Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops – CPU Utilization


With the 1912 release of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912, we saw a major improvement in overall bandwidth utilization.  Some of the tests showed an 80% reduction in bandwidth utilization.  But how does this drastic decrease in bandwidth utilization impact CPU utilization?  Let’s find out. Test Details The test scenarios are as follows: Workloads:… Continue reading Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops – CPU Utilization

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Bandwidth


With Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912 achieved LTSR (Long Term Servicing Release).  This is the first LTSR since the 7.15 release, which was almost 3 years earlier. In 3 years, a lot has changed. The protocol had many improvements that directly impacted the user experience and bandwidth utilization. With each release, since 7.11 (2016),… Continue reading Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Bandwidth

Windows 10 – Resource Utilization


Every 6 months, Microsoft releases a major update to Windows 10 (semi-annual channel). To be more precise, it is better to identify Windows 10 releases with version numbers (1503, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709,  1803, 1809 and 1903).  The format is the year and month of the release, so 1503 is March 2015 and 1709 is… Continue reading Windows 10 – Resource Utilization

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

Sizing Windows 2016, Windows 2012 and Windows 10 Virtual Machines


It has been almost one year since Windows Server 2016 was released at Microsoft Ignite. Are the virtual machine sizing recommendations for Windows Server 2012R2 applicable to Windows Server 2016? And since we are talking about sizing virtual machines for XenApp and XenDesktop, it might be a good time to revisit Windows 10. Let’s first… Continue reading Sizing Windows 2016, Windows 2012 and Windows 10 Virtual Machines

Sync the Windows 10 (1703) Start Menu in VDI


Even though it is still Windows 10, each release introduces changes that impacts our VDI deployment. We saw this with optimizing the operating system as we have different default apps, scheduled tasks and services. But what about the Start Menu? Synchronizing the Windows 10 Start Menu in VDI was the bane of many admin’s existence.… Continue reading Sync the Windows 10 (1703) Start Menu in VDI

Sync the Windows 10 Start Menu in VDI


NOTE: This is for Windows 10 builds before 1703.  Windows 10 1703 changes the storage location for the Start Menu. Learn more here Windows 10 VDI. Of course it works. But one of the annoying things that really bothers me is not being able to customize my start menu. My IT team created a standard… Continue reading Sync the Windows 10 Start Menu in VDI

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

Optimize VDI: Windows 10 Services


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 a previous blog, Microsoft added new default apps into the base operating system with each major release of Windows 10. These updates will have… Continue reading Optimize VDI: Windows 10 Services