Print Server 7.6 – To download this component, visit http://www.citrix.com/downloads/xenapp/components/citrix-universal-print-server-ups-76.html?_ga=1.134207245.285281709.1418855524.
Profile management 5.2.1 – To download this component, visit https://www.citrix.com/downloads/xenapp/components/xenapp-component-updates-after-xenapp-6-5-feature-pack-2.html.
License Server 11.12.1 – To download this component, visit https://www.citrix.com/downloads/licensing/license-server/license-server-version-11121-for-windows.html.

Citrix encourages you to migrate your deployment from XenApp 6.5 to XenApp 7.6. To find out more about this, see http://www.citrix.com/products/xenapp/tech-info/upgrade.html.

To deliver VM hosted apps, download the XenApp 7.6 ISO file and Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) packages from http://www.citrix.com/downloads/xenapp.html

Source

Download Citrix XenApp 6.5 Feature Pack 3 here (requires MyCitrix ID)

Lakeside Case Study – sizing NVIDIA GRID vGPU

Hi all

I am very proud to share the results of the work I did with my friend and coworker Magnar Johnsen from FirstPoint. We have been developing for a long time a smart new way of analyzing data (iOPS, CPU, Memory, GPU, Latency..) and different pieces of software was evaluated and Lakeside Software was the product we decided to go with and both our companies Poppelgaard.com and Firstpoint who are a Lakeside partner so we are legit to make assessments for clients using Lakeside Software. Below article helps you if you are about to size a NVIDIA GRID vGPU solution using either Citrix XenServer or VMware vSphere. If you have been at NVIDIA GTC, Citrix Synergy, BriForum, E2EVC or seen me talking at a Citrix User Group you might have seen the results of the work we did, thats changing on how we think applications are impacting that requires a GPU.

Magnar and I go way back.

Magnar and I have a long past with remote graphics and when we put our minds together we create something that is beautiful. Last year at Citrix Synergy audience could see how people could virtualize 3d remote graphics from Virtual Reality solution using Oculus Rift “Facebook” from the cloud. This was showed for the first time for audience and Citrix loved the idea and redesigned their exhibit about HDX 3D Pro next to FrameHawk, and sorry FrameHawk we stole all the attention with everybody wants to try the VR solution. The cool thing was VR was cool, but me and Magnar worked months “hard” to analyze the data we find at Aibel and we did very successful assessment and we shared the findings at Brian Madden BriForum in May 2014, just after Citrix Synergy, and the audience could for the first time learn the lessons we experienced and we could see applications behavior is not “just” what you might think or expect it to be. Analytics is the key to understand your app. Lets talk about why…

Lets dig into the case study we did at Aibel

Aibel is an industrial pioneer with a history dating back more than a century. With around 5,500 employees worldwide the company is a leading supplier of engineering services related to oil, gas and renewable energy.

Aibel is a huge user of desktop virtualisation technology and is currently delivering virtual desktops to around 4,500 users. The challenge was to work out what to do with the remaining 1500 CAD/CAM workstations where graphics intensive modelling of 3D designs tied them to powerful physical workstations.

With projects occurring at the eight Aibel locations in Norway as well as at the Aibel offices in Thailand and Singapore the amount of data flowing across the WAN was increasing and becoming unwieldy. Large engineering models needed to be accessed on location and shared with engineers and designers in all Aibel office locations.

Virtualisation was seen as the solution to these issues but the challenge was how to virtualise graphics intensive workloads without impacting user experience or drive uneconomic datacentre specifications.

Partner Expertise

Firstpoint AS, a trusted Citrix Gold partner and virtualisation specialists, were brought in to advise Aibel on how to best virtualise this tricky user group.

They teamed up with Thomas Poppelgaard, an independent expert in virtualisation and GPU technologies and together they started an initial survey of Aibel’s situation.

GPU Acceleration Approach

It became quickly clear that the only way to successfully virtualise the 3D graphics workstations in an economically viable fashion was to deploy GPU acceleration technology in the datacentre. NVIDIA’s GRID cards would allow dedicated and shared GPU accelerators to be placed in the datacentre to be used by virtual desktops offloading server CPUs and removing user experience impact for other virtual desktop users.

