Are you a VMWare admin? Used to architecting your Citrix XenDesktop/XenApp deployments within a VMWare environment. Ever thought about XenServer? Bet you’re thinking about XenServer now I’ve mentioned it… Ever wondered what would stop you from deploying on XenServer?  Bet you’re thinking about it now…

Citrix Synergy is in Orlando, Florida, USA May 23-25 2017. Citrix Synergy is the global event where the Citrix community of customers, prospective customers, partners and industry influencers come together for strategic insights and professional networking. I am honoured to be on Featured Speakers list, and for all of those who are asking - yes Jim Moyle will indeed be sitting beside me, warming his toes by the fire and mumbling about how he has to bring his own tea. 

What is SYN416 / XenServer for VMware admins All About?

Citrix XenServer is the underlying infrastructure powering multiple Citrix core offerings. While many Citrix admins use XenServer to host Citrix XenDesktop and XenApp services, many VMware admins have yet to make a move. In this Fireside Chat, we’ll start conversations about similarities, differences and drivers for staying or moving. We’ve a range of topics to talk about that includes topics on key differences between VMware vShpere and Citrix Xenserver that include Versions and Licensing, Core Architecture, Managment, Load Balancing, High Availability, DR, Migration and Performance. And in what we hope will be a fun and exciting change - you the audience get to choose which order we get to do the topics in to help you make a informed choice of which platform to build on going into 2017 and beyond.   

Talk about Taxation?

We’ll consider the license options and cost implications of implementing XenServer as opposed to VMware. Open to a conversation on if it is truly a Tax, or merely moving money from one offshore account to another?

Architecture Differences

We’ll consider XenServer’s core architecture – and its differences and nuances in comparison to VMware. We’re ready to look at respective tools, at XenServer’s unique offerings, High Availability, Disaster Recovery and consider requirements and performance between the two environments. As I say, the agenda can practically be your own – such is this new fireside side chat format. Where would you like to go on that particular Thursday?

Don't Just See It - Be It. 

Jim and I have got our notes (almost) prepped for sure: but if you have a burning question or idea you’d like help with: by all means get in touch either via www.mycugc.org, via twitter  or in the comments here. 

Join Us, We May Have Marshmallows

So, join me and fellow Citrix Technology Professional Jim Moyle at Citrix Synergy 2017 SYN416 / XenServer for VMware Admins, for a relaxed and informal discussion to insight into how you can best deliver your XenApp/XenDesktop environment going forward in 2017 and beyond. And if you don’t come for that – come to find out what these three slides are actually going to be about (by all means submit your answers, there could well be prizes)

Date: May 25, 2017

Time: 4.00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse, West Hall C, Synergy Park, Fireside 1

We look forward to seeing you. For those who have never met us, we'll be the guys at the front.  

Want to maintain and grow your Citrix Provisioning Services estate reliably – but also want free time to do the cool IoT stuff or even just hang out with family and friends?

Citrix Synergy is in Orlando, Florida, USA May 23-25 2017. Citrix Synergy is the global event where the Citrix community of customers, prospective customers, partners and industry influencers come together for strategic insights and professional networking. I am honoured to be on Featured Speakers list, and for all of those who are asking - yes Jim Moyle will indeed be standing beside me, keeping it real and filling in all the advanced technical content. 

What is SYN306 - Solving PVS Challenges with Simple Shell Scripts All About?

While scripting is unlikely to bring about World Peace, it can help solve a lot of problems to make day to day tasks reliable and consistent. In this Synergy Session Jim and I will look at automation techniques for roll-out, updates and migration. Building on practical examples from field implementations we've been involved in, we'll cover differences in SDK versions that PVS brings to the scripting table and look at some practical examples for PVS scripting that we’ve encountered. 

Pester Testing

One of the scripting items we’ll look at and demonstrate is how to Pester PVS. Pester is a test framework for PowerShell. It provides a language that allows you to define test cases, and the Invoke-Pester cmdlet to execute these tests and report the results. We’ll talk through how existing publically available scripts can be used to apply testing and validation using the Pester framework to ensure you’ve a consistent environment – either in a single sites or across multiple pods. If you are really lucky we might even talk about Desired State Configuration a little bit.

Synergise Scripting

Citrix Synergy is indeed a great event to share ideas, understand new concepts and get great insight. In this session we’ll not only share with you some useful scripts, tips and insights – but give insight into how you can share, develop and contribute to scripts in the Citrix community

Don't Just See It - Be It. 

Jim and I have got our examples for sure: but if you have a burning question or idea you’d like help with: by all means get in touch either via www.mycugc.org, via twitter  or in the comments here. 

Join Us, We May Have Cookies

It'd be great to see you at Citrix Synergy 2017 for SYN306 - Solving PVS Challenges with Simple Shell Scripts. Come to learn how to give more power to your PVS deployments through scripting. And if you don’t come for that – come for true examples Northern Grit should the demos go south. 

It’ll be worth the early start, you mark my word. 

Date: May 24, 2017

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.

Location: Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse, Valencia BC

We look forward to seeing you. For those who have never met us, we'll be the guys at the front.  

You know some of the best ways you can take part in your local CUG? Likely your inside voice has said things like "Turn up", "attend","ask questions","engage". If that's your answer? Well done you. You know what I'm going to say next right?

What's the BEST way to engage with a Citrix User Group?

And you know that the answer is "speak at your CUG" - because you read the title. It's hardly "where's Wally/Waldo" is it?

True.

But, speaking at a Citrix User Group helps the user group, and helps develop your own skills.

It's a common misconception that speaking is an ask beyond. You can do it. You can because I've seen lots of people who said they can't, and were awesome. I've seen many who said they can't, and were very decent. I've even seen some who said they can't, and while it wasn't great, they came away having learned something useful: and it was better next time.

One of the personal bests we wanted to achieve when setting up the UK Citrix User Group was to encourage actual admins/users/architects - like you - to come and speak. Didn't matter for how long; it could be 15 mins, it could be 20, 22, 23.75. For sure, we'd probably have a chat about story boarding and message flow if you requested 2.5 hours. The key point is, if you're actively using Citrix products, you are in the best position to guide and inform other admins, users, and Citrix. Ultimately, your engagement makes the product you're using better. We want to hear about your experience.

Continue reading at Citrix User Group Community