CBT Nuggets - Citrix XenApp 6.5

Citrix XenApp 6.5 CCA A20
XenApp Update and Preparation for 1Y0-A20

When it comes to software, there are UPDATES and then there are merely...updates. One can safely assume the latter with Citrix’s XenApp 6.5 release. This half-an-integer software update introduces a few new features – some you’ll use, many you won’t – to XenApp's mature session virtualization platform.

Now being minor doesn’t necessarily mean 6.5 isn’t important. This release includes notable new features like Instant App Access, Pre-Launch, Linger, Dynamic Datacenter Provisioning, and Receiver Storefront. The combination of these greatly improve the user experience across a range of use cases. XenApp 6.5 also adds new policy settings, an improved Migration Center, as well as introduces XenDesktop’s Desktop Director to XenApp environments. These are no small reasons to consider an upgrade sooner, rather than later.

XenApp 6.5's release also sunsets the 1Y0-A18 exam, which was the single requirement for obtaining the CCA for XenApp 6.0. Replacing it is a new exam, with (slightly) new objectives, new questions, and a new number: 1Y0-A20. You’ll learn all about that new exam, and get a useful mapping between objective sets that’ll target your study onto the knowledge that matters most. If you've gone through the CBT Nuggets XenApp 6 series you're most of the way there for understanding what you need to know for 6.5.

Best of all, this series is taught by the very best: Veteran CBT Nuggets instructor Greg Shields is one of an elite few named Microsoft MVP, VMware vExpert, and Citrix CTP -- in the same year. He returns in this series to offer his guidance, experience, and thoughts on this XenApp release. In these Nuggets, he’ll prepare you for success on the CCA, and in managing your XenApp 6.5 infrastructure.


What is New and Noteworthy in XenApp 6.5 and the CCA
Did Citrix’s sunset of the 1y0-a18 exam catch you by surprise? Not to worry. The exam that replaces it, 1y0-a20, doesn’t appear to be all that different. Greg’s done the homework, reviewed the exam preparation guides, and put together a study guide of his own that’ll target your study onto the topics you need to know. He kicks off things in this introductory Nugget with a side-by-side analysis of Citrix’s two exams, and shares his experience in getting you prepared for test-taking success.
00:29:18



Managing Instant App Access, Pre-Launch, and Session Linger
A highly-requested feature sees the light of day in this XenApp 6.5 release. That feature intends to eliminate the long delays in connecting users with their Citrix-hosted applications. Called Instant App Access, XenApp 6.5 and the Receiver client can now Pre-Launch user sessions immediately after authentication. What results is an almost instant access to applications users need. But you can’t just turn on this feature without a few considerations: You’ve got licenses to worry about, and policies to set. Greg shares the best practices in implementing this in-demand feature in this Nugget.
00:17:30



Understanding XenApp 6.5’s New Server & Policy Settings
One can’t expect a new XenApp version without expecting a few new policy settings. XenApp 6.5 absolutely delivers. In this Nugget, Greg reviews what’s new in policies, and talks a bit about the key newbies like Multi-Stream Connections that deserve a little extra attention. There’s a new server setting as well in XenApp 6.5 called Dynamic Datacenter Provisioning. Sounds impressive, and might just be if yours is the right use case. Learn with Greg what you need to know about server and policy settings in this important Nugget.
00:16:53



Managing Sessions with Desktop Director
Citrix shops that deliver virtualized desktops atop XenDesktop are already familiar with Desktop Director. This tool delivers the instrumentation help desk pros need to troubleshoot desktop issues. XenApp 6.5 introduces Desktop Director into the session-based world, enabling that same help desk to handle issues inside Citrix sessions and applications. Join Greg in this Nugget to figure out how to install, configure, and use this important new tool.
00:15:21



Understanding and Working with Receiver Storefront
Get this: Web Interface is going away. Replacing it is a new technology called Receiver Storefront, which itself is a component of Citrix’s new CloudGateway technology. But there’s quite a bit more there than a few name changes. Receiver Storefront is an entirely new technology, that arrives with some nifty new features (and a few that maybe aren’t quite ready for prime time just yet). Discover what you need to know, what you need to prepare for, and how to integrate Receiver Storefront into your XenApp infrastructure in this Nugget.
00:20:04



Upgrading Servers with Migration Center
Greg’s last topic in this update series is perhaps its most important: With all these new capabilities in XenApp 6.5, how exactly are you going to get onto the new version? With no direct upgrade path, the actual upgrade process could be a challenge. Thankfully, Citrix has provided some useful tools – both command line and GUI – in its Migration Center. Learn more about this important new upgrade assistant in this Nugget.