Introduction

When you re implementing a Citrix MetaFrame XP server farm, one of the toughest planning initiatives is figuring out licensing. Clients can connect to a Citrix MetaFrame XP server in a number of ways. They can connect to shared server drives and printers, requiring a client access license. They can connect via a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Terminal Services session, requiring a Terminal Services client license. They can connect via an ICA session, requiring both a Terminal Services client license and a Citrix MetaFrame XP license. Or they can connect via the Internet and use a different licensing method.

Although the rich variety of client types and connectivity make Citrix MetaFrame XP a versatile solution, it can also be confusing to determine the type of clients to deploy and how to deploy them. For example, a Windows XP machine can run either the RDP client or the ICA client. However, if you re faced with a UNIX or Linux box, the only solution available is ICA.

Once you have selected licenses and determined which clients to deploy to which machines, you need to determine how you will deploy the client software. Via a variety of methods, the client installation can be automated and deployed with little or no user interaction. When there are hundreds or thousands of clients to deploy, automation saves a tremendous amount of time and administrative overhead.

Client Licensing

Designing the Citrix MetaFrame XP server farm does not stop at the hardware level. We need to take into...