The trend towards digital transformation has seen many businesses shift their Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to public cloud platforms. However, this transition can result in increased costs, primarily due to unused resources. At Citrix, our focus isn’t just on facilitating this move, but also on helping you optimize your cloud costs.

In the past, IT administrators have had to create and maintain custom scripts to identify and reclaim unused VDIs. These might be systems that were set up for employees who have since left the company, contractors whose contracts have ended, or just machines that have fallen into disuse. This process can be time-consuming and complex, requiring specialized knowledge and constant updating.

To address this issue, we are tech previewing a new feature: automated tagging. This new functionality enables easy identification of inactive machines, thereby eliminating the need for custom scripts and manual tracking.

Adopting your own VDI reclamation service with Citrix is straightforward and maintenance-free.

Here’s how to use it:

    1. Define a tag that you would like to tag the unused VDIs with. Let’s call it “unused-vdi”.
      1. Example – New-BrokerTag -Name ‘unused-vdi’
      2. Note down the tag id – say its 123
    2. Create an automated tagging rule (new feature in tech preview) to tag unused machines automatically.
      1. In this rule you define the following parameters
        1. Name – Generic name for the rule
        2. ObjectType – here its machine
        3. Rule text – We want to find the static, assigned machines whose lastconnection time was > 30 days or had no value. We used the parameters available in Get-BrokerMachine to create this.
        4. Tag Uid – The tag you want to associate with
      2. We use the new command New-BrokerAutoTagRule
        1. New-BrokerAutoTagRule -Name ‘UnusedVdi’ -ObjectType ‘Machine’ -RuleText “-AllocationType Static -IsAssigned $true -Filter { SummaryState -ne `”InUse`” -and ( LastConnectionTime -lt ‘-30’ -or LastConnectionTime -eq `$null ) }” -TagUid 123
    3. Check machines marked with the tag “unused-vdi” and release them.

Note: Our Auto Tagging rule isn’t limited to VDIs; it’s a versatile feature that can set and remove tags on many Desktop as a Service (DaaS) object types based on custom rules and filters.

Our system manages the process, evaluating the rules every 10 minutes to ensure unused resources are promptly identified and reclaimed. This enables IT administrators to reclaim these resources, optimizing resource allocation and reducing unnecessary costs.

This proactive approach simplifies resource management for IT administrators. No longer do you need to write or maintain custom scripts – the automated tagging system handles it all, freeing you to focus on strategic initiatives.

Additionally, automated tagging offers a clearer view of your VDI environment. By identifying unused resources, it provides insights into your infrastructure’s efficiency, helping identify cost-cutting opportunities and improve your cloud expenditure.

At Citrix, we believe that moving to the cloud should mean less work for IT administrators, not more. Our automated tagging feature is a testament to this belief, aiding in maximizing the value of your move to the public cloud.

As we continue to develop and refine our software, your feedback is invaluable. Whether you have comments, suggestions, or need help using this feature to automate other tasks, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re committed to innovating to better serve your needs.

Disclaimer: The development, release and timing of any features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole discretion and are subject to change without notice or consultation. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions or incorporated into any contract.