FSLogix SMB Storage Provider – OS Test

SMB is a network file-sharing protocol that allows applications to read and write to files and request services from server programs in a network. SMB (Server Message Block) means the configuration or service that handles the storage-related operations, such as data access and management, within the desktop group environment. In a virtual desktop environment, the SMB Storage Provider could be a service that integrates with shared storage to allow virtual desktops to access user data and other files stored in an SMB network share. Optimization ensures that SMB file access is fast, minimizing latency and improving the user experience when accessing shared files or applications. This is especially important in environments like VDI, where many users might be accessing the same resources simultaneously. If the SMB provider isn't optimized, users may experience slower load times, delayed application starts, and generally poor interaction with networked data. Unoptimized storage systems may cause downtime or inconsistent access, affecting business continuity.

For each user connecting to a FSLogix SMB storage provider, this test reports the number of write operations performed before and after optimization. This enables the administrator to analyze how many write operations had experienced slower load times, inconsistent access, or excessive network traffic.

Target of the test : A Citrix Desktop Group

Agent deploying the test : An internal/remote agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for each combination of virtual machine:user on the target virtual server to be monitored.

Configurable parameters for the test

Parameter	Description
Test Period	How often should the test be executed.
Host	The nick name of the Citrix Desktop Group component for which this test is to be configured.
Port	Refers to the port at which the specified host listens to. By default, this is NULL.
Inside View Using	To obtain the 'inside view' of performance of the desktops - i.e., to measure the internal performance of the cloud-based citrix virtual desktops - this test uses a light-weight eG VM Agent software deployed on each of the desktops. Accordingly, this parameter is by default set to eG VM Agent.
Report Powered OS	If this flag is set to Yes (which is the default setting), then the 'inside view' tests will report measures for even those desktops that do not have any users logged in currently. Such desktops will be identified by their name and not by the username_on_desktopname. On the other hand, if this flag is set to No, then this test will not report measures for those desktops to which no users are logged in currently.
Report By User	This flag is set to Yes by default. The value of this flag cannot be changed. This implies that the cloud-based virtual desktops in environments will always be identified using the login name of the user. In other words, in cloud environments, this test will, by default, report measures for every username_on_desktopname.
Is Cloud VMs	Since this test runs for 'Citrix Desktop Group' component which is a cloud-hosted desktop group, this flag is set to Yes by default.

Measurements made by the test

Measurement	Description	Measurement Unit	Interpretation
Write after optimization	Indicates the number of write operations performed on the SMB storage provider by this user after optimization.	Number
Write before optimization	Indicates the number of write operations performed on the SMB storage provider by this user before optimization.	Number