This post will try to list some of the Best Practices I’m using when preparing a Provisioning Services Private vDisk for Shared vDisk usage. First of all I always use XenApp Cloning Tool from CitrixTools.net. This tool are not supported by Citrix, but it’s much more powerful and will save you a lot of troubleshooting. Recently the latest version of the tool fixed a issue with slow ICA performance which I been haunting for quite a while. The reason is because Pierre adds registry tweaks to the application when new ones appear. BUT you have to decide, install XenAppPrep from Citrix or XenApp Cloning Tool.
Note : I have been experiencing problems with both tools installed at the same time.
There is a lot of Best Practice documents out there, but no complete guide, so I have made a little script so I don’t forget them all. This way the same procedures is run every time, independent of whom is doing the vDisk updates. Please feel free to leave comments on your Best Practices.
@echo off cls echo ************************************************************ echo ***** This will prepare the machine for Standard Image ***** echo ************************************************************ pause ipconfig /flushdns echo. defrag C: /v echo. echo Running Provisioning Services Optimization Tool call "c:Program FilesCitrixProvisioning ServicesTargetOSOptimizer.exe" echo. echo Running XenApp Cloning Tool call "c:Program FilesCitrix ToolsXenApp Cloning ToolXenApp Cloning Tool.exe" shutdown /S

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I see you don’t get many comments around here – which is entirely unfair, since it’s a GREAT BLOG!
Thanks for these tips – they came at a very timely point for me (we’re currently doing Xendesktop experiments for some very interested customers).
If I already have an image (shared) can I go to private mode,then install the tool? Or do I have to thru the process of reverse imaging again? I am having troubles with the machine joining the domain and being added to the farm…
Hi,
1. Switch the image to private mode – reboot
2. Join the domain and reboot
3. Install the tool and select PVS Cloning – shutdown
4. Switch back to shared image mode
If you still have problems it´s probably due to password sync, try reset the password in PVS Console. Try this and provide more information if you still have problems.
Eric
Hi! Great blog, I thought I would just add that I have a similar script, but normally have a section that deals with AntiVirus uniquenesses. As an example for Sophos I stop the Sophos Services, then delete some identity specific registry entries and an ini file to enable the PVS’d device to properly register with the AV management console once it reboots.
Happy to share these if there is any interest.
Steve
Thanks Steve, please send them over
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