CtxAdmTools: Visual Core Configurator v1.1 (Beta 1 Refresh) Released!

Visual Core Configurator 2008 is a FREE tool to Setup and Configure Windows 2008 Core servers.

Today, December 29, 2008, I released the Beta 1 Refresh of Visual Core Configurator 2008.

Build 215 (Beta 1 Refresh) is available for download at http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar. You can download the .EXE file package (include extra files) or .ISO file (Best Option for Virtual Machines).

This Beta was tested on both versions of Microsoft Windows 2008 Core (x86 and x64) and physical servers, and VMware, Microsoft and XenServer virtual machines.

New Features of the Version:

* New GUI with Icons!
* Windows Explorer
* Shortcuts to Notepad and Registry Editor

CtxAdmTools: Visual Core Configurator 2008 Update

New Visual Core Configurator 2008 interface is coming soon......

CtxAdmTools: Visual Core Configurator v1.1 (Beta 1) Released!

Visual Core Configurator 2008 is a FREE tool to Setup and Configure Windows 2008 Core servers.

Today, December 28, 2008, I released the first public Beta of Visual Core Configurator 2008.

Build 195 (Beta 1) is available for download at http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar. You can download the .EXE file package (include extra files) or .ISO file (Best Option for Virtual Machines).

This Beta was tested on both versions of Microsoft Windows 2008 Core (x86 and x64) and physical servers, and VMware, Microsoft and XenServer virtual machines.

I developed a Basic version of Visual Core Configurator 2008 in August 2007, called Visual Core 2008 v1.0 Basic when I lived in Madrid. The first code I wrote was for Microsoft Windows 2008 Core Beta 1. This version was just a GUI.

Then I decided to develop a more "serious" tool and start replacing shell calls with "real" code. The project was interrupted for several months and several reasons (reallocation to USA, vacations, new job, more focus on Citrix technologies, etc).

Finally at the end of November I start reviewing the code... more than 2,000 lines of code on Forms and more 3,300 lines of code on Modules on this Beta 1. This Beta include a new networking module. This module included more than 1,500 lines, and I rewrite it from scratch in the last 2 weeks.

I removed from this Beta 1 several modules to finish testing and rewrite some code: User/Groups Management, Firewall Management, Activation, etc. These modules will be included in next Beta release.

MS: How to Extend the Windows Server 2008 Evaluation Period

How to Extend the Windows Server 2008 Evaluation Period

When the initial 60-day evaluation period nears its end, you can run the Slmgr.vbs script to reset the evaluation period. To do this, follow these steps:
Click Start, and then click Command Prompt.
Type slmgr.vbs -dli, and then press ENTER to check the current status of your evaluation period.
To reset the evaluation period, type slmgr.vbs –rearm, and then press ENTER.
Restart the computer.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948472

SCRIPT: Read the GUID of network card

Query to determine the GUIDs of your network adaptors:

Dim IPConfigSet
Dim strNIC
Dim CRLF

CRLF = CHR(10) & CHR(13)
' Perform a WMI query to obtain information about the network adaptors that are bound to IP and that have a physical MAC address.

Set IPConfigSet = _
GetObject("winmgmts:").ExecQuery _
("Select * from Win32_NetworkAdapterConfiguration Where ((IPEnabled = TRUE) And (MacAddress != NULL) And (SettingID != NULL))")
' Enumerate the results (list of NICS).
For Each IPConfig In IPConfigSet
If Not IsNull(IPConfig.IPAddress) Then
strNIC = _
"Caption: " & IPConfig.Caption & CRLF & _
"Description: " & IPConfig.Description & CRLF & _
"NIC GUID: " & IPConfig.SettingID
For i = LBound(IPConfig.IPAddress) To UBound(IPConfig.IPAddress)
strNIC = strNIC & CRLF & "IP Address (" & CStr(i) & "):" & IPConfig.IPAddress(i)
Next 'i
Wscript.Echo strNIC
End If
Next 'IPConfig

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/896073

CtxAdmTools: Clone XenApp VM v1.0 Updated

Clone XenApp VM v1.0 Updated (New Build 1.00.28 released December 26, 2008)

This FREE tool clone Citrix XenApp (formerly Citrix Presentation Server) Virtual Machines

Deploy XenApp Virtual Machines in Virtualization Environments (VMware, XenServer, Hyper-V).

Clone XenApp was tested succesfully on Citrix XenServer 5.0 (Should be work 4.x version too), VMWare Server, VMware ESX 3.x and Microsoft Hyper-V.

New Feature:

Update AU Client (WSUS): Update Registry Keys and re-register Automatic Update Client with WSUS.

