Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:22:42 Z

We are currently moving from a Citrix PS4.0 Farm to using Windows 2008 TS Farm. I've penciled in 4 x TS Servers to be built - 2 physical and 2 virtual with Windows 2008. Also 1 x TS Web Access Server (Virtual) and users to connect to this to deliver apps.

Questions are :

Should I use mixture of physical and virtual or just physical for any of the servers ?

Which server should I install the TS Session Broker on...one of the servers in the farm or can this be on the TS Web Access Server aswell?

Which OS should be used Windows 2008 Enterprise or standard and 32 bit or 64 bit for all these servers ?

This will be an internal only farm so TS Gateway is not needed at this early stage.

Would be greatful for any feedback.

Amit

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:28:42 Z

Hi,

first of all I would HIGHLY recommend to use Windows 2008 R2 (RC) and 64 bit.

> Should I use mixture of physical and virtual or just physical for any of the servers ?

With 2008 R2 it does not really matter unless you have heavy apps

> Which server should I install the TS Session Broker on...one of the servers in the farm or can this be on the TS Web Access Server aswell?

there are no preferences. But your idea is ok

> Which OS should be used Windows 2008 Enterprise or standard and 32 bit or 64 bit for all these servers ?

Go only for 64bit and you indeed can go for the R2 RC - it has SO MUCH MORE features! And yes it is stable too!

Citrix Technology Professional, PubForum.net Founder , Love Microsoft &its people to bits!

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:33:15 Z

Thanks for the quick reply....

So virtual is the way to go I guess ? If I use 2008 R2 RC then will I need to rebuild these boxes once the final release is out ?

Also how do I incorporate network load balancing into my farm design? Do I just rely on Session Broker ?

So are you saying to install Session Broker on the same server as my TS Web Access Server ? I guess I dont need to install any apps on this box and keep it clean with just these 2 roles ?

Amit

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:39:25 Z

So virtual is the way to go I guess ? If I use 2008 R2 RC then will I need to rebuild these boxes once the final release is out ?

Not really. Unlike Windows 7 Beta's etc. you don't need to rebuild your Server installation. You will just need to provide retail key
when the time comes. And all your settings will be of course transfered along.

Also how do I incorporate network load balancing into my farm design? Do I just rely on Session Broker ?

Yeah I would say so. Session Broker and DNS RR on top. NLB is an option though.

> So are you saying to install Session Broker on the same server as my TS Web Access Server ? I guess I dont need to install any apps on this box and keep it clean with just these 2 roles ?

It is completely up to you. Neither of the Roles, unless u have really loads of users, require a lot hardware wise. So it can sure also be one of the TS Servers.
The good news with R2 is that the R2 can collect content from different TS Servers with different apps installed unlike in just W2008. Plus many other nice features along. You sound to be familiar with the topic, so just bump into the really great TS Team blog and read up on how much new great features are coming:

http://blogs.msdn.com/rds/default.aspx

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Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:53:58 Z

Final thought...do I really need DNS RR or NLB or can I live without it.....just been reading the step-by-step guide on NLB with TS and not too sure if I would then need 2 servers with TS Web Access and Session Broker to form the cluster or not...

Can I email you a Visio of my design and you can vet it ?

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:56:54 Z

NLB - sure I would not do it for a small farm either.
DNS RR - well why not.. There is more good then bad about it.
But basically once the servers are in a Farm - no matter which one you point to,
Session Broker will forward you to the least busy.

Sure you can send the Visio.

technet-forum@pubforum.net

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Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:43:04 Z

I'm now thinking of creating 2 farms as we have a lot of management/IT apps and also a lot of user based apps. Instead of installing all apps (approx 30) on each server I would prefer to separate them out.

Not sure if I can still have 1 TS Web Access and 1 Session Broker for this or if I need 2 of these servers - 1 for each farm. What do you think ?

Alex - I will send you my design so far....

