Provisioning Services and CIFS Shares

Looks like we can use CIFS shares to store our vDisk images.  Yes, you heard that right, CIFS shares are OK to use.  Take a look at Citrix Sr. Consultant Dan Allen’s blog about Provisioning Services and CIFS Stores – Tuning For Performance.  Why does this matter? First we’ve always said not to use CIFS shares as Provisioning Services wouldn’t cache the contents. We knew Windows 2008 could cache from CIFS shares but Provisioning Services wouldn’t.  Well, apparently the install of Provisioning Services disables certain capabilities, but if you don’t store your write cache on the file server (Server-side), the registry key Provisioning Services disables can be re-enabled and system caching works (BTW, we don’t recommend you store your write cache server-side so we are good). Take a look at Dan’s article to get all of the details. Highly recommended. But for highlights, do the following:

1. Must use Provisioning Services 5.6 SP1
2. Make sure you provide the Provisioning Services with enough RAM for system cache.
3. Set the following registry values below

Recommended Registry Values:

• Windows 2003 File server:
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters
• “autodisconnect” = dword:0000ffff

• Windows 2008 R2 File Server
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters
  • “autodisconnect” = dword:0000ffff
  • ‘Smb2″ = dword:00000001

• Windows 2003 x64 Provisioning Server
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
  • “EnableOplocks” = dword:0x00000001
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\mrxsmb\Parameters
  • “OplocksDisabled” = dword:0x00000000
  • “CscEnabled” = dword:0x00000001
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters
  • “autodisconnect” = dword:0x0000ffff

• Windows 2008 R2 Provisioning Server
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanWorkstation\Parameters
  • “EnableOplocks” = dword:0x00000001
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\mrxsmb\Parameters
  • “OplocksDisabled” = dword:0x00000000
  • “CscEnabled” = dword:0x00000001
• HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\services\LanmanServer\Parameters
  • “autodisconnect” = dword:0x0000ffff
  • “Smb2” = dword:0x00000001