The Challenge

Having identified the technology approach the challenge now was to work out how to size the workload of these 1500 users and design a solution that would deliver user experience at least as good as their current physical desktop experience. In order to do that the team needed to work out:

What graphics applications are in use today
Who is using which applications and workstations
What GPU processor power is being consumed today by application, user and workstationPoppelgaard.com and FirstPoint brought in Lakeside Software’s SysTrack to do this job. Using SysTrack’s granular data collection model they could model a complete picture of application and GPU workload across all the users and workstations in use at Aibel today.

The Outcome

Using SysTrack the team has been able to build a complete inventory of the existing application and workstation estate and user behaviour. Using these analytics and SysTrack technologies a detailed specification and design for the future NVIDIA GRID based desktop virtualisation infrastructure has been created. Aibel is able to trust this design

as it is completely based on observed data captured from their existing estate and modelled using industry leading technologies from Lakeside and NVIDIA to create the optimal solution for Aibel’s situation. Key in any design is to not over provision the solution and thereby inflate the cost of the solution. On the other hand under provisioning will lead to a poor user experience and potential project failure. SysTrack ensures the right data is used to make the right decision for the future estate.

The assessment was primarily executed to understand Aibel engineers CAD applications such as Aveva PDMS, Bentley Microstation, etc. Shown below is a summary of average GPU usage for 1500 physical machines which revealed surprisingly that internet browsers are very GPU intensive compared to other applications.

Another benefit of leveraging SysTrack was the SysTrack MarketPlace report that had been co-authored by Lakeside and NVIDIA which allowed the team to convert all the data collected into accurate sizing of the number of NVIDIA GRID cards by model number required to offload the GPU workload.

The output from SysTrack also showed how GPUs were being used across the existing estate and how hard they were being utilised. Using jointly authored Lakeside/NVIDIA reports this data was then used to calculate estimated vGPU profiles.

Source

VMware Horizon View 6.1.1

VMware Horizon View 6.1.1 has been released

This is my first blogpost about VMware EUC product and VMware is investing alot in end user computing space and making this GPU enabled.

In release 6.1.1 VMware have enabled GPU pass-through (vDGA) to Linux virtual machines that run on following OS (Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS, or NeoKylin) this technology can be used with NVIDIA GRID

This means with 1 physically NVIDIA GRID K1 you could have 4 linux VMs with GPU pass-through,k cause a K1 have 4 physically GPUs. With 1 physically NVIDIA GRID K2, you can have 2 linux VMs with GPU pass-through, cause a K2 have 2 physically GPUs

Below gives you an understand which GPU methodology I am talking about with what you can do with vDGA.
FYI – VMware View 6.1.1. supports NVIDIA GRID vGPU but only with Windows OS.
KUDUS goes to TeamRGE, for using their graphics.

What’s New in This Release of VMware Horizon View 6.1.1

VMware Horizon View 6.1.1 resolves known issues in previous releases and provides the following new features and enhancements:

Client Drive Redirection
Users can share folders and drives on their local client systems with remote desktops and applications. Client Drive Redirection is supported on VDI desktops that run on single-user machines and on RDS desktops and applications. The feature is supported on Windows clients and, as a Tech Preview, on Mac OS X clients.
Horizon 6 for Linux Desktops
You can now deploy Horizon 6 desktops on Linux virtual machines. With the View Agent for Linux installer, you can set up parent virtual machines or templates that run on Ubuntu, RHEL, CentOS, or NeoKylin and deploy Linux-based VDI desktop pools in View Administrator. You can configure Linux virtual machines to use vDGA to support 3D graphics applications running on NVIDIA GRID GPU cards. Some features such as SSO, automated provisioning, and local device redirection are not supported in this release. For details, see Setting Up Horizon 6 for Linux Desktops guide.
Serial Port Redirection
With serial port redirection, users can redirect locally connected serial (COM) ports such as built-in RS232 ports or USB to Serial adapters. Devices such as printers, bar code readers, and other serial devices can be connected to these ports and used in the remote desktops.
Support for Windows Media Multimedia Redirection (MMR) for RDS Desktops
Windows Media MMR is now supported for videos playing on RDS desktops. In past releases, this feature was supported only on VDI desktops that run on single-user machines. For details about supported desktops, see see System Requirements for Windows Media MMR in the Setting Up Desktop and Application Pools in View guide.
HTML Access Support for Hosted Apps
Users can now connect to Hosted Apps from HTML Access Web clients. To take advantage of this feature, you must download and install a separate HTML Access installer from the Horizon 6 version 6.1.1 download page. For details, see To use HTML Access with Hosted Apps.

Source

VMware Horizon 6.1.1 release notes