Presentation Server help for someone clueless 2

[tmckeown]

I'm hoping someone can enlighten me here.
Our company recently decided to change database software. The decision was not mine to make, just mine to implement. The new software requires a database server, an applications server, Terminal Server, and Citrix Metaframe Presentation server. So, I got the two servers. the database server had to have Oracle running on it. The company who sold us the new database software installed that portion. I bought Citrix Metaframe presentation server as recommended by the software company. All I got from Citrix was a link to a download three files totalling ~800MB. No instuctions came with it. The software company that told us we needed it can not give any installation instructions or usage instuctions. I've don't know where to turn next. I'm feeling like we spent a lot of money on something I may not be able to figure out. Citrix was recommended due to the fact that our company is 50% PC and 50% Mac. We need all clients to access the database through the application server. So here are some questions:

Does Citrix MFPS get installed on the application server before or after the Oracle client?

How do our end users access the database via the application server through Citrix?

These must sound like stupid questions, and they are. I'm in over my head. Can anyone fill in the blanks for me?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[fs483]

All the Citrix packages that I purchased came in a bundle of 3 or 4 CDs. I normally install Windows on a server, then I install the Citrix application. After the annoying activation process, I then install my extra user packs and again go through the activation process. I then install the service packs. I publish whole desktops not just applications. I also install the printer drivers for proper printer mapping and then I install the applications. I think you can install Citrix after the applications are installed but I never tried. All my Citrix setups were on brand new servers. You may decide to publish an application or a whole desktop. Either way, it's the client software that will contact the Database. Have you ever used Terminal Services ? It's the same thing but more expensive, easier administration, more complex and MUCH better at printer mappings. Oh, on your client machines (Macs and PCs), you must install the Citrix client software to enable it to contact your citrix server.

Good luck.

 

[tmckeown]

Question,
Isn't Citrix an add-on to Terminal Server? Don't I need to install Terminal Server first? I did install it. What about Terminal Server License Server? Can it be on the same machine, or does it have to be on a different server?

Thanks for the help.

 

[kgoods]

Just installed a very similar system.
Install TS and Citrix Presentation Manager on one sever and Oracle and TS licensing server on the other. According to Microsoft, TS licensing server *should* reside on a separate server than the TS server itself.

I too received CD's from Citrix for the initial install. It is not a no-brainer to install. Either spring for a little consulting help for the install or be prepared to read all the docs. Took me 3-4 days with the docs then the install went pretty smooth after that. I wouldn't attempt this particular install without reading at least the install docs for TS and Citrix. It's not one of those you can get away with just poking in CD's.

Hit the docs and good luck!
Kind regards,
Ken

 

[tmckeown]

Thanks for the insight. This is one of those installs that makes you feel kind of stupid. Many installs are self explanitory. This one doesn't seem to be.

So, if I get you right, I can install TS Licensing on the Oracle server? That would help. I don't seem to be able to get TS Licensing working on the application server that runs TS. It always says it can't find the license server, even though "it" should be that server.

Tom

 

[kgoods]

Correct... like I said though, you *will* need to do some reading. This was one of the things I picked up in the TS install docs. I would have never guessed that the licensing server had to be a separate machine. I've been in the Network Admin business since 1976 and most things I can do with my eyes closed. This, however is not one of those things. There are a ton of things that are not intuitive with this install. Do yourself a big favor and read the install docs thoroughly. I was stubborn and didn't, resulting in a system (Server 2003) rebuild. I wasn't too concerned since it was a new machine and not in production yet but things went much smoother once I broke down and read the docs. Both the planning as well as the install docs are very worthwhile in this case.

Kind regards,
Ken

 

[tmckeown]

Thanks Ken,
I will read everything I can. Unfortunately for me, the Citrix stuff came as a download. We bought it through CDW. They were supposed to get us media, but have not been able to get it after waiting a month. It's a bit difficult wading through the download stuff. I don't know why, but the download links automatically put everything in Program Files/Common Files/Vbox. I'm still sorting through it to figure out which executable is needed for which installation. I'm sure the disks will show up a week after I'm done. That's the way it usually goes around here.

Thanks again,
Tom

 

[tmckeown]

One more question,
Citrix now requires a license server. Can that be the same server that is running MetaFrame Presentation server? or, does it, like TS, need to be a seperate machine?

thanks

 

[kgoods]

That I have running on the same server with no problems. I'd think you may want to move it to a dedicated server for load balancing once you have a few Citrix servers in your farm. Since I only have one Citrix server and <50 users it's working perfectly on the same server.

Hope that helps and good luck!
k

 

[tmckeown]

Thanks,
Like you, I'll only have one Citrix server with only 20 users. I'll set up licensing on the same machine.

 

[ascotta]

Just seen this post. Download the Admin guides, and read them, they will tell you exactly what to do and how to do it. I am really surprised that nobody suggested giving you help, or building the cost into their implementation. You cannot buy product over here directly you have to buy from a reseller or distributer, who have technically qualified staff.

That said, you have to pick and run. If I was you, I would be reading about seemless applications. Thus just delivering an icon to the clients desktop. Save on playing with profiles, and desktop settings etc.

