Citrix CCA

[Luddym]

I'm studying for my 70-293 which I have on Tuesday, and with 2 Exams left to complete my MCSE (One being the 70-620 ) I've already been procrastinating and looking at studying Citrix as I really like the idea of working with it in the future.

I had planned to go for a CCA as well as it is meant to be a relatively simple Exam, but wondered if a CCA with NO experience would help me in attaining a job where Citrix came as part of my role. Remembering that I'd also be an MCSE and a VCP.

[zebulebu]

Originally Posted by Luddym

I'm studying for my 70-293 which I have on Tuesday, and with 2 Exams left to complete my MCSE (One being the 70-620 ) I've already been procrastinating and looking at studying Citrix as I really like the idea of working with it in the future.

I had planned to go for a CCA as well as it is meant to be a relatively simple Exam, but wondered if a CCA with NO experience would help me in attaining a job where Citrix came as part of my role. Remembering that I'd also be an MCSE and a VCP.

Bud - if application virtualisation in TS2K8 is truly as promising as it looks from my (admittedly limited) testing, Citrix might not HAVE a future!

[Luddym]

To be honest Zeb, you are probably quite right. I don't think VMWare will be around for many many years to come either, due to the USB issue.

[zebulebu]

What USB issue?

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Luddym

.. due to the USB issue.

Eh?

[Luddym]

USB isn't suppoted under VMWare.

[zebulebu]

What on Earth? USB has been supported on VMWare for years mate - almost since inception. How have you managed to get a VCP thinking that it isn't?

[Sparky]

Originally Posted by Luddym

USB isn't suppoted under VMWare.

Whaaaa?

On the wind up mate?

[Luddym]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I meant under ESX Server.

I know there are probably work arounds, but in a VDI environment, it makes things a little cloudy.

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/esx_anywhereusb2.pdf

[zebulebu]

First up, there are numerous products that will enable USB support via ESX hosts - for instance, as you've already pointed out, AnywhereUSB

Secondly, and more importantly, why would you need USB support in an ESX host? I can't think of a single reason to support USB when ESX is being used for what its designed for (enterprise virtualisation).

[Luddym]

I see your point Zeb, and I know that in context it is a very minor thing, but......

Imagine you have a whole Department of users who have to use a unique USB security dongle. Imagine you wanted to VDI with them all (500+) using thin clients on ESX, as you already had the infrastructure and couldn't afford Citrix.

[zebulebu]

Still don't see your point at all fella, tbh. I'm not having a pop here, but it seems like you're not really grasping what ESX is designed for. Yes there's a bit of a buzz around VDI and there has been for some time now, but that isn't remotely a show-stopper for VMWare. The real power of ESX lies in virtualising your servers, not your desktop infrastructure. There are an enormous number of enterprises that now run almost their entire infrastructure - including Mail, Authentication, File & Print and Enterprise Apps on ESX (mine included). I couldn't possibly see where you would already 'have the infrastructure in place' to support an additional 500 VMs on top of what you already have - that would be defeating one of the objects of ESX.

[Luddym]

I totally understand where you are coming from Zeb. I know what ESX is MEANT to be used for. I know that ESX is MEANT for the consolidation of Servers, for the flexibilty of assigning resources, for things such as VMotion which, when designed with the right storage, can give you an excellent way of giving your servers fault tolerance. But I also know that there are smaller companies that will want to consolidate as much as possible. Get a few ESX Servers in to host some of their current services, realise they have plenty of resources so want to get as much value from the product as physically possible, but run into unexpected issues that they hadn't planned on.

I know my '500 users with the infrastructure' in place might seem a little bit of an improbable event, and I agree with you that it is. But where I'm coming from is that there are companies out there that have been misssold equipment, or Techs that have bought in ESX without doing their research, so that they do have equipment that they can't use for the original purporse. (Which is why we are considering using ESX for VDI.) And I personally know that if I were tasked with implementing Virtualisation and I had the choice between ESX without USB support, or A competitior with just as good a reputation with USB support, I know who I would choose.

[zebulebu]

Originally Posted by Luddym

I totally understand where you are coming from Zeb. I know what ESX is MEANT to be used for. I know that ESX is MEANT for the consolidation of Servers, for the flexibilty of assigning resources, for things such as VMotion which, when designed with the right storage, can give you an excellent way of giving your servers fault tolerance. But I also know that there are smaller companies that will want to consolidate as much as possible. Get a few ESX Servers in to host some of their current services, realise they have plenty of resources so want to get as much value from the product as physically possible, but run into unexpected issues that they hadn't planned on.

I know my '500 users with the infrastructure' in place might seem a little bit of an improbable event, and I agree with you that it is. But where I'm coming from is that there are companies out there that have been misssold equipment, or Techs that have bought in ESX without doing their research, so that they do have equipment that they can't use for the original purporse. (Which is why we are considering using ESX for VDI.) And I personally know that if I were tasked with implementing Virtualisation and I had the choice between ESX without USB support, or A competitior with just as good a reputation with USB support, I know who I would choose.

Want to make a bet with me? I'll bet you that in three years' time, ESX will still have at least ten times the user base of Viridian.

ESX absolutely rules - it is the first 'wow factor' technology I can remember for about the last six/seven years. Many companies have not just embraced VMWare - their entire infrastructure now depends on it. VMWare have a record of supporting customers through growth that is unrivalled amongst other tech organisations (certainly better than Microsoft's)

Where MS might have some success is in the SME market - but even then ESX will probably be cheaper than Viridian ends up being, is a much more mature technology than Viridian will be (it'll take MS at least five years playing catch-up to be able to compete with them realistically) and 'just works' - unlike anything from MS does before SP1 (my 'testing' of App Virtualisation hasn't exactly been extensive enough to consider switching to it from Citrix in the next year or so)

I know where you're coming from now on the VDI front - but I still don't see why you would ever want to bother with something like that when thin clients can be had for sod all or old workstations can be converted into thin clients and applications can be pushed out to them via Citrix, TS Web in 2K8 or other solutions. Maybe its because I don't ever see VDI taking off in the real world - other than in niche environments where it might be especially useful.

Great debate though!

[Phoenix]

I have not read all the responses here so appologies if it's been said, USB in a VDI instance is generally handled by the thin client front end and just connected via RDP I've seen it working fine
ESX is not really designed to have end users plugging usb sticks directly into the server so it goes without saying that its not really worth supporting

that said if there are benefits to supporting it it will be done, that's how vmware operate


Noww... to read the rest of these posts.. they look long and detailed, i like that