This white paper has been deprecated.

For the most up to date information,

please refer to the Citrix Virtual Desktop
Handbook.

Prepared by:
Worldwide Consulting
Desktops and
Apps Group

Citrix
FlexCast Planning Guide

Prepared by:
Worldwide Consulting Solutions

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview ................................................................................................................... 10
FlexCast Model Comparison ................................................................................... 11
FlexCast Model Selection ........................................................................................ 13
Recommendations ................................................................................................ 15
Product Versions...................................................................................................... 16
Revision History ....................................................................................................... 16

Consulting Solutions | WHITE PAPER | FlexCast Planning Guide

Overview
Citrix FlexCast offers a complete set of application and desktop virtualization technologies that have been
combined into a single integrated solution. However, many organizations embarking on a desktop
virtualization journey believe that they need to follow the VDI model where each user receives a virtual
machine, hosted in the data center. VDI is a great option, but not the only one because organizations
usually need to use a combination of approaches to meet the requirements of users and IT.
Different types of user need different types of desktop. Some users may require simplicity and
standardization, while others may require high levels of performance and personalization. Implementing
a single desktop virtualization model across an entire organization will inevitably lead to user frustration
and reduced productivity. Instead, organizations need to identify the functionality that users require as
well as the technical differences between virtual desktop options.
Users are often classified as task workers, branch office workers, mobile workers and the like.
Unfortunately, this classification is too broad to offer meaningful segmentation because many real users
can simultaneously be described as task workers, mobile workers, and branch office workers. Instead,
group users together that have the same requirements for:
Requirement

Details

Workload
Light

1-2 office productivity apps or kiosk

Normal

2-10 office productivity apps with light multimedia use

Heavy

Multimedia, data processing or application development

OpenGL

OpenGL graphics requirements

Mobility
Local

Always uses the same physical desktop on an internal, high-speed, secured network.

Roaming Local

Connects from different locations on an internal, high-speed, secured network.

Roaming

Sometimes connects from external variable-speed, unsecure networks.

Offline

Sometimes needs desktop access while disconnected from any network.

Personalization
None

User cannot modify any user or application settings (e.g. kiosk)

Basic

User can modify user-level settings within desktops and apps

Complete

User can make any change, including installing applications

Security
Low

No restrictions

Medium

Data must stay in data center / be encrypted and users can not install apps

High

Medium plus no multi user operating systems

High + Audit

High plus MAC/IP address auditing

Criticality
Low

Desktops can be unavailable for one day or more

Medium

Desktops must not be down for more than four hours

High

Backup desktops must always be available in case the primary fails

Table 1: User Group Requirements

Page 10

Consulting Solutions | WHITE PAPER | FlexCast Planning Guide

This planning guide looks at various options that Citrix FlexCast provides to help meet the computing
requirements of every user type and guide organizations in making the correct decision.

FlexCast Model Comparison

Desktop virtualization is much more than creating a virtual machine in the data center to simply run
Windows 7. There are, in fact, five different FlexCast models available, each one providing different
capabilities based on unique user group requirements. The advantages and disadvantages of each
model are described below:

Hosted Shared: With the Hosted Shared Desktop model, multiple user desktops are hosted on a
single server-based operating system. The Hosted Shared Desktop model provides a low-cost,
high density solution, however applications must be compatible with a multi-user server based
operating system. In addition, because multiple users are sharing a single operating system,
users are restricted from performing actions which may negatively affect other users, for example
installing applications, changing system settings and restarting the operating system. There is
also the potential that a single user could consume an unfair share of resources which may
negatively affect other users. The Hosted Shared FlexCast model is provided by Citrix XenApp in
combination with Microsoft Remote Desktop Services (RDS).

Hosted VDI: The Hosted VDI FlexCast model provides each user with a desktop operating
system. Hosted VDI desktops are less scalable than Hosted Shared desktops because each user
requires their own operating system. However, Hosted VDI desktops remove the requirement
that applications must be multi-user aware and support server based operating systems. In
addition, the Hosted VDI model provides administrators with a granular level of control over the
number of virtual processors and memory assigned to each desktop. The Hosted VDI model is
provided by Citrix XenDesktop, and offers the following sub-categories:
o

Pooled-Random / Streamed: Desktops are based on a single master image and

provisioned using Citrix Machine Creation Services or Citrix Provisioning Services. Users
are dynamically connected to one of the desktops in the pool each time they logon.
Changes to the desktop image are lost upon reboot.

Pooled-Static: Desktops are based on a single master image and provisioned using
Citrix Machine Creation Services or Citrix Provisioning Services. Users are allocated a
virtual desktop on first access. Once assigned, users will always be connected to the
same virtual desktop. Changes to the desktop image are lost upon reboot. If high
availability is required (medium-criticality), the personal vDisk must be stored on shared
storage.