Amit MCSA 2003, VCP, CCA, MCTS:2008 AD

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:09:13 Z

Hi Amit,

> I'm now thinking of creating 2 farms as we have a lot of management/IT apps and also a lot of user based apps. Instead of installing all apps (approx 30) on each server I would prefer to separate them out.

This is exactly the reason why you should jump right on R2! You can collect the RemoteApp data from different RDS Servers in one TS Web Portal. Having one farm will keep the management and administration of it simple. Check this out:

http://bink.nu/news/terminal-services-in-2008-r2-becomes-remote-desktop-services.aspx

I got the design, thanks. Will take a look and respond to it today.

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Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:59:26 Z

Ok...cool...so you think 1 farm can be separated out with management apps on some boxes and user apps on others ?

I'd love to see this in design format so I can work out how feasible it is...please feel free to create a new visio or update it for me...thanks.

Amit MCSA 2003, VCP, CCA, MCTS:2008 AD

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:28:37 Z

Any news on my farm design ?

Was thinking Kristin could also give it a once over just to check it.

Also I downloaded Windows 2008 R2 but it appears to be 64 bit only. How do I get the 32 bit version of the RC ?

Amit MCSA 2003, VCP, CCA, MCTS:2008 AD

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:33:00 Z

Hi,

yeah just looking at it now.
Windows 2008 R2 is only available in x64.
Some notes on your design:

For TS Web access you need RDP 6.1 (no prob for either SP2 or SP3)
W2K8 only available in x64.
So far good. You just need to make sure you don't need 16 bit apps to run.
And if you can install Hyper V on one of your boxes if the Load isnt too big and Run 32 W2008. Or grab other solution (big $$$ though)

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Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:45:00 Z

Ok so basically...how would I change this design to incorporate the need to launch user apps on 1 set of TS servers and management apps on another set of TS servers ?

We have VMware not Hyper V. Not sure if all apps will run on 64 bit aswell so will have to test but I'm sure all our management tools will (DHCP, AD, SCCM console etc...)

Maybe you can send me back the visio and show me how I would separate the user and mgmt apps or if I need 2 farms.

You can email to apanchal24@hotmail.com

Amit MCSA 2003, VCP, CCA, MCTS:2008 AD

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:02:57 Z

Hi,

don't have the Visio on this box, so will show you on fingers.

The TS Web (RD Web) in Windows 2008 R2 can filter out users.
So you would install your management apps on one server (or two) and user apps on the
other two. Then in RD Web you just allow the appropriate users to see only apps they are supposed
to see.

For the compatibility of 16bit (if you really have to ) you can just install one box as W2008.
But that one will be like a black sheep in a way and you could install it on VmWare.

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Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:31:06 Z

Are you absolutely sure that when the RTM version comes out of R2 then I can update the key as I cannot see any documentation on this ?

I'm going to install the TS Web / session broker on a R2 standard edition 64 bit server. If all other servers in the farm are not R2 then will I still be able to install some apps on some servers and other apps on other servers and still use the RemoteApp User assignment feature?

Amit MCSA 2003, VCP, CCA, MCTS:2008 AD

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 12:50:51 Z

For the first question. Based on that you could always update Beta or RTM versions of Server to the next step I would say yes - it will be possible to update RC to RTM.

Thats a good question - MSFT can tell more here. But I assume if Session Broker & RD Web Server is R2 then you can both do user filtering and ALSO publish many servers to the RD Web.

MSFT?

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Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:18:37 Z

MSFT ? Please help on this....I can email you my visio diagram if u like.

Amit MCSA 2003, VCP, CCA, MCTS:2008 AD

Server 2008 TS Farm Design

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:51:11 Z

I confirm both:

1) You can Pubflish normal W2K8 RemoteApp content on a W2K8 R2 Server in RD Web

2) You can filter the content by User (as long as you add the app from W2K8 Server into LOCAL W2K8 R2 RemoteApp list as UNC link to W2K8 Server)

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