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

SCRIPT: Automating TCP/IP Networking on Clients

Automating TCP/IP Networking on Clients:

Scripting Basic TCP/IP Networking on Clients
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/networking/02_atnc_basic.mspx

Scripting DNS on Clients
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/networking/05_atnc_dns.mspx

Scripting WINS on Clients
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/scriptcenter/topics/networking/06_atnc_wins.mspx

CTX: Edgesight 5.0 Client Unattended Install

Edgesight 5.0 XenApp x86 Client Unattended Install:

Msiexec /i EdgeSightXAAgent.msi /q SERVER_NAME=EdgeSightServer COMPANY="Company Name"

Edgesight 5.0 XenApp x64 Client Unattended Install:

Msiexec /i EdgeSightXAAgentx64.msi /q SERVER_NAME=EdgeSightServer COMPANY="Company Name"

Edgesight 5.0 for Endpoints x86 Client Unattended Install:

Msiexec /i EdgeSightEPAgent.msi /q SERVER_NAME=EdgeSightServer COMPANY="Company Name"

Edgesight 5.0 for Endpoints x64 Client Unattended Install:

Msiexec /i EdgeSightEPAgentx64.msi /q SERVER_NAME=EdgeSightServer COMPANY="Company Name"

Optional: add /NoRestart parameter to avoid restart the computer after the installation is complete

CtxAdmTools: DetectVM v1.0 Released!

DetectVM v1.0 is a virtual machine detection tool.

This FREE tool detect Virtualization Technology installed (Citrix XenServer, Microsoft Virtual Server/Hyper-V and VMware Server/ESX/Workstation Virtual Machines only).

Detect Virtual Machine execution. DetectVM only run Windows x86 systems.

If you run DetectVM Client from Windows Explorer:

If you run DetectVM Client from Command Line:

More Info: http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar/

CtxAdmTools: Clone XenApp VM v1.0 Updated

Clone XenApp VM v1.0 Updated (New Build 1.00.26 released December 11, 2008)

Clone XenApp was tested succesfully on Citrix XenServer 5.0 (Should be work 4.x version too).
Code updated with some modifications from my tests on XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V.
Hyper-V tests should be completed very soon.

More Info:
http://musumeci.blogspot.com/2008/12/ctxadmtools-clone-xenapp-vm-v10_02.html
http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

SCRIPT: Delete Directories and Files inside a Directory

on error resume next
Dim oFS
Dim sDir
sFolder= "C:\TEMP"

Set oFS = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
sDir = oFS.GetAbsolutePathName(sFolder)
DeleteFolder oFS.GetFolder(sDir)

Sub DeleteFolder(oFld)
Dim oItem
Dim strFileName
On Error Resume Next

For Each oItem In oFld.Files
strFileName = oItem.Path
oItem.Delete True
Next
For Each oItem In oFld.SubFolders
DeleteFolder oItem
Next
If 0 = oFld.Files.Count And 0 = oFld.SubFolders.Count Then
oFld.Delete True
End If
End Sub

CTX: CSEIT 2007 - Troubleshooting Tools for a Citrix Presentation Server Environment Presentation

CSEIT 2007 - Troubleshooting Tools for a Citrix Presentation Server Environment Presentation
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX115192

BETA: Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP2 Beta Released

Today Microsoft released the first public beta of Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 Service Pack (SP) 2. The CPP is available at http://technet.microsoft.com/windows/dd262148

CtxAdmTools: Clone XenApp VM v1.0 released!

Clone XenApp VM v1.0
Release Date: December 2, 2008

This FREE tool clone Citrix XenApp (formerly Citrix Presentation Server) Virtual Machines to use in Virtualization Environments.
Clone XenApp VM was tested with Citrix XenApp 4.5 on VMware ESX 3.x and VMware Server 1.x and 2.x
Should be work in more Virtualization Environments like Citrix XenServer and Microsoft Hyper-V

Clone XenApp VM v1.0 is available http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

CERTIFICATION: Citrix Test 1Y0-327 passed!

Today I passed the Citrix Test 1Y0-327: Citrix Password Manager 4.5: Administration and I got the Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA) for Citrix Password Manager 4.0 certification. This is a very easy exam, read the Citrix official course material, Citrix Password Manager Administrator's Guide, Password Manager Technotes http://support.citrix.com/product/pm/ and some experience with the product is required (I have +6 years using Citrix :)

Exam Statistics:
14 Citrix Exams
07 Citrix Certifications
24 Microsoft Exams
15 Microsoft Certifications
11 VMware Exams
05 VMware Certifications

More Info: http://www.musumeci.com.ar/Web_English/certificaciones_eng.htm

CTX: List of Services in Citrix XenApp

Citrix XenApp 4.5 List Of Services

Citrix ActiveSync Service
Citrix ADF Installer Service
Citrix Client Network
Citrix CPU Utilization Mgmt/CPU Rebalancer
Citrix CPU Utilization Mgmt/Resource Mgmt
Citrix Diagnostic Facility COM Server
Citrix Encryption Service
Citrix Health Monitoring and Recovery
Citrix Independent Management Architecture
Citrix License Management Console
Citrix Licensing WMI
Citrix MFCOM Service
Citrix Print Manager Service
Citrix Resource Manager Mail
Citrix Services Manager
Citrix SMA Service
Citrix Streaming Service
Citrix Virtual Memory Optimization
Citrix WMI Service
Citrix XTE Server
CitrixLicensing

Citrix Presentation Server Services Overview
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX114669

MS: Printer Unattended Install on Windows 2003 x64 (64bit)

To install Print Drivers on Windows Server 2003 x64 (64 bit), Terminal Server or Citrix Servers (just the print driver, not the printer):

1) To install a Driver included in the Windows distribution:

start /wait rundll32 printui.dll,PrintUIEntry /ia /m "HP LaserJet 5" /h "x64" /v "Windows XP and Windows Server 2003" /f "%systemroot%\inf\ntprint.inf"

2) To install a OEM Driver NOT included in the Windows distribution:

Follow instructions on this post

CTX: Clonning Citrix XenApp Servers

XenAppPrep Tool
http://community.citrix.com/display/xa/XenAppPrep+Tool

CTX: Citrix XenApp on Windows 2003 Standard Edition or Windows 2003 Standard Edition?

