Implementing and Troubleshooting PVS
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Gareth O'Brien, an escalation engineer at Citrix Support, presented a webinar on implementing and troubleshooting Provisioning Services (PVS). The webinar covered planning a PVS farm including database, storage, networking and farm layout considerations. It also discussed installing and configuring PVS, including the boot process, stores, and configuring the IPC key. The webinar concluded with sections on troubleshooting PVS, including examining the stream service, SOAP/console issues, and common problems.
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Implementing and Troubleshooting PVS
- 1. Citrix Support Secrets Webinar Series Implementing and Troubleshooting PVS Gareth O’Brien, Escalation Engineer, Citrix Support February 21, 2013
- 2. Introduction • Gareth O’Brien, escalation engineer • Intermediate to advanced PVS knowledge expected 2 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 3. Agenda • Planning ᵒDatabase, storage, network, farm layout • Installing • Configuring ᵒFiles needed for booting, boot process • Troubleshooting ᵒStream Service ᵒConsole, MAPI and IPC 3 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 5. Planning • Planning the database configuration • Hardware requirements ᵒClient & Server considerations • Network • Farm layout considerations 5 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 6. Database • Size of farm determines database server choice • Fault tolerance and failover ᵒMirroring • dbOffline – if all else fails • SQL native client needed for mirroring • Permissions ᵒDbcreator & securityadmin for Configuration Wizard ᵒDb_datareader, db_datawriter & execute permissions on stored procedures 6 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 7. Hardware Requirements • Supported Operating systems ᵒWindows Server 2003 R2, 2008, 2008 R2 • Minimum spec of the PVS server • Known hardware issues ᵒhttp://support.citrix.com/article/CTX131611 • NIC Teaming ᵒMake sure hardware is not on above list ᵒIf streaming doesn’t work with team, try break the team Processor: 3GHz RAM: 4GB NIC: 1GB per 250 targets 7 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 8. Network • Configure UDP & TCP Ports ᵒServer to server ports must be the same on all servers ᵒTarget device communication ports • 6910-6930 ᵒSOAP Server • 54321 & 54322 ᵒTFTP & TSB • 69 & 6969 • Firewall must be configured to allow all these ports ᵒIf in doubt, allow ANY/ANY to test • PortFast must be enabled 8 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 9. Plan the farm Provisioning Services Farm License MSSQL Shared Server Server Storage Database Provisioning Servers Provisioning Servers Site 1 Site 2 Device Device Device Device Device Collection Collection Collection Collection Collection 9 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 10. Installing PVS
- 11. Installing PVS • Server installation ᵒIf installing a new version of .NET, reboot when prompted ᵒSpecify the mirror failover if applicable • Console installation ᵒNeeds PowerShell 2.0 ᵒIf upgrading, make sure you remove the old version • Target installation ᵒMake sure you set the target to boot from network first ᵒIf imaging fails • Start with a vanilla install & try to image. Remove any teams • XenConvert & BNImage are other options 11 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 12. Configuring PVS
- 13. Configuring PVS • PXE Boot • Two Stage Boot (TSB) • Boot Process • Stores • IPC Key 13 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 14. PXE Boot • Must configure DHCP ᵒ Option 66: IP of PVS Server ᵒ Option 67: Name of bootstrap (ardbp32.bin) • Uses TFTP Protocol • TFTP listens on one NIC only ᵒ Configure using c:program Filescitrixprovisioning servicestftpcpl.cpl • TFTP Downloads bootstrap, ARDBP32.BIN • Other TFTP servers can be used 14 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 15. Two Stage Boot (TSB) • Used in situations where DHCP or PXE cannot be used • Uses ISO burned from PVS Server • Uses a boot strap called tsbbdm.bin • Listens on NIC configured for streaming in configuration wizard ᵒ Uses port 6969 • Uses Two Stage Boot service on PVS server 15 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 16. Boot Process • Target device either uses DHCP to obtain an IP or loads static IP (for TSB) • Once it has an IP, it will contact the 1st logon server specified in the bootstrap • The logon server will then create a context for the device, determine which vDisk the target is assigned and the least loaded server ᵒ This calculation is based on both RIMS information and the load information in the database ᵒ RIMS uses notifier and inventory service to update load information ᵒ If subnet affinity is enabled, this will alter the calculation • Once a server has been selected, a streaming IP and port will be provided ᵒ IP information will be in HEX, not decimal 16 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 17. Boot Process (cont) • Excerpt from log of a target logging on 17 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 18. Boot Process (cont) • As streaming begins, the boot control device (BCD) is downloaded ᵒThis phase is referred to as single I/O • Once Single I/O has finished, we enter the admin phase ᵒBNIStack handshake ᵒVdisk configuration (name, mode, write cache type) is requested and provided ᵒTarget device requests personality string • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESYSTEMCurrentControlSetServicesBNIStackParameters - DWORD EnableGetComputerName set to 1 ᵒAD information requested • Multi I/O phase entered 18 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 19. Stores • Configure vDisk stores ᵒCentralised vs Distributed stores • Centralised ᵒWorks well in HA environment ᵒLow storage overhead ᵒHigh cost ᵒPotential SAN/Storage issues • Distributed ᵒLow implementation cost ᵒHigh storage overhead ᵒConfiguration • IPC is the method for communication between servers for stores 19 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 20. IPC Key • Defines which NIC to use for IPC communication in a multi NIC environment ᵒHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESoftwareCitrixProvisioningServicesIPC • Reg_sz called IPv4Address with the IP of the NIC for IPC • Without it, stores, replication, load balancing etc won’t work • Affects stream service • Manager key for MAPI works the same way ᵒHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECitrixProvisioningServicesManager • RegSZ called GeneralInetAddr with the IP of the NIC and port - Eg 10.1.1.2:6909 20 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 22. A more structured method of troubleshooting PVS
