MetaFrame XP Soup to Nuts
Configuring MetaFrame XP For Windows is chockfull of real-world information.
Citrix Systems' MetaFrame product is truly an enterprise-class piece
of software. Used by all Fortune 100s, it's hard to find an environment,
of any size, that doesn't use MetaFrame one way or another. What makes
it difficult is that, other than reading an unending number of white papers
or sorting through Citrix newsgroups in search of information, it's hard
for a Citrix newbie to figure out how all the pieces fit.
The authors of this book are veteran Citrix engineers with varied backgrounds,
and their experience with MetaFrame has obviously played a key role in
the formation of this book. The authors not only have a vast understanding
of the product but a great deal of experience with the environments in
which MetaFrame must live.
The book begins with a basic overview of MetaFrame and Server Based Computing
(SBC). It next moves into the "how to" of Citrix Farm design, basic SBC
concepts, network design and interaction with MetaFrame, and basic server
design and installation. The details in the design chapters of this book
are impressive. Not only does the book offer suggestions for basic server
configurations but includes a plethora of real-world information to help
you understand the why and how of large server farm design.
The authors address all the common aspects of MetaFrame farm management,
including installing applications; monitoring; troubleshooting; Web connectivity
using Nfuse; trend analysis; and, of course, printing. It would take a
year of long nights and hundreds of white papers to glean all this information.
While the book is almost technically perfect, some readers may notice
several inconsistencies between their environment and what the book describes.
This may be due to that fact that Citrix updates its product several times
a year and, since this book's publishing, MetaFrame XP Feature Release
2 has been released. While this may stop some from buying this book, I
believe the minor inconsistencies are outweighed by the enormous amount
of valid information.
While this book contains enough down-and-dirty technical information
for any Citrix administrator, it also contains enough architectural concepts
and suggestions on Citrix designs that almost anyone in IT could walk
away with a basic understanding of how, where and why to implement MetaFrame
XP.
About the Author
Ron Oglesby is the Citrix and Terminal Services team leader at Progressive Network
Solutions in Downers Grove, Illinois. When he is not hacking the registry on his
Windows 2000 server he is busy trying to finish his computer lab in his basement.