How hard is Citrix to learn? 1

[Anddmx]

How hard is it to learn Citrix?
All the jobs I come across want you to know Citrix.
It doesnt look that hard from the information that I have read. I just need some help from the experts to guide me in the right direction.

Thanks

 

[patrickrouse]

Citrix requires (in my opinion) a reasonable level of expertise with network design, as most companies deploying Citrix MetaFrame are using it as an enterprise application delivery framework. What I'm saying is that a person with less than 5 years of field experience in other network related support/design shouldn't delve too deeply into Citrix, just like Intern Doctors shouldn't perform brain surgery.

I'm NOT suggesting that you do NOT pursue learning Citrix MetaFrame Access Suite, I'm just saying that you should know the underlying technology (Windows Server System) first (which you may already know).

If you plan on learning Citrix I'd recommend that you first learn the ins and outs of Terminal Server, as MetaFrame can't run w/o it.

I've fixed some pretty botched MetaFrame deployments that were setup by consultants who have no expertise with Citrix, but chose to install it for a client anyway.

Free Citrix reference material:

http://www.workthin.com/citrix.htm

Terminal Server planning, deployment & administration how tos:

http://www.workthin.com/tshta.htm

Good Citix & Terminal Server books:

http://www.workthin.com/tsbooks.htm

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.workthin.com

 

[Anddmx]

Thanks for the information and materials very helpful.

I have been working with windows 2000 for awhile now and use TS on a regular bases.

I am sure this company that hired me doesnt expect me to know anything about it, Ive been using TS for over year and half.

 

[patrickrouse]

That's great, so you have a good foundation to build on, since Citrix MetaFrame is an add-on/enhancement to Terminal Server. Citrix however is NOT the only add-on for TS, there are quite a few that do similar things, but Citrix is the only one that still uses their ICA protocol, where the others use Microsoft RDP Protocol. You can find the other add-ons I'm referring to here:

http://www.workthin.com/tsao.htm

Good luck & post back or hollar at me via my website.

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.workthin.com

 

[Ogi]

Hi,

Don't forget Citrix's website, all the documentation is freely available in PDF format and if you can read all these understand them, you are well on your way to passing the CCA exam!!!!

Having a knowledge of the Registry, looking at how programs run and what makes them tick really does help, most programmers don't write programs that are Citrix friendly and your skills would be well used! Saying that, most large software houses are getting better!

Good luck,
Carl.

 

[patrickrouse]

Very true Ogi, being comfortable with the registry, cmd line and vbscripting does help out quite a bit in my work.

The best advice I can give someone is to know when you don't know what your doing, and to have the backbone to ask someone for help or to say, "let me do some research & I'll get back with you".

The first URL I quoted has all of the essential Citrix MetaFrame documentation available for download. The Advanced Technical Design Guide is fairly in-depth.

http://www.workthin.com/citrix.htm

The Terminal Server programming references are here:

http://www.workthin.com/tsprogramming.htm

Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server

http://www.workthin.com

 

[ChelseaGirl]

Anddmx

In principle it's fairly straight forward to understand how it works, it just depends on how it's applied. You get a time limited copy of Citrix (Well you did)if you go on the course, I found just by playing around with it, I learnt a lot.

 

[itsp1965]

Anddmx, having worked with Citrix for 4 years now, I have realized that hands on experience with the product goes a long way. I feel that working with issues, and strange behaviors that are inherent to Citrix have helped me to think "out of the box" in terms of NT or 2000 administration. It is not hard to learn, but a good basis in network administration does help a great deal. So I recommend getting a good book and practice playing with the technology in a test environment.
That's my 2 cents.. Good luck

 

[Anddmx]

Thank you all for the great advice!

I found out the best way to learn is to play around with it hands on, books help out alot to but hands on is the best way to learn. Oh and cant for get forums, for information because no matter how many times you install or configure it there is always something that probly will got wrong nre errors or after installation there is a problem, and the best way to reslove the issue is to ask someone that has come across or experienced it.

Thanks again for all the great advice.