Citrix XenApp on Windows 2003 Standard Edition or Windows 2003 Standard Edition?
http://community.citrix.com/blogs/citrite/danielf/2008/08/04/PAE+This%21%21%21+Optimizing+XenApp

PAE switch or not?, in the Citrix XenApp / Presentation Server forum on BrianMadden.com
http://www.brianmadden.com/forums/t/8983.aspx

MS: Windows Server 2008 Startup and Profiles

How to enable verbose startup, shutdown, logon, and logoff status Messages in the Windows Server 2008 (this option applies to Windows 2000 and 2003 too)

1. Open gpedit.msc
2. In the left pane, click on Computer Configuration, Administrative Templates, and System
3. In the right pane, right click on Verbose vs normal status messages and click on Properties.
4. To Enable Detailed Status Messages, choose Enabled button.
5. To Disable Detailed Status Messages, choose Disabled button or Not Configured.

How to enable verbose startup, shutdown, logon, and logoff status Messages in the Windows Server 2003 family
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325376

Managing Roaming User Data Deployment Guide
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/f/?en/library/fb3681b2-da39-4944-93ad-dd3b6e8ca4dc1033.mspx

VMWARE: Add Virtual Machine to Inventory in VMware Server 2.0

To Add Virtual Machine to Inventory first you must add the Datastore:

1) Add Datastore

Click Inventory --> Server Name

Click Summary --> Commands --> Add Datastore

Complete Name and select Local Datastore.

Enter the existing folder containing VMware Virtual Machines in Directory Path


2) Add Virtual Machine

Click in Virtual Machine menu --> Add Virtual Machine to Inventory

Select the VM and select OK.

CTXADMTOOLS: Search Event v1.5

Search Event v1.5
Release Date: November 10, 2008

This FREE tool Search for one or multiple Event IDs in the Citrix Farm or Windows Servers

Search for one or multiple Events in the Event Viewer of Citrix Farms or Windows Servers and Generate a Excel Report.

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

CtxAdmTools: AD Group Members v1.0 Released!

AD Group Members v1.0

This FREE tool list Members of Active Directory Groups
Search Active Directory Groups and List Members. Export Results to Excel File.

Available at http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

VMWARE: VMware Released VMware Server 2.0

VMware Released today the VMware Server 2.0 (Build 122956)

What's New

VMware Server 2.0 is a free virtualization product for Microsoft Windows and Linux servers that enables you to provision new server capacity by partitioning a physical server into multiple virtual machines.

New Key Features

VI Web Access: VI Web Access enables you to perform host and virtual machine configuration on VMware Server 2.0. This intuitive web-based interface provides a simple and flexible tool for virtual machine management.

VMware Remote Console: VMware Remote Console enables you to interact with the guest operating system on the host or a remote system. After you install it as a Web browser add-on, it can run independently from VI Web Access. VMware Remote Console also allows you to connect and disconnect client CD/DVD and floppy devices.

USB 2.0 Device Support: VMware Server now supports faster data transfer with USB devices plugged into the host system. If the guest operating system has appropriate USB 2.0 device drivers, you can use peripherals that require high-speed performance, such as speakers, webcams, next-generation printers and scanners, and fast storage devices.

Increased RAM support: The maximum amount of memory that can be allocated per virtual machine has been raised from 3.6GB to 8GB. The amount of memory used by all virtual machines combined is limited only by the amount of the host computer's RAM.

Improved 64-bit guest support: 64-bit guest operating systems that run on Intel EM64T VT-capable or AMD64 revision D or later processors are fully supported.

Native 64-bit host support on Linux: VMware Server now runs natively on 64-bit Linux host operating systems.

Quiesced backups of virtual machines: On Windows hosts, you can enable the VMware VSS Writer, which uses snapshots to maintain the data integrity of applications running inside the virtual machine when you take backups.

VMCI Sockets interface: This feature provides a sockets interface for the Virtual Machine Communication Interface, which provides a faster means of communication among applications running on the host and in virtual machines. For more information, see the VMCI Sockets Programming Guide.

Hot add and remove for SCSI hard disks: You can now add and remove SCSI virtual hard disks while the virtual machine is running in hardware version 7 virtual machines.

CTXADMTOOLS: Publish Multiple Appls v1.0

Publish Multiple Appls v1.0

Compatible with Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 and Citrix XenApp 4.5 and 5.0.

This FREE tool Publish or Remove Multiple Applications to or from Multiple Citrix Servers

Download at http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar

MS: Task Manager Disabled

I fixed the issue of Task Manager disabled in Windows 2003 running Citrix with following steps:

Start > Run, Type "gpedit.msc", then go User Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Ctrl + Alt + Del Options.
Set Remove Task Manager to Disabled.

CTXADMTOOLS: Terminal Server Corrupted Profile Audit v1.0 Released!

Terminal Server Corrupted Profile Audit v1.0

This FREE tool List Terminal Server Corrupted Profiles on the Citrix servers/farm or Windows Terminal Servers and Generate a Excel Report.