- 23. Troubleshooting PVS • Stream service troubleshooting ᵒThe basics ᵒTracing ᵒDumps ᵒLog Analysis ᵒCommon Issues • SOAP/Console ᵒUnable to validate ᵒConsole timeouts 23 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 24. Stream Service Basics • The devil is in the detail. ᵒNetwork Topology ᵒHardware of target, server & database ᵒStorage type & location ᵒWrite cache type ᵒDatabase location, version, HA ᵒMSInfo32 • Bluescreens ᵒCommon Image ᵒ7B • What does it mean • Common causes 24 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 25. Stream Service Tracing • Network traces ᵒWireshark trace on the server ᵒTcpdump on the target • Make sure you always use –s 0 to not limit capture size • PVS Logs ᵒSet to trace level ᵒC:programdataCitrixProvisioning ServicesLogs ᵒTarget side logging also • All logs and traces should be captured simultaneously, while the issue is happening. 25 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 26. Stream Service Tracing (cont) 26 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 27. Stream Service Tracing (cont) 27 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 28. Stream Service Tracing (cont) 28 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 29. Crash Dumps • If possible, take it in private mode • In 2008, it’s possible to redirect to a non system drive ᵒhttp://support.citrix.com/article/CTX123642 ᵒNot possible on 2003 • Configure citrix symbols • Live debugging can be done, but difficult without symbols ᵒUse live debugger to help set it up http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX131945 ᵒCheck for BNIstack being loaded • !devnode 0 1 ᵒOn 5.6 check for bnns • !ndiskd.miniports 29 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 30. Common issues • Imaging ᵒLet the wizard do the work for you • Always revert to a clean install as a first step • If the wizard doesn’t work, pre-create the disk and use xenconvert • BNImage can work well if all else fails • Computer Account ᵒIs AD Management configured on the vDisk? Is Active directory correctly configured? • GPO disabling password update, and password age • Reset the password within the PVS console • Check all relevant Microsoft hotfixes are installed – Google! • BNDevice 1015 in the event viewer – unable to negotiate a new password • Trace logs will show you the requests 30 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 31. Performance • Follow the best practice guide ᵒhttp://support.citrix.com/article/CTX127549 ᵒhttp://support.citrix.com/article/CTX117374 • Intermediate buffering ᵒGenerally enabled if free space on target device disk is greater than vDisk, otherwise disabled ᵒToggling the state is always worth trying to see the performance impact • Check interrupt safe mode is not enabled • Check the network with a network monitor 31 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 32. SOAP & Console • Console timeout ᵒThe console timeout can be set in the registry • Use DWORD ConnectionTimeout in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECitrixProvisioningServices. Default value is 120s • Can’t communicate with other servers ᵒCheck IPC and manager keys • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECitrixProvisioningServicesIPCIPv4Address • HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWARECitrixProvisioningServicesManagerGeneralInetAddr • Mentioned above • Load Balancing issues ᵒCheck the StreamProcess & Inventory logs to make sure there are no issues around RIMS 32 © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 33. Questions?
- 34. About Educate | Guide | Support | Succeed Citrix Services Citrix Services make sure How we can help you succeed with your virtualization programs. Citrix Education – The fastest, most efficient way to get your team the virtualization skills they need. Online, on-site or in class. citrix.com/training Citrix Consulting – Intensive engagements for complex, critical or just plain massive projects. citrix.com/consulting Citrix Support – Always-on support services that leverage everything we know about best-practice deployment and maintenance. citrix.com/support © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 35. The desktop virtualization project space with best practice built in. Check it out © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 36. Secrets of the Citrix Support Ninjas • 40 insider troubleshooting tips • Covering XenDesktop, XenServer, XenApp and NetScaler • Citrix Support top engineers • FREE eBook • Citrix Auto Support • Now available! © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 37. Premier Support Calculator Check it out © 2012 Citrix | Confidential – Do Not Distribute
- 38. Work better. Live better.
Editor's Notes
- #9: BlockedListenLearnForwardDisabledFrom blocking to listening: 20 secondsFrom listening to learning: 15 secondsFrom learning to forwarding: 15 secondsPortFast dramatically reduces this time. needed for DHCP, DNS & PxE (among others)
- #17: 192.168.0 = C0A801172.1.2 = AC1210.0. = A0
- #18: 172.1.2.107
- #25: 7B =Inaccessable Boot Device
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