XenApp and XenDesktop shops should use any of Citrix's four VDI monitoring tools to get better control over their deployments, user sessions and administrative changes.
VDI shops are always on the lookout for ways to simplify monitoring and management.
VDI monitoring tools allow IT to see in to all the nooks and crannies of a VDI deployment, including areas such as web browsing and application use. IT can analyze the data it gets from Citrix monitoring tools to locate and fix potential problems before they affect end users.
There are four main Citrix VDI monitoring tools built into XenApp and XenDesktop. Out of the Citrix VDI monitoring tools, Director is the primary option. Citrix Session Recording, Configuration Logging and Monitor Service Open Data (OData) API round out the rest of the list.
Find direction with Citrix Director
Director is a web-based administrative interface that gives VDI shops real-time health information for a XenApp or XenDesktop site. Citrix designed Director to monitor nine primary areas:
machines;
user sessions;
infrastructure;
load evaluation;
historical trends;
logon performance;
session use;
connection failure; and
machine failure.
Set IT up with Citrix Session Recording
Session Recording, which is available in XenApp 7.6 Feature Pack 1 and Feature Pack 2, lets administrators record a user's screen. Session Recording has three main uses:
Gathering evidence of suspected wrongdoing: If a user is suspected of violating company policies, IT can record that user's sessions as evidence of the user's activities.
Configuration Logging is a change management tool IT can use for troubleshooting.
Troubleshooting: If a user is having problems, IT can use the session recording as a troubleshooting tool that allows the help desk staff to see exactly what the user is experiencing.
Compliance: IT can perform session recordings automatically in response to policy-based triggers. An organization might perform an automated session recording any time a user opens the payroll application, for example.
Figure it out with Citrix Configuration Logging
Configuration Logging is a change management tool IT can use for troubleshooting. The tool creates a record of all of the administrative configuration changes IT makes, as well as who made them. If problems occur later on, then administrators can use the available historical data -- which they can access through Director -- to help determine the cause of the problem.
Test your knowledge about VDI monitoring tools
Monitoring tools use features such as synthetic user monitoring to help IT prepare for any VDI health issues. Do you know all the monitoring strategies? Take this quiz to find out.
Onward and upward with Citrix Monitor Service OData API
Although the company classifies OData API as one of its Citrix VDI monitoring tools, it is really a web-based API that provides access to the Monitor Service plan. By using this API, administrators can gain access to connection failure data and a list of machines in a failure state. They can also view data related to session usage, logon duration and load balancing.
Dig Deeper on UX and performance monitoring and management
