XenApp 7.6 Install – Part 1: Prepare SQL Server

ejasahmmed

This is part 1 in the Citrix XenApp 7.6 installation and configuration guide. In this article we go through the steps required to prepare the SQL server for the installation of the Citrix Site.

Quick Links

Here are the links to each of the articles that make up this series:

Step-by-Step Guide

Prior to creating a new Citrix XenApp 7.6 site, we need to configure the SQL Server. To do this, complete these steps:

1. Log into the SQL Server with administrator privileges and launch SQL Management Studio

Note: This documentation assumes you already have a SQL instance installed on a sepeate server

2. To create a new Citrix Site, we require a domain account that has the sysadmin Server Role on the SQL instance (as per the screenshot below)

To do this, follow these steps:

  1. From SQL Management Studio, expand the Security folder
  2. Right click on Logins and select New Login
  3. Create a SQL account using an existing Domain Account
  4. Click on Server Roles and assign the user the sysadmin role (as per the screenshot)
  5. Click OK to save the changes
  6. Use this account in the Create New Citrix Site wizard

Note: You must use a domain account to configure the SQL database when creating a new SQL site (i.e. SQL Authentication is not acceptable)

2

3. If you have the Windows Firewall enabled, then you will need to configure it to allow the XenApp to acccess it. To do this: Administrative Tools >> Windows Firewall with Advanced Security

3

4. Right click Inbound Rules and select New Rule

4

5. Select Port and click Next

5

6. From the Protocol and Ports screen, complete the following:

  1. Select TCP
  2. Select Specific Local Ports
  3. Enter 1433 (default SQL port)
  4. Click Next
6

7. Select Allow the Connection and then click Next

7

8. From the Profile screen, ensure all options are selected and then click Next

8

9. Enter a name for the rule and then click Finish to create the rule

9

10. The SQL Server has now been configured and we commence the Citrix Delivery Controller Installation

XenApp 7.6 Install – Introduction

ejasahmmed

Citrix has recently released XenApp 7.6 and XenDesktop 7.6. I have created a step-by-step guide on how to install and configure XenApp 7.6 so that you can delivery applications to end-users. This article is the introduction to this series….

Introduction to this series

A few weeks ago, Citrix release XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6, which has brought back a few features that were missing out of the 7.5 release. The most popular of these being Connection Leasing (similar to local host cache in IMA version of the product) and Anonymous Logons (which is a common requirement in many organisations, so I am not sure why they got rid of it in the first place).

I have written a 8 part step-by-step series (9 if you include this introduction) on how to install and configure Citrix XenApp 7.6. This series includes installing all of the core components, installing the Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) on a application server, and configuring all of the necessary components required to delivery applications to users. Below are all of the details of the environment prior to use commencing the installation.

Quick Links

Here are the links to each of the articles that make up this series:

What’s New in Citrix XenApp 7.6

XenApp 7.6 has introduced a series of new and previously removed features. Here is a quick list of some of the major features:

  • Connection Leasing – Like local host cache, so even if the database is not available users can still launch the apps they use most regularly.
  • Application Pre-Launch – If you know what apps your users are going to use, you might as well pre-launch them so that they can enjoy a quick and responsive experience.
  • Session Lingering – Allows the user’s connection to stay active for a period of time even after all applications have been closed.
  • Anonymous Logons – Most organisations at some point need this functionality. Awesome that it is back!
  • Improved AppDNA – Pretty cool feature where you can test if your apps are compatible of different versions of Windows, etc.li>

Overview of the environment

In order to help you guys better understand what and where we are installing and how if fits into my test lab environment, I thought I would draw up a quick diagram of my XenApp 7.6 Design:

1Citrix-XenApp-7.6-Design-V1-1024x619

Citrix XenApp 7.6 Design

As you can see above, I will eventually be installing Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) 7.6 in the environment and using it to auto deploy a number of Citrix Application servers that will host my published applications.

The installation and configuration of PVS is not included in this series, however I have created another 13 part step-by-step series on how to install and configure Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) 7.6. If you are interested in this, then you can find this series here >>> Citrix PVS 7.6 Install & Configure Guide