With Director 7.11 you can now configure Netscaler Management and Analytics System (MAS). MAS is a one stop application which combines NetScaler Insight Center, Command Center, and Control Center. This blog will help you in integrating MAS with Director 7.11.
Note: Please refer this blog for more information on MAS
Note: This is available for XenApp and XenDesktop Platinum customers only
Note: Data shown in Director from MAS will vary with the MAS license
Note: Director 7.11 supports integration with MAS version 11.1 Build 49.16 onward.
Configuring Director with MAS
You can either configure MAS or Insight with Director 7.11. It’s very simple. You can use the Director Config Tool to get this done. The Director Config Tool is a is a command line tool used to perform various configuration tasks on Citrix Director ranging from Delivery Controller setup to HDX Insight integration.
This command line tool is located on the Citrix Director server in the following folder:
C:\inetpub\wwwroot\Director\tools
Use the parameter /confignetscaler.
And now for a questionnaire.
Enter Machine name or IP: What’s your MAS machine name or IP? If you do not have MAS setup yet you can still use your Insight .
Enter User name: User name that you will use to login to you MAS\Insight
Enter Password: ******** ?
For Secure HTTPS Connection enter 1. For HTTP connection enter 0: Figure out whether you use a HTTPS or HTTP to connect to your MAS\Insight. If you are not sure ask your Netscaler admin. Don’t be shy.
Note: For webpages with mixed content, wherin login to Director is HTTPS but MAS is configured for HTTP, then please refer this blog. It’s best advised to use HTTPS for both.
Next, the most important question of them all.
For configuring Netscaler Insight enter 0, For configuring Netscaler Management and Analytics System enter: Have you given the IP of a MAS machine in the first step? If yes, then hit 1 here. If not, then you must have punched in the IP of Insight. Hit 0 in this case.
With this, you will have configured MAS or Insight successfully with Director 7.11.
For more information on Director’s integration with Insight, please have a look at this blog.
Director 7.11 with MAS
Trends View
Log in to Director 7.11 once the configuration is done. In the Trends page, the Network tab will give an overview of the network details such as average bandwidth, latency, client jitter, ICA round trip time and much more.
There are three selections; Users, Applications and Desktops. Here are some excerpts from the blog “HDX Insight Integration with Director” which will help you understand more about the metrics collected.
Users
- To quickly analyze the network health, the chart provides a summary showing the average network metrics per the time selection
- The list of Users contains a list of users who have accessed the environment within the time period selected. Metrics such as latency, # of application launches, ICA RTT, Bandwidth, and jitter are provided on a per user basis
- Admins are able to drill down on a per user basis for network metrics relevant to that user
Applications
- The chart shows an average of the launch duration for the applications and the number of application launches for the specified time frame.
- The list shows each application, number of launches for that application and the average logon duration specific to that application.
- Admins are able to drill down into each application for additional metrics.
Desktops
- The chart shows an average bandwidth used for the desktops during the specified time frame.
- The list shows the user associated with the desktop, session duration, average latency, average ICA RTT, and average bandwidth used
Admins are able to drill down on a per user basis for additional detail
User Detail View
The MAS Network details are also available on the User Details view. This panel provides the network details that are specific to the user session.
Unconfiguring Director with MAS
If you want to change Director 7.11 integration from Insight to MAS then you will have to first remove your existing configuration using the paremter /unconfignetscaler and then configure MAS; using the Director Config Tool.
Use the same parameter to remove MAS integration completely.
That’s all folks!
