This session, far from being what I expected (a hands-on this-is-how-we-do-it) was mainly details of how version 8.0.2 runs much better on Citrix than the previous version (which, it's generally agreed, was awful)
They recommend Citrix XenApp 5.0 to get it working, and there's a few tweks with disabling Windows services and tuning the Anti-Virus software to imporve performance.
They did a lab test of server loading, and managed to get up to 145 clients connecting per (2 x quad core cpu 64 bit server with 32Gb RAM) server. They tested with 32 bit vs 64 bit servers, dual vs quad core and differing RAM and explained where the bottlenecks seemed to be on each configuration.
I did ask the question about what load each user was doing and it was only email, calendar and writing a document in embedded Symphony.
Personally, I'd think that ocne you add the other server overheads (presentation server, SQL back end, WAN accelerators, load balancing servers, etc.) that you'd need for a production level environment, 145 users on such a grunty server doesn't look like that much of an acheivement just to get mail and calendar. After all, if you gave the users the newer browser-based iNotes client, they'd get virtually the same experience of a no-footprint client and you'd scale far more users per server.
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Hmm, might be an option if we wanted to seperate out Notes applications - apart from offline email, would that mean we could remove the Notes client entirely from people's workstations?
I considered that, but they didn't load test any applications besides mail.
I think we can assume that the user count per server would be lower because there's more business logic behind the apps than there is in a mail interface. So, if the aim might be to remove the mail client this may be an option, but depending on the number of applications it might prove cheaper to just web-enable them.
Numbers seem very low for 64bit architecture, I know whilst I was at HP they did some beta testing of Exchange 2007, Outlook 2007, Presentation server 4 and W2k3 all on 64bit - the user numbers they were seeing were in the 1000s. I'll see if I can find the article. As you say though this would be pure mail/cal/contacts, nothing as significant as DB.
I would think with 64bit W2k8 and Notes parts those numbers should be higher - be interesting to see if a specific Citrix consultancy could do better. I'll chat to you when you are back to get a better idea of their testing etc.
Ummmm?
If you need a Notes client and the network is too slow, fix the network.
If you don't want to install/manage a Notes client, browser enable the app.
Citrix is a band-aid for poor infrastructure and/or poor application design.
Do it properly or don't do it at all ;-)
Excellent advice: and it sounds like Mr Mosley has volunteered to browser enable our apps for us.
We graciously accept your offer. When do you think you'll have it done?
Citrix has its place. I can see it used here to provide 'legacy' access to applications that are too costly to migrate, but I agree that too often the technology is used to 'fix' problems in network/application design.
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