Logon: Brokering


I just experienced a 100+ second logon time for my Virtual Apps and Desktops session. Hopefully, you are not thinking “That’s pretty fast”. If I look at the detailed breakdown of my logon time, you can see it is a mess. Something is happening with my environment to cause things to spike. I want to… Continue reading Logon: Brokering

Windows 10 End of Support Cycle


Let’s go through a typical conversation I end up having   Me: What version of Windows are you using on your desktop?  You: Windows 10 Me: What VERSION of Windows 10? You: Do you mean Pro or Enterprise? Me: No. What Windows 10 version number, like a build number? You: Build number? Who cares? I’m… Continue reading Windows 10 End of Support Cycle

Optimize VDI: Windows 10 User Interface and Runtime (Original, Anniversary and Creator Updates)


This is a multi-part blog series focused on optimizing Windows 10 VDI Part 1: Optimizing default apps Part 2: Optimizing Windows services Part 3: Optimizing scheduled tasks As we saw in previous blogs, Microsoft added new default apps, services and scheduled tasks into the base operating system of the Windows 10 Build 1703 (Creator Update).… Continue reading Optimize VDI: Windows 10 User Interface and Runtime (Original, Anniversary and Creator Updates)

Optimize VDI: Windows 10 Scheduled Tasks


This is a multi-part blog series focused on optimizing Windows 10 VDI Part 1: Optimizing default apps Part 2: Optimizing Windows services Part 3: Optimizing scheduled tasks As we saw in previous blogs, Microsoft added new default apps and services into the base operating system of the Windows 10 Build 1703 (Creator Update). These updates… Continue reading Optimize VDI: Windows 10 Scheduled Tasks

Achieving fast logon times


Wow! That’s fast.  That is the reaction users should have when they log onto their virtual desktop. I’ve heard many talk about how slow or fast their logons are, but many times we tend to exaggerate.  I’ve discussed this topic before in two recent blogs: Improving logon time with Workspace Environment Management How does Workspace… Continue reading Achieving fast logon times

Windows Server 2016 Optimizations for Citrix XenApp


When it comes to operating system optimization, I have two sides battling with each other. Although optimizing does improve single server scalability, I believe the more you mess with the OS the greater your chances are that you will break something. Default Apps Unlike Windows 10, which had numerous default apps that increased user logon… Continue reading Windows Server 2016 Optimizations for Citrix XenApp

Windows 10 Optimization: The untold story


For a few weeks, people in my house kept bugging me to fix our Internet problem. From time-to-time, devices were not able to connect. No eMail. No NetFlix. No Minecraft (this last one was devastating). I tracked the issue down to my wireless router. The 4-5 year old device was extremely hot. There were 50+… Continue reading Windows 10 Optimization: The untold story

Windows 10 Optimization: Part 8 – The Results


Statistics are fun. It is amazing what interesting insights you can get from statistics. For example About 20% of workers would work harder if their employer offered a $1,000 shopping spree at the store of their choice – You hear that Citrix! About 20% of the people who watch the Super Bowl do so for… Continue reading Windows 10 Optimization: Part 8 – The Results

Windows 10 Optimization – Part 7: ICA


Were you planning to buy that? Nope. Of course, as you saw in my previous blog, my stupid lawn mower wheel snapped off with only 30 minutes left in the season! D’oh! Figured I would just head to the local hardware store and buy a new one. Guess what? Hardware stores in Minnesota don’t sell… Continue reading Windows 10 Optimization – Part 7: ICA