[blue]Arguably the best cat skinner around ! [/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[tmckeown]

Thanks,
I'm reading now. I'll look into seemless applications. Sounds like a good choice.

Tom

 

[ascotta]

Either that or Web Interface, that way you can use Web Interface to roll the client out, or just use the Java client.

[blue]Arguably the best cat skinner around ! [/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[kgoods]

Tom,
FYI... I'm using the web interface here and it works very well for us. It's been easy to deploy nationwide. We sent out a link by email to the website and most users got through downloading the client and getting in without having to call us. That's always a plus! I may have made Citrix sound like a monster in my previous posts, it's not. I actually like it now. It's just that the install was a little touchy. Printing (printer drivers) can be a little bit of a challenge but other than that, once installed, it just works. It won't be any time at all and you'll be able to add Citrix Administrator to your resume! Good luck!

Scott,
I noticed you're a MVP here. do you have any ideas about my post from yesterday regarding Application Limits not being available? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[tmckeown]

ok,
I got Citrix installed, but I'm having trouble with licensing. While installing, I had to check "continue without installing license". After a reboot, I got a warning "there are no licenses installed for the use of this metaframe presentation server". I went in and found that the license server was not fully installed. I installed IIS and asp.net. Then I reran the installation. This time everything came up as successfully installed or Already installed. So, I run the license management console. I get "The page can not be found". I went to mycitrix.com and logged in. I check download licenses. No items to view.

I'm stumped. What have I missed. Apparently, something is still messed up with IIS. Does the default web page need to be running? It says it's stopped in IIS. When i try to restart it, I get a "the process can not access the file because it is being used by another process".

Please, someone, enlighten me.

This is citrix metaframe presentation server 3, running on Win2003 server. I have Terminal Server installed on this machine and Terminal Server License Server running on a seperate server. That part appears to be working, though I have not been prompted for a license for it. The TS client licenses did not have any key with them. I'm not sure what license I need to put in. Maybe our vendor didn't sell us the right stuff? I'm puzzled. The license server for Citrix is the same server that is running presentation server. I was told that I could do that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

 

[kgoods]

Tom,
Sounds like you're making a little headway. Take a lot of this with a grain of salt as it was last Oct. when I did my install.... lot's has happened since then and the memory is the first to go. Plus I was installing 4 servers at the same time, Oracle, MS-SQL, Citrix, and TS.

You are correct in that the Citrix server can also be the Citrix License server. I do remember that the licensing of Citrix was more than a bit of a pain though.

iirc to license TS you have to go to MS's site with a number that you should have got from your reseller. It was pretty straight-forward from there. Besides, TS licensing has a grace period after install, seems like it was 90 days. So if that apprears to be working correctly I don't think it is your problem. I just went out and looked and my default website is running.... I think it has to be for Citrix to serve up pages. I would look into that first.

Did Citrix License Server accept the license? If so, then I'd look hard at IIS and figure out why it is not running. My system is nearly identical to yours so if there's anything you'd like me to check, I'd be glad to.

Kind regards,
Ken

 

[tmckeown]

I found a document stating that if IIS is installed after citrix, there will be port sharing problems. i followed their fix, but it didn't work. I'll tackle this again Monday. I think I've had enough frustration for one week.

Thanks for the help. i'm sure I'll ask for more before I'm done.

Tom

 

[ascotta]

Ok doky, you have some experience of the fun of getting citrix installed.

Here is what I would do now, please feel free anyone else to butt in here, but my advice is to flatten and build again.

Why ?

Well you have a machine that has had a few iffy moments to itself, I am never happy with that kind of build. Quite simply, if you have an "issue" later on you may start asking questions about your build. Lets resolve these before you get to the real fun of Citrix, which is getting the apps and users on. By "fun" I do mean fun, not "oh god its all gone pear shaped". Thats the bit I like.

Second reason, you get a bit more experience of the build process.

1 Flatten box.
2 Insatll O/s
3 Service Pack and Update to the Max
4 Install TS & IIS if required for Licenseing
5 Install the license server bit and put your licenses on
6 Install Metaframe

If all has gone well then you are ready for the next bit. I am sure all here will willingly give of time and knowledge to help you through, you have done some reading and are trying hard, so we are with you all the way.

[blue]Arguably the best cat skinner around ! [/blue]

Cheers
Scott

 

[tmckeown]

Scott,
That is where I'm headed. Once something gets messed up on the install, it hard to go back and make it the way it should have been. That's good advice.

I have a question though. I'll format the drive and reinstall the OS and all updates. I'll install IIS and ASP.Net too. Do I need to install the Citrix license server software before I install metaframe presentation server? I plan on them both being on the same box.

One other stupid question. TS license server is install on a seperate DC. I boght the client licenses for Terminal Server, but eOpen says that a key is not needed. Did I forget to buy something? Did I need to buy a license for Terminal server? I was under the inpression that we just needed the client licenses, since TS is already on the 2003 server CD. I just want to make sure it still works after the grace period.

Thanks for the help.

 

[ascotta]

No you do not need a key for the server, you just need to activate it. Then follow wizard to add licenses in.

Put license seerver on first. Software should be on CD. Can go on same box or any other similar OS box.

[blue]Arguably the best cat skinner around ! [/blue]

Cheers
Scott