In the previous posts I have explained to you how to install the software and how you can create your first environment. Here’s the overview of the previous, current and yet to come posts and the Excalibur Tech Preview.
- What is Excalibur, prerequisites and overview of test lab setup
- Installation of Excalibur
- Configuring Excalibur (Studio)
- Configuration StoreFront
- Install Agent software on Windows 2012 machine <<Current page >>
- Configure Application
- Test published application and desktop (old XenApp)
In this post we are going to configure the Agent software for use with Excalibur on a Windows 2012 machine.
In this post I assume you already have installed a Windows 2012 server and are ready to install the Excalibur agent now.
Mount the Excalibur ISO in your VM and (if everything is correct) the auto launch will show this screen. Select the “Delivery Agent for Windows Machines” and let the installation begin.
Select whether you want this server to acts as an image for other servers (PVS/MCS) or as a final server. In my case I select the “Build a master image that Excalibur will use to create other machines”. Select “Next” to continue with the agent install.
In the next screen select (off course) the Agent and if you like the new Receiver 3.4. In my case I selected both as I’m curious to the new functions of the Receiver. (I haven’t found any release notes I can share with you). Select “Next” to continue on our quest for the Agent install.
Add a Controller location to guide its way to the XML server hosting this service. In my case I already installed one and I entered its name in the appropriate field. Hit “Next” to continue on with the Agent installation.
In this screen you can select the configurations you’d like to enable. In my case I selected all available options.
| Feature | Description |
| Optimize Excalibur performance | Enables/disables optimization for DAs running in a VM on a hypervisor. VM optimization includes disabling offline files, disabling background defragmentation, and reducing event log size. For more information about the optimization tool, see CTX125874. Default= enabled |
| Use Remote Assistance | Enables/disables Windows Remote Assistance for use with Director. Default = enabled |
| Real Time Monitoring | Enables/disables Windows Remote Management
(WinRM) for use with Director. Default = enabled |
| Use Real-Time Audio / Transport for audio
|
Enables/disables use of UDP for audio packets, which improves performance. Default = enabled |
In the next screen you are given the option to automatically open the necessary port in your firewall (if you have one active at the time of the install). Select if you want the installer to automagically configure your firewall or if you’d like to do it yourself. I’m lazy so I let the installer handle it. Select “Next” to continue.
Now we are at the overview/summary page of the Agent installation. Review your settings one last time and hot “Install” if you’re confident you have set it all correctly.
During the installation it can happen that the installer asks you to reboot your machine. This is necessary for the prerequisites to install and detect in the correct way.
After the reboot and you have logged on with the same credentials you used before, the agent installation continues automatically.
During the installation you are asked if you trust the device software the installer wants to install on your machine. As this is necessary it’s not really a question whether you trust Citrix or not as it is more a question if you want to continue the installation. I trust my employer this much that I’ll select the option “Always trust software from ‘Citrix Systems, Inc’ ” and hit “Install”.
After a while the installation is complete and you’re shown a review of the software installed on your machine. Hit “Finish” to close the installer.
Now we are done with the “scary” Excalibur Agent install.
Stay tuned for the next blog post on how to configure an application…
- What is Excalibur, prerequisites and overview of test lab setup
- Installation of Excalibur
- Configuring Excalibur (Studio)
- Configuration StoreFront
- Install Agent software on Windows 2012 machine <<Current page >>
- Configure Application
- Test published application and desktop (old XenApp)