You can Filter results by Date and/or Time.

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar/

CTX: Citrix released Public Citrix Symbol Server

Public Citrix Symbol Server

Accessible to debuggers anywhere!

The Citrix Escalation team is pleased to announce the new Citrix Symbol Server. The Citrix Symbol Server provides on-demand access to public Citrix symbol files from any machine connected to the Internet. Prior to the symbol server, public symbol packages had to be downloaded over the Internet and copied to the local computer before debugging could be performed. Additionally, customers routinely had to upload large dump files to Citrix's FTP site before analysis could begin. We are excited to leverage this new resource to decrease problem resolution time and drive seamless cross-vendor collaboration.

Usage

To access debug symbols for the Citrix XenApp products - simply add the Citrix Symbol Server to the symbol path in your debugging tool of choice:

example: SRV**http://ctxsym.citrix.com/symbols

Reference article CTX118622 - How to Use the Citrix Symbol Server to Obtain Debug Symbols

FAQ

I try to browse the URL http://ctxsym.citrix.com/symbols and I receive an "Access Denied" error

You must use a debugging tool to connect to the Citrix Symbol Server; connections directly from a web browser will return a 403 error (Access Denied).

When are new symbols added to the symbol server share?

An automated script scheduled for 2am Eastern US time each day, checks for newly released hotfixes and adds public symbols for that hotfix to the symbol server. If you have an urgent need to have symbol files placed on the symbol server before 2am Eastern US time, please email a request to symsrv@citrix.com.

Which Citrix products are symbols available for?

Currently, the Symbol server hosts symbols for the following versions of Citrix XenApp Server:
Citrix Presentation Server 3.0 and hotfixes for all languages (English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese)
Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 and hotfixes for all languages (English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese)
Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 and hotfixes for all languages (English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese)
Citrix XenApp 5.0 and hotfixes for all languages (English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese)

Future Enhancements
The initial release of the Citrix Symbol Server contains only XenApp Server products since these symbol files were already available on the Citrix FTP site - we've simply changed the delivery mechanism to make them more accessible. The Escalation team plans to investigate the addition of symbol files for other Citrix products over the next quarter.

CTX: Citrix released Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 for XenApp 5.0 and 4.5 for 64-bit (x64)

Citrix has just released a new Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 for XenApp 5.0 and 4.5 for 64-bit. Please take special note of the install requirements for this release. For complete readme click here.

For best practices for installing and maintaining a large farm with Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 please, review CTX118659.

I also wanted to point out one area of distinction for 64-bit and the C++ redistributable. The readme below states that the (x86) version of the distributable should be used. This is not a typo. The links below which are used for the 32-bit version of this distributable are used in both 32-bit and 64-bit environments. Please let me know if you have any additional questions about this.

See Knowledge Center article CTX118771 for known install behaviors and their workarounds.
Your Citrix License Server must be at version 11.5 to install this hotfix rollup pack. Using your MyCitrix credentials, download this update from the Citrix Web site.

The Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) must be installed on all servers before installing this hotfix rollup pack. This can be obtained from the Microsoft Web site or visit the Microsoft Web site and search for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).

Installing this hotfix rollup pack partially invalidates the following hotfixes. This happens because not all fixes in these hotfixes are included in the hotfix rollup pack. Obtain or request the corresponding replacement hotfixes for any invalidated fixes you require as follows:

Invalidated Hotfix - Replacement Hotfix
PSE450R02W2K3X64027 - TBD
PSE450R02W2K3X64028 - TBD
PSE450R02W2K3X64029 - TBD
PSE450R02W2K3X64030 - TBD

The Suite Monitoring and Alerting (SMA) service used by the Access Management Console might not start after installing Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 and restarting the system. In order to fix this problem, you must upgrade the .NET version on the system to .NET 2.0 SP1. [#198103]

For information about Commandline Parameter Validation for XenApp, see Knowledge Center articles CTX117316 and CTX115245.

Unattended installation of this hotfix rollup pack from a batch file using the /qb switch fails to complete. Instead, the installer stalls at a dialog box prompting to close CMD.exe. As a workaround, use the /qb- or the /qn switch. [#186447]

This hotfix rollup pack provides a range of improvements to the resiliency of the Independent Management Architecture (IMA) Service. To get the benefits of these improvements, you must install this hotfix rollup pack on each zone data collector. See Knowledge Center article CTX118658 for information on the IMA performance and resiliency enhancements introduced in this Hotfix Rollup Pack. See Knowledge Center article CTX118659 for general best practices for installing and maintaining a large farm with Hotfix Rollup Pack 3.

Before installing this hotfix rollup pack on servers licensed for Standard Edition, you must migrate those servers to Advanced Edition. Standard Edition was discontinued on Citrix Presentation Server 4.5; installing this hotfix rollup pack on servers licensed for Standard Edition might cause the following error message to appear:

Citrix Presentation Server is unable to retrieve the product edition. Check to see if the Citrix Independent Management Architecture service is running without errors. Citrix Presentation Server cannot request licenses until it can obtain the product edition – no client devices can connect. If necessary, set the product edition in the Access Management Console. The product must be set to the same edition as your licenses.

To migrate your servers to Advanced Edition, you must obtain an Advanced Edition license and then change the server edition in the Access Management Console from Standard to Advanced. For information about obtaining an Advanced Edition license, visit your My Citrix account or contact your reseller.

