Machine Catalogs Test

In XenDesktop, collections of virtual machines (VMs) or physical computers of the same type are managed as a single entity called a catalog. To deliver desktops to users, the machine administrator creates a catalog of machines and the assignment administrator allocates machines from the catalog to users by creating delivery groups.

This test auto-discovers the catalogs managed by the XenDesktop site being monitored, and reports useful statistics related to each catalog, which reveal:

  • The catalog type;
  • The type of desktops allocated to each catalog;
  • The availability, usage, and assignment of desktops in each catalog

Target of the test : A controller in a Citrix Virtual Apps/Desktops Site 7.x

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results for every catalog on each controller configured within a site.

Configurable parameters for the test
Parameter Description

Test Period

How often should the test be executed.

Host

The IP address of the host for which the test is being configured.

Port

The port number at which the specified Host listens to. By default, this is 80.

Domain, Username
and Password

To connect to a delivery controller in a site and pull out metrics from it, the eG agent requires Farm Administrator rights. In order to configure the eG agent with Farm Administrator privileges, specify the Domain to which the target controller belongs and enter the credentials of a user who has the Farm Administrator rights in the Username and Password text boxes. This user should also be assigned the Allow log on locally privilege on the Citrix XA/XD Site 7.x host. The steps for assigning the Allow log on locally privilege are explained in the Pre-requisites for monitoring the Citrix Virtual Apps/Desktops Site 7.x topic.

Confirm Password

Confirm the Password by retyping it here.

Detailed Diagnosis

To make diagnosis more efficient and accurate, the eG Enterprise embeds an optional detailed diagnostic capability. With this capability, the eG agents can be configured to run detailed, more elaborate tests as and when specific problems are detected. To enable the detailed diagnosis capability of this test for a particular server, choose the On option. To disable the capability, click on the Off option.

The option to selectively enable/disable the detailed diagnosis capability will be available only if the following conditions are fulfilled:

  • The eG manager license should allow the detailed diagnosis capability
  • Both the normal and abnormal frequencies configured for the detailed diagnosis measures should not be 0.
Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Allocation type

Indicates the allocation type of the machines available in this catalog.

Number

This measure can report any one of the following values:

  • Static
  • Permanent
  • Random
  • Unknown

The table below provides the numeric values that correspond to the allocation types listed above, and a brief description of each type:

Allocation Type Numeric Value Description
Static 1 Indicates that the machines in this catalog are either assigned by the administrator or assigned on first use to users. This assignment will change only when the administrator explicitly changes the assignments.
Permanent 2 Indicates that the machines in this catalog are permanently assigned to the user.
Random 3 Indicates that the machines in this catalog are picked in random and are temporarily assigned to the user.

Note:

By default, this measure reports the Allocation Types listed in the table above. However, the graph of this measure will represent the allocation types using their corresponding numeric equivalents – i.e., 1 to 3.

The detailed diagnosis of this measure if enabled, lists the catalog to which the machine belongs, the zone to which the catalog belongs, the machine type, the number of sessions supported by the machine i.e, either Single session or Multi session, the location used for storing user data, the provisioning type and the scopes associated with the chosen catalog.

Are physical machines?

Indicates whether/not the machines in this catalog are power managed by the controller.

 

This measure reports a value Yes if the machines are power managed by the controller and No, if otherwise.

The table below provides the numeric values that correspond to the above mentioned values:

Measure Value Numeric Value
Yes 1
No 0

Note:

By default, this measure reports whether the machines are power managed by the controller or not. However, the graph of this measure will be represented using their corresponding numeric equivalents – i.e., 0 or 1.

Entitled machines used in delivery groups

Indicates the number of assigned machines (to users) in this catalog that are within delivery groups.

Number

 

Entitled machines available for delivery groups

Indicates the number of machines in this catalog that are available to users within delivery groups.

Number

 

Machines not entitled available for delivery groups

Indicates the number of machines within the delivery groups that are not yet assigned to users.

Number

 

Machines not entitled used in delivery groups

Indicates the number of unassigned machines in this catalog within the delivery groups but are still used in the pool.

Number

 

Machines used in delivery groups

Indicates the number of machines in this catalog that are within delivery groups.

Number

 

Total machines in catalog

Indicates the total number of machines in this catalog.

Number

 

The detailed diagnosis of the Allocation type measure if enabled, lists the catalog to which the machine belongs, the zone to which the catalog belongs, the machine type, the number of sessions supported by the machine i.e, either Single session or Multi session, the location used for storing user data, the provisioning type and the scopes associated with the chosen catalog.

Figure 1 : The detailed diagnosis of the Allocation type measure