In the last week of 2015 Citrix released Provisioning Services 7.7. One of the best new features is that it is now official supporting Windows 10 (Enterprise and Professional Edition) as target device. Another cool new feature is that you can do an in-place upgrade (from version 7.6.1 or higher) and thus reverse-imaging belongs to the past!
In this blog I will show you step-by-step how to install the Console, the Provisioning Services Server itself, the Target device installation, and how to make a new vDisk. Of course I will use a Windows 10 target device.
My Environment
For this blog I setup a new lab with the following servers and clients;
- SRV001 : IP 192.168.1.20 – DC, SQL 2014 and Citrix License server
- SRV002 : IP 192.168.1.21 – Will be used for PVS
- A Windows 10 Target Device (Master, clean install)
This all runs on a Citrix XenServer 6.5 SP1 hypervisor and internal domain name is “robinhobo.com”. I know it is not recommended to install SQL on a Domain controller, but at this moment I’m limited in my resources and it is for test purposes and blogging only.
Before you begin
Before you begin, make sure you have the following in place;
- An up-and-running Microsoft SQL Database server (2008, 2012 or 2014)
- A Citrix License server with the proper (demo) licenses
- Windows Server 2012 / R2 with latest Windows updates
- A Target System like a Windows 10 desktop for making the vDisk
Windows Server 2012 Prerequisites
- Microsoft .NET 3.5 SP1 (when using it with XenDesktop)
- Microsoft .NET 4.0
- Windows PowerShell 2.0
Target device Prerequisites
- Microsoft .NET 4.0
Service account
Create a Service Account with the following permissions.
On the Microsoft SQL Server;
- db_datareader
- db_datawriter
- Execute permissions on stored procedures
System permissions on the Provisioning Services server(s);
- Run as service
- Registry read access
- Full control on folder : Program Files\Citrix\Provisioning Services
- Read/Write access to the vDisk Store location(s)
Install account
Make sure the user that will be uses for the Provisioning Services installation has the following Microsoft SQL permissions;
- dbcreator
- securityadmin
Citrix Best Practice
Citrix wrote a Best Practice for Configuring Citrix Provisioning Services (CTX204107) and Provisioning Services Antivirus Best Practices (CTX124185). It is recommended to apply the steps in these articles.
DHCP Scope options, PXE or Boot ISO
There are several ways to let a target device connect to the Provisioning Services during boot process. If PXE is not an option in your environment, you can configure the DHCP services to delivers the bootstrap file location. You can do this with the following DHCP scoop options;
- 66: Boot Server Host Name
- 67: Bootfile Name (ARDBP32.BIN)
However, you can only configure one boot server in the DHCP options. Therefore, it is recommended to fill in a load balance address. If you don’t have a good load balance solution in your environment (like a Citrix NetScaler) you always can use the “Boot Device Management” tool to create a bootable ISO file for your target devices.
Installing the Citrix Provisioning Services Console
Mount the PVS_7.7 ISO, browse to the Console folder and start the PVS_Console / PVS_Console_x64 program. Click on Install
Click Next
Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next
Fill in the User Name and Organization and click Next
Click Next
Click Install
Click Finish
Installing the Citrix Provisioning Services Server
Browse to the Server folder and start the PVS_Server / PVS_Server_x64 program. Click Install
Click Yes
Click Next
Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next
Fill in the User Name and Organization and click Next
Click Next
Click Install
Click Finish
Configuring the Citrix Provisioning Services
This Welcome to the Configuration Wizard start automatically after the PVS Server Installation. Click Next
My DHCP services runs on another machine so I select The service that runs on another computer but select what is applicable for you. Click Next
Select what is applicable for you and click Next
Because this is the first server of a new farm I select Create farm and click Next
Select your SQL Server and click Next
Fill in the requested information and click Next
Select the folder that you want to use for the vDisk(s) and click Next
Fill in the Citrix License server information and click Next
Select Specified user account and fill in the service account information. Click Next
Click Next
Click Next
Select Use the Provisioning Services TFTP service and click Next
Click Next
Select Automatically Start Services and click Finish
Click Done
Installing the Citrix Provisioning Services Target Device (on a Windows 10)
On the Windows 10 (Master) device, start the PVS_Device / PVS_Device_x64 and click Install
Click Next
Select I accept the terms in the license agreement and click Next
Fill in the User Name and Organization and click Next
Click Next
Select Custom and click Next
If you want, you can install the Session Record Support feature. Click Next
Click Install
Select Launch Imaging Wizard and click Finish
Running the Imaging Wizard and create a new vDisk
Before starting the Imaging Wizard, make sure the Windows 10 Master device is set to boot from Hard Disk (not vDisk) within the Provisioning Services console.
Click Next
Fill in the Provisioning Server information and click Next
Select Create a vDisk and click Next
Fill in a name for a Target Device and click Next
Give the vDisk a name, select the vDisk Store and select a vDisk type. Click Next
Select what is applicable and click Next
Select to Optimize the hard disk for Provisioning Services before imaging and click on Edit Optimization Settings
Select / De-select the options you want to apply and click OK
Click Next
Click Create
Click Continue
Click Yes or shutdown this target device
Final Steps
As you can see in the Provisioning Services console, the vDisk is created. Make sure that no devices are currently using this vDisk and open the properties of it.
Put the vDisk in Standard Image mode (read only) with the proper configuration (Cache type).
Also the Target Device is created during the Image Wizard. Open the properties.
Configure the Target Device to bood from the new vDisk.
The post Installing and Configuring Citrix Provisioning Service 7.7 and creating a vDisk appeared first on RobinHobo.com.