After you install this hotfix rollup pack, Presentation Server 4.5 licensing will be enforced for the Application Streaming feature available in the Enterprise and Platinum editions. As a result, this feature will start to consume Presentation Server licenses and any individual Streaming (CSS) licenses received and activated in the past will no longer be utilized.

Uninstalling Version 1.2 of the Streaming Client from a system where Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 is installed might lead to system instabilities. The issue occurs because uninstalling the client removes the AIEcom.exe common component file. As a workaround, after uninstalling the client, run Repair on the Presentation Server Version 4.5 base installation. Running Repair restores the AIEcom.exe file. [#193688]

After installing this hotfix rollup pack, applications for which parameter passing is enabled might fail to launch. This is a result of the implementation of Fix #182305, which enforces tighter command line validation by default. Among potentially affected applications is the Citrix Conferencing Manager, any application that attempts to open a file over a UNC path [#186923], and Microsoft Office applications on WISP (Web Interface for SharePoint). As a workaround, you may choose to disable the fix:

For Citrix Conferencing Manager:
Go to the server properties of Citrix Conference Room.
Select the published application and click Edit.
In the Custom Application Location dialog box, select "Specify custom command line and working directory."
Append %** to the command line (for example, "C:\Program Files\Citrix\CMCM\CRoom.exe" %**).
Specify a working directory.
Apply the changes.

For individual applications:
Go to the Location property of the published application, for example, Microsoft Word.
Append %** to the command line (for example, "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\winword.exe" %**).
Specify a working directory.
Apply the changes.

Alternatively, it is possible to disable the fix at the server level by setting the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\wfshell\TWIName: PublishedAppCommandLineFlagType: DWORDData: 0

When adding the ValidSites registry key to redirect specific URLs from server to client, specify the URLs without http://. For example, add www.citrix.com, not http://www.citrix.com. [#161177]
Make sure your 64-bit server is running Windows 2003 SP2 before installing Hotfix Rollup Pack PSE450W2K3X64R03. If SP2 is not installed, Citrix MFCOM Service might not respond as expected. [#162425]

To enable Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 compatibility, you must install Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 before installing any Access Management Console extensions. [#162886]

After using the Shadow Taskbar with Version 11.0 of the XenApp Plugin for Hosted Apps to launch session shadowing, the shadowed session might appear in the Windows Taskbar instead of the Shadow Taskbar. [#196063]

Certain users cannot access the Event Log. This may cause some expected event messages to be missing. For more information, see Knowledge Center article CTX118466. [#197462]

If you remove the Hotfix Rollup Pack after publishing an application with Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 and the Hotfix Rollup Pack 3-level Access Management Console, the console might throw an exception when you attempt to edit the properties of that published application. This problem does not occur when you edit the properties of a published application that was created before Hotfix Rollup Pack 2 was installed. [#166266]

CTX: Citrix released Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 for XenApp 5.0 and 4.5 for 32-bit (x86)

Citrix has just released a new Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 for XenApp 5.0 and 4.5 for 32-bit. Please take special note of the install requirements for this release. For a complete readme click here. For best practices for installing and maintaining a large farm with Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 please, review CTX118659.

See Knowledge Center article CTX118771 for known install behaviors and their workarounds.
Your Citrix License Server must be at version 11.5 to install this hotfix rollup pack. Using your MyCitrix credentials, download this update from the Citrix Web site.

The Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86) must be installed on all servers before installing this hotfix rollup pack. This can be obtained from the Microsoft Web site or visit the Microsoft Web site and search for Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package (x86).

Installing this hotfix rollup pack partially invalidates the following hotfixes. This happens because not all fixes in these hotfixes are included in the hotfix rollup pack. Obtain or request the corresponding replacement hotfixes for any invalidated fixes you require as follows:
Invalidated Hotfix - Replacement Hotfix
PSE450R02W2K3019 - TBD
PSE450R02W2K3041 - TBD
PSE450R02W2K3043 - TBD
PSE450R02W2K3048 - TBD

The Suite Monitoring and Alerting (SMA) service used by the Access Management Console might not start after installing Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 and restarting the system. In order to fix this problem, you must upgrade the .NET version on the system to .NET 2.0 SP1. [#198103]

For information about Commandline Parameter Validation for XenApp, see Knowledge Center articles CTX117316 and CTX115245.

Unattended installation of this hotfix rollup pack from a batch file using the /qb switch fails to complete. Instead, the installer stalls at a dialog box prompting to close CMD.exe. As a workaround, use the /qb- or the /qn switch. [#186447]

This hotfix rollup pack provides a range of improvements to the resiliency of the Independent Management Architecture (IMA) Service. To get the benefits of these improvements, you must install this hotfix rollup pack on each zone data collector. See Knowledge Center article CTX118658 for information on the IMA performance and resiliency enhancements introduced in this Hotfix Rollup Pack. See Knowledge Center article CTX118659 for general best practices for installing and maintaining a large farm with Hotfix Rollup Pack 3.