Pooled / Streamed with Personal vDisk: Desktops are based on a single master image
and provisioned using Citrix Machine Creation Services or Provisioning Services. Users
are allocated a virtual desktop on first access. Once assigned, users will always be
connected to the same virtual desktop. Changes to the desktop are stored in a personal
vDisk and retained between reboots. Desktops with a personal vDisk cannot be shared
between multiple users; each user requires their own desktop. If high availability is
required (medium-criticality), the personal vDisk must be stored on shared storage.

Dedicated: Desktops are based on a single master image and provisioned using Citrix
Machine Creation Services. Users are allocated a virtual desktop on first access. Once
assigned, users will always be connected to the same virtual desktop. Any changes
made by the user persist for the life of the virtual desktop, even across reboots. Once a
rd
dedicated desktop has been created it must be maintained manually or via 3 party
desktop management tools. Changes to the master image are not reflected on existing
dedicated desktops.

Existing: Virtual desktops which have not been created using Citrix Machine Creation
Services or Citrix Provisioning Services. For example, a manual build, from template,
rd
rd
cloned or using 3 party tools. These desktops must be managed manually or with 3
party desktop management tools.

Page 11

Consulting Solutions | WHITE PAPER | FlexCast Planning Guide

o

Physical / Remote PC: Physical Desktops that have already been deployed, including
Blade PCs and user workstations (Remote PC). These desktops must be managed
rd
manually or with 3 party desktop management tools. Physical desktops with a GPU
support HDX 3D pro, however Remote PC uses the standard ICA thinwire protocol and
does not allow offloading to the GPU to render video files or 3D apps.

Streamed VHD: Desktops are based on a single master image and provisioned using
Provisioning Services. The Streamed VHD FlexCast model allows Windows 7, Vista, or XP
desktops to be run locally on the users desktop computer. Streamed VHD is a great solution for
high-end workstations because it allows them to leverage local processing power. Streamed
VHD requires a LAN connection to be in place between the desktop and the Provisioning Servers
and changes to the desktops are lost upon reboot.

Local VM: Windows 8, Windows 7, Vista, or XP desktops running locally within a hypervisor on
the users laptop. The virtual desktop image is completely delivered to the hypervisor to allow for
offline connectivity. Citrix XenClient is used to provide the Hosted Shared FlexCast model.

On-Demand Apps: The On-Demand Apps FlexCast model does not provide users with a virtual
desktop; instead Windows applications are centralized in the data center, and instantly delivered
via a high-speed protocol (requires connection) or streamed (offline support) via Citrix Application
Streaming or Microsoft App-V.

The following table provides a summary of the different FlexCast models available:
FlexCast Model

User Installed
Apps

Image Delivery
Technology

Virtual / Physical

Access

Desktop to
User Ratio

Hosted Shared

No

Installed or PVS

Physical / Virtual

HDX

1 : Many

VDI: Pooled-Random

No

MCS

Virtual

HDX

1 : Many

VDI: Pooled-Static

No

MCS

Virtual

HDX

1:1

VDI: Pooled with PvD

Yes

MCS

Virtual

HDX

1:1

VDI: Dedicated

Yes

MCS

Virtual

HDX

1:1

VDI: Existing

Yes

Installed

Virtual

HDX

1:1

VDI: Physical / Remote PC

Yes

Installed

Physical

HDX

1:1

VDI: Streamed

No

PVS

Physical / Virtual

HDX

1 : Many

VDI: Streamed with PvD

Yes

PVS

Physical / Virtual

HDX/Local

1:1

Streamed VHD

No

PVS

Physical

HDX

1:1

Local VM

Yes

XC

Virtual (XenClient)

HDX

1:1

On Demand Apps

No

Installed or PVS

Physical / Virtual

Local

1 : Many

Table 2: FlexCast Model Comparison

Page 12

Consulting Solutions | WHITE PAPER | FlexCast Planning Guide

FlexCast Model Selection

There are key technical differences between XenApp and XenDesktop. Both products provide the user
with an excellent user experience based on HDX. However, due to their underlying architecture, many
HDX features are slightly different, as shown in the following table:
Criteria

XenDesktop 5.6

HDX Broadcast

No major differences

HDX MediaStream (server

rendered)

HDX MediaStream
(Flash redirection &
Windows Media Redirection)
HDX Plug-n-Play

12 fps (configurable to 30)

General support for Windows

portable USB devices (standard
keyboards, mice, printers,
smartcards, etc.).
Optimized virtual channels for
device level redirection rather than
USB port level redirection,
potentially limiting availability for
certain USB devices.