Before installing this hotfix rollup pack on servers licensed for Standard Edition, you must migrate those servers to Advanced Edition. Standard Edition was discontinued on Citrix Presentation Server 4.5; installing this hotfix rollup pack on servers licensed for Standard Edition might cause the following error message to appear:
Citrix Presentation Server is unable to retrieve the product edition. Check to see if the Citrix Independent Management Architecture service is running without errors. Citrix Presentation Server cannot request licenses until it can obtain the product edition – no client devices can connect. If necessary, set the product edition in the Access Management Console. The product must be set to the same edition as your licenses.

To migrate your servers to Advanced Edition, you must obtain an Advanced Edition license and then change the server edition in the Access Management Console from Standard to Advanced. For information about obtaining an Advanced Edition license, visit your My Citrix account or contact your reseller.

After you install this hotfix rollup pack, Presentation Server 4.5 licensing will be enforced for the Application Streaming feature available in the Enterprise and Platinum editions. As a result, this feature will start to consume Presentation Server licenses and any individual Streaming (CSS) licenses received and activated in the past will no longer be utilized.

Uninstalling Version 1.2 of the Streaming Client from a system where Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 is installed might lead to system instabilities. The issue occurs because uninstalling the client removes the AIEcom.exe common component file. As a workaround, after uninstalling the client, run Repair on the Presentation Server Version 4.5 base installation. Running Repair restores the AIEcom.exe file. [#193688]

After installing this hotfix rollup pack, applications for which parameter passing is enabled might fail to launch. This is a result of the implementation of Fix #182305, which enforces tighter command line validation by default. Among potentially affected applications is the Citrix Conferencing Manager, any application that attempts to open a file over a UNC path [#186923], and Microsoft Office applications on WISP (Web Interface for SharePoint). As a workaround, you may choose to disable the fix:

For Citrix Conferencing Manager:
Go to the server properties of Citrix Conference Room.
Select the published application and click Edit.
In the Custom Application Location dialog box, select "Specify custom command line and working directory."
Append %** to the command line (for example, "C:\Program Files\Citrix\CMCM\CRoom.exe" %**).
Specify a working directory.
Apply the changes.

For individual applications:
Go to the Location property of the published application, for example, Microsoft Word.
Append %** to the command line (for example, "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12\winword.exe" %**).
Specify a working directory.
Apply the changes.

Alternatively, it is possible to disable the fix at the server level by setting the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\wfshell\TWIName: PublishedAppCommandLineFlagType: DWORDData: 0

When adding the ValidSites registry key to redirect specific URLs from server to client, specify the URLs without http://. For example, add www.citrix.com, not http://www.citrix.com. [#161177]
To enable Microsoft Vista and Office 2007 compatibility, you must install Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 before installing any Access Management Console extensions. [#162886]

After using the Shadow Taskbar with Version 11.0 of the XenApp Plugin for Hosted Apps to launch session shadowing, the shadowed session might appear in the Windows Taskbar instead of the Shadow Taskbar. [#196063]

Certain users cannot access the Event Log. This may cause some expected event messages to be missing. For more information, see Knowledge Center article CTX118466. [#197462]

If you remove the Hotfix Rollup Pack after publishing an application with Hotfix Rollup Pack 3 and the Hotfix Rollup Pack 3-level Access Management Console, the console might throw an exception when you attempt to edit the properties of that published application. This problem does not occur when you edit the properties of a published application that was created before Hotfix Rollup Pack 2 was installed. [#166266]

MS: Gpupdate Error Access Denied

To fix this issue follow these steps:

Regsvr32 /n /I %systemroot%\system32\userenv.dll
cd %systemroot%\system32\wbem
Mofcomp scersop.mof
Gpupdate /force

CTX: The Citrix SMA Service service depends on the Citrix Independent Management Architecture service which failed to start

Error:

Event Type: Error
Event Source: Service Control Manager
Event Category: None
Event ID: 7001
Date: 10/16/2008
Time: 1:33:39 PM
User: N/A
Computer:CTXSRV
Description:The Citrix SMA Service service depends on the Citrix Independent Management Architecture service which failed to start because of the following error:
After starting, the service hung in a start-pending state.

Solution:

Setting the service "WMI Performance Adapter" to Automatic

CtxAdmTools: Ctx Policies Manager Released!

CTX Policies Manager v1.1

This FREE tool Backup and Restore Policies or Import, Transfer, Migrate Policies between farms

Backup and Restore policies in the same Citrix Farm.

Transfer or Migrate policies between Citrix Presentation Server 4.0, Citrix XenApp 4.5 and Citrix XenApp 5.0 farms.

Ctx Policies Manager migrate policies from Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 and Citrix XenApp 4.5 to Citrix Presentation Server 4.0, Citrix XenApp 4.5 and Citrix XenApp 5.0 farms.

Migration between Citrix XenApp 5.0 farms is not fully supported in this version.

I returned from two weeks vacations in Argentina and I discovered that I need to migrate 464 Citrix policies from our old Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 farm to our new Citrix XenApp 4.5 farm.

I search the web from applications and I found a couple of scripts created by Mark Elliot on one of my favorites sites: http://www.brianmadden.com/

I tried to run the backup script on my 4.0 farm and fails, I review the code and made a couple of changes and still fails... so I check my code and found some code to export policies I wrote in June 2008, I took some pieces of code from Mark scripts (I loved the XML file option...my old code used a TXT file) and review MFCOM guide and got more code from there.

One day later, I run Ctx Policies Manager and backup the 4.0 farm. I run the Backup script created by Mark.. and fails... so I spent an extra day coding the restore option.

Then I tested the code and fixed some bugs for two days and then all policies are in the new farm.

I tested for two extra days; fixed more bugs, add some functionality, and test the application in one my Citrix XenApp 5.0 farms.

Ctx Policies Manager backup/restore/migrate Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 and Citrix XenApp 4.5 farms. I backup policies in both Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 and Citrix XenApp 4.5 farms and restore successfully in the Citrix XenApp 5.0 farm. Backup/Restore/Migration between Citrix XenApp 5.0 farms is not fully supported in this version.

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar/

CTX: Citrix Released XenApp 5.0 for Windows 2003 and 2008!!

Citrix released today Citrix XenApp 5 – the new name for Citrix Presentation Server – is the most complete application virtualization system that offers both client-side and server-side application virtualization for optimal application performance and flexible delivery options. XenApp brings world-class application delivery to the Microsoft Windows Server and Terminal Services platform with added flexibility, manageability, security and performance, making application delivery the premier choice in providing Windows applications to users.

Key benefits of adopting XenApp 5

Reduce cost:

• Reduce the cost of patching/updating applications with the new Inter-isolation communication feature of Application Virtualization
• Use the new Active Application Monitoring feature of EdgeSight to cut support costs by making it easy for IT to proactively detect and prevent potential performance issues even before they occur
• Be IPv6 compliant without rewriting applications
• Use the new

Installation Manager for Windows Server 2008 to quickly distribute applications, service packs, software patches, and simple command-line script tasks to servers

Improve Performance

• Dramatically improve application startup time for streamed applications
• Ensure fast and secure delivery of applications with HTTP(S) support for application streaming
• Improve Performance for Users and Apps with Preferential Load Balancing (PLB)
• Enhance XenApp resource monitoring with updated Resource Manager (based on EdgeSight technology)

Enhance User Experience

• Use the completely redesigned Web Interface to enhance user productivity via the intuitive and compelling interface
• Streamline End User Experience with new icons

Transition to Windows Server 2008

• Leverage the security and stability of Windows Server 2008 platform
• Enhance usability with Special Folder Redirection and ClearType font smoothing
• Enhance printing with XPS Universal Print Driver
• Enable smooth transition to Windows Server 2008 with mixed farm support

http://www.citrix.com/

MS: Microsoft Server Software And Supported Virtualization Environments

Microsoft Server Software And Supported Virtualization Environments

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957006

This article discusses the support policy for running Microsoft server software in the following supported virtualization environments:

Windows Server 2008 with Hyper-V
Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2008

Supported partners' virtualization software

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
944987 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/944987)
Support partners for non-Microsoft hardware virtualization software.

MS: Microsoft released Internet Explorer (IE) 8 Beta 2

Today MS release IE8 Beta 2 for public download.

You can download it at http://www.microsoft.com/ie8.

You’ll find versions for 32 and 64-bit editions of Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and 2008. In addition to English, IE8 Beta 2 is available in Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), and German. Additional languages will be available soon.

MS: Add a site to Trusted Zone on Internet Explorer (IE)

VB Script

On Error Resume Next

Const HKEY_CURRENT_USER = &H80000001

strComputer = "."Set objReg=GetObject("winmgmts:\\" & strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")

strKeyPath = "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\musumeci.com"

objReg.CreateKey HKEY_CURRENT_USER, strKeyPath

strValueName = "*"
dwValue = 2

objReg.SetDWORDValue HKEY_CURRENT_USER, strKeyPath, strValueName, dwValue

CMD Script

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\musumeci.com.ar" /V * /T REG_DWORD /F /D 2

CTX: Implement and Clone XenApp 4.5 on VMware ESX

Cloning Citrix XenApp 4.5 on VMware ESX 3.5

http://www.unitek.com/training/citrix/blog/?p=61

CTX: Detect Presentation Server or XenApp Version

Check the version of Citrix Presentation Server or Citrix XenApp in the following registry key:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\NewProductVersion

This is a VB Script sample to detect the version of the Citrix server

-----START CODE Detect_CTX_Version.vbs-----

Const HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE = &H80000002
strComputer = "."

Set oReg=GetObject("winmgmts:{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\default:StdRegProv")
strKeyPath = "SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix"
strValueName = "NewProductVersion"
oReg.GetExpandedStringValue HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE,strKeyPath,strValueName,strValue

WScript.Echo "Citrix Version Installed: " & strValue

-----END CODE Detect_CTX_Version.vbs-----

CTX: ICA Client Access Permissions

The ICA file security configuration is saved in the webica.ini file contained inside the following directory:

\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\ICAClient

Note: With version 10.1 of the Presentation Server Client or later, the webica.ini file is stored in the user profile directory.

See CTX114265 - Client File Security is Disabled After Upgrading From Version 10 of the Presentation Server Client to Version 10.1.

Webica.ini file configuration:
The types of access you can set based on the settings in the INI file are described below.

405 means give the server Full Access.
404 is Read Access.
403 is No Access.
-1 means no security setting is configured.

For example, type the following in the Webica.ini file if you do not want to show any ICA File Security pop-up windows to users, but your servers need full access to client computers.

Note: The [Access] heading is required.

[Access]
GlobalSecurityAccess=405

CTX: Citrix released Provisioning Server 5.0

Citrix released today the new version of PVS 5.0.