HDX 3D Pro (not supported on

Remote PC) for deep GPU-based
compression and OpenGL/DirectX
acceleration (one GPU per user)
Adaptive Display
Microsoft RemoteFX support
Aero Redirection

DirectX acceleration (shared GPU)

GPU acceleration of DirectX and

OpenGL
One user per GPU
Deep-level compression
3D SpaceMouse support

GPU acceleration of DirectX only

Each GPU can be shared by
multiple users
Applications must be compatible
with RDS

24 fps (configurable to 30)

Adaptive display
Low latency audio path

No major differences

Generic USB support on the LAN in

addition to all optimized virtual
channels for device level
redirection.
On a LAN environment, should be
able to support most USB devices.

HDX WAN

No major differences

HDX Rich Graphics

HDX 3D Pro

HDX Smart Access

No major differences

HDX RealTime

HDX Adaptive Orchestration

XenApp 6.5

Low latency audio path

UDP/RTP support for tolerance to
network congestion and packet loss

DSCP and WMM packet tagging

No major differences

Softphone compatibility somewhat

limited due to use of Windows
Remote Desktop Services (formerly
Terminal Services)

Table 3: XenApp and XenDesktop Feature Comparison

Note: An overview of HDX technologies can be found on the Citrix HDX site.
Each user group in the User Segmentation worksheet should be compared against the following table to
determine which FlexCast Model should be assigned. Ensure that you update the FlexCast value for
each user group in the worksheet.

Page 13

Segmentation
Characteristic

Hosted
Shared

VDI: PooledRandom /
Streamed

VDI:
PooledStatic

VDI: Pooled
/ Streamed
with PvD

VDI:
Dedicated

VDI:
Existing

VDI:
Physical

VDI:
Remote PC

Streamed
VHD

Local VM

On
Demand
Apps

Workload
Light

Normal

Heavy

Heavy + Open GL

Local

Roaming Local

Remote

Offline

None

Basic

Complete

Low

Medium

High

High + Audit

Low

Medium

High

Mobility

Personalization

Security

Criticality

: Recommended. : Viable. : Not Recommended. : Streamed Apps Only. Viable with Microsoft Restrictions
Table 4: FlexCast Model Capability Comparison

Page 14

Consulting Solutions | WHITE PAPER | FlexCast Planning Guide

Recommendations
Dont forget to follow these top recommendations from Citrix Consulting based on years of experience:
Citrix Consulting Tips for Success
1. Review the Capabilities Assessment: There are multiple FlexCast models available that are
an equal match, for example VDI: Pooled Random (Provisioning Services) and VDI: Streamed
(Machine Creation Services). In this situation, if you already have skills or experience with one
model over another then this is a good reason for selecting it.
2. Lead with Hosted Shared/VDI: As you can see in the FlexCast Capability table above, the
Hosted VDI and Hosted Shared FlexCast models can be used in the majority of situations. The
Streamed VHD and Local VM FlexCast models should only be used on an exception basis. By
reducing the number of FlexCast models required, you will help to reduce deployment time and
simplify management.
3. Perfect Match. It may not be possible to select a FlexCast model which is a perfect match for
your user group, for example you cant provide users with a desktop that is highly secure and
offers complete personalization at the same time. In these situations, select the FlexCast model
which is the closest match.
4. Criticality. There are only four FlexCast models that meet the needs of a high criticality user
group (backup desktops available) none of which allow for complete personalization. If a
high-criticality user group also requires the ability to personalize their desktop they could be
provided with a pool of backup desktops (Hosted Shared, pooled, streamed) in addition to their
primary desktop. Although these desktops would not include customizations made to their
primary desktop, they would allow users to access core applications such as mail, Internet and
Microsoft Office.

Page 15

Product Versions
Product

Version

Citrix XenApp

6.5

Citrix XenDesktop

5.6

Revision History
Revision

Change Description

Updated By

Date

1.0

Document Created

Daniel Feller (Lead Architect)

January 23, 2012

1.1

Updated recommendations

Andy Baker (Architect)

February 6, 2013

1.2

Updated to include High + Audit

security category

Andy Baker (Architect)

April 8, 2013

About Citrix
Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CTXS) is a leading provider of virtual computing solutions that help
companies deliver IT as an on-demand service. Founded in 1989, Citrix combines virtualization,
networking, and cloud computing technologies into a full portfolio of products that enable virtual
workstyles for users and virtual datacenters for IT. More than 230,000 organizations worldwide rely
on Citrix to help them build simpler and more cost-effective IT environments. Citrix partners with
over 10,000 companies in more than 100 countries. Annual revenue in 2011 was $2.20 billion.
2013 Citrix Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. Citrix, Access Gateway, Branch Repeater,
Citrix Repeater, HDX, XenServer, XenApp, XenDesktop and Citrix Delivery Center
are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its subsidiaries, and may be registered
in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. All other trademarks and
registered trademarks are property of their respective owners.