New in this Release:

• Sites and Device Collections
• Groups/Views
• Roll-based Administration
• Improved LDAP/AD integration
• Scalability and Usability Enhancements
• Enterprise Boot Device
• SQL 2005 Support
• Migration to VHD vDisk Format
• Logging Improvements
• Xen Integration
• In the Dell Flexible Computing Solution, new OptiPlex models are automatically recognized and supported.

CtxAdmTools: Show Published Applications Released!

Show Published App v1.2

This FREE tool list published applications on the farm or servers. Show applications published on the Citrix farm or servers and generate a report.

Show App List button list all applications published in a farm.

Save App List (Text File) button save all applications published in a farm into a Text File.

Load App List (Filter) button load all applications published in a farm. into the Filter Published Application combo box, so you can use Filter button to display details about an specific application.

Show App List per Server button list all applications published in a farm, server by server.

Save App List per Server (Text File) button save all applications published in a farm, server by server, into a Text File.

Save App List per Server (Excel File) button: save all applications published in a farm, server by server, into a Excel File.

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar/ShowPubApp

CtxAdmTools: ListSessions v1.4 released!

ListSessions v1.4

This tool list Sessions (All/Active/Disconnected) and Clients Machines connected in your Citrix farm

ListSessions v1.4 is FREE!
You can use the Unregistered Version for as long as you would like.
Save Report (TXT), Save Report Clients (XLS) and Search Session ID options are available only in the Registered Version)

New Features in version 1.4:

The List Client Information and Save Report Clients (XLS) options now show:

Domain or Workgroup Member: show if the machine is member of a domain or not.

Domain or Workgroup Name: show the name of the Domain or Workgroup.

Machine Role: show the role of the machine:
Standalone Workstation, Member Workstation, Standalone Server, Member Server, Backup Domain Controller, Primary Domain Controller.

Check features and Screenshots of ListSessions v1.3
Check features and Screenshots of ListSessions v1.2 (Free)
Check features and Screenshots of ListSessions v1.1 (Free)

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar/ListSessions

CTX: MSInstaller Windows Pops up on XenApp 4.5

When you open Internet Explorer in a client connected to a Citrix XenApp 4.5 server

The following message window pops up for few seconds when IE launched:

Windows Installer Preparing to install

If you check the Event Viewer in the XenApp server, you will found these entries:

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MsiInstaller
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Date: 8/15/2008
Time: 2:05:31 PM
User: DOMAIN\User
Computer: USCTXSRV01
Description:Detection of product '{44412985-02EE-4824-9EA5-B2AF6D98924E}', feature 'CTX_MF_MetaFrame_Core' failed during request for component '{79ED246A-69C7-4CEF-B5A2-57EC3B86BC31}'
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: MsiInstaller
Event Category: None
Event ID: 1001
Date: 8/15/2008
Time: 2:05:31 PM
User: DOMAIN\User
Computer: USCTXSRV01
Description:Detection of product '{44412985-02EE-4824-9EA5-B2AF6D98924E}', feature 'MetaFrame_XP', component '{DF3019A7-AD05-4A30-9C93-2A8F9CD501AB}' failed. The resource 'E:\' does not exist.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.

Solution:

Edit the following registry value for that component to resolve the problem. The registry value is located here: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Installer\UserData\S-1-5-18\Components\7A9103FD50DA03A4C939A2F8C95D10BA"58921444EE204284E95A2BFAD68929E4"="E:\" replace E:\ or other drive to C:\.

MS: How to Add a Trusted Site to Internet Explorer Zone

You want to add a site like an intranet to local users login into a server?

You can edit the file usrlogon.cmd in a Citrix servers to the site musumeci.com.ar to your IE Trusted Zone

*.musumeci.com.ar

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\musumeci.com.ar" /V * /T REG_DWORD /F /D 2

http://*.musumeci.com.ar

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\musumeci.com.ar" /V http /T REG_DWORD /F /D 2

https://*.musumeci.com.ar

REG ADD "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\ZoneMap\Domains\musumeci.com.ar" /V https /T REG_DWORD /F /D 2

CTX: Would you like Citrix Password Manager to remember your logon information for this application

When you open an application you receive this message: "Would you like Citrix Password Manager to remember your logon information for this application?"

To disable this option open Citrix Access Management Console:

Password Manager
User Configurations
Edit User Configuration
Basic Agent Interaction

Uncheck "Automatically detect applications and prompt user to store credentials"

CtxAdmTools: CTX List Local Printers v1.1 Released!

CTX List Local Printers v1.1

This FREE tool list Local and Network Printers in your Citrix farm.

List all Local and Network Printers in your Citrix farm. Very useful to troubleshooting Citrix printing.

Show Printers Local Machine option list local or network printers in the local machine (or remote machine). You can use Printer Name text box to Filter Results the list of printers.

Show Printers Multiple Machines option list local or network printers in a list of machines (previously you must load it with Load Server List button). You can use Printer Name text box to Filter Results the list of printers.
You can use Show Username in SessionID checkbox and Show Client Machine and IP Address checkbox will provide more details.
Warning: These two checkbox will make the process more slow.

The Generate Report option create a Text File with all the information in the Local Printer Result window.

http://ctxadmtools.musumeci.com.ar/CTXListLocalPrinters/