EdgeSight Architecture

EdgeSight Architecture

Citrix EdgeSight is a performance and availability management solution for Citrix XenApp servers and endpoint devices. EdgeSight can be used to understand how systems, applications and the network perform in an environment. Through real-time monitoring and historical analysis and trending, EdgeSight can be used to improve service and support levels, as well as provide proactive management from a user perspective

EdgeSight

Citrix EdgeSight is a performance monitoring and response solution. EdgeSight uses agents on endpoint devices, such as desktops, laptops and virtual desktops and on XenApp servers to collect data about the environment.

The EdgeSight Server is a centralized server that collects data from the EdgeSight for Endpoint agents and the EdgeSight for XenApp agents. These agents provide visibility into what is happening by displaying real-time data.

Data collected in the environment by the agents is regularly uploaded to the EdgeSight Server. By default, data is uploaded once a day, but an engineer can customize the upload intervals.

An engineer can also configure thresholds, which agents compare data against, and send an alert whenever a certain threshold is met. Thresholds can be measured against items such as CPU levels, memory and network latency

EdgeSight Benefits

Citrix EdgeSight allows engineers to:

Monitor and measure actual user experience

Administrators have real-time visibility to session-level performance and can address potential issues before users are impacted.

Identify and diagnose slow login issues

EdgeSight monitors the XenApp login process, providing visibility into key metrics such as profile load time, login script execution and security authentication.

Assess the application delivery environment's status at a glance with farm, alert and dashboard views

EdgeSight identifies those users, machines and applications most heavily impacted by performance issues for fast prioritization of crucial resources.

Diagnose application performance issues in real time

The support organization can immediately locate the applicable server and analyze highly detailed session-level data to isolate and resolve performance issues.

Analyze system resources for improved capacity management

System planners are able to analyze resource consumption based on actual user sessions and applications on each server to ensure future capacity requirements are met. 

Maintenance Windows

Maintenance windows are typically scheduled for timeframes when it is assumed that there is low resource utilization in an environment, usually on weekends and out-of business hours. EdgeSight can be used to determine the best time for maintenance windows by collecting historical data that gives details about the high and low periods of resource utilization. By confirming when the lowest point in resource utilization occurs, engineers can plan the best time to perform maintenance.

Data Upload Intervals

When the agent first registers with the EdgeSight Server, it receives information about the data required by the server and when the data is to be uploaded. Engineers can configure EdgeSight to specify the time between data transfers from the EdgeSight agents to the EdgeSight Server. The default interval is one day.

Database Grooming

EdgeSight collects and stores a wide array of performance data from agent devices. Database grooming is the process of removing older data at regular intervals to make room for new data. By default, EdgeSight stores performance data for twelve months.

Installing EdgeSight for XenApp Agents

An administrator can use the following process to install the EdgeSight for XenApp agents.

1. Launch the Citrix EdgeSight installation media.
2. Select EdgeSight for Endpoints Agent for installation.
3. Read and respond to the license agreement.
4. Enter the Company name.
5. Configure the agent installation locations.
6. Enter the EdgeSight Server name and port number.
7. Start the installation.

Configuring Alert Actions to Generate an SNMP Trap

An administrator can use the following process to configure actions to alert third-party tools.

1. Log in to the EdgeSight Server browser portal.
2. Click Configure > Company Configurations > Alerts > Actions.
3. Create a new Alert Action.
4. Configure the Alert Action to generate an SNMP trap.
5. Configure the SNMP properties.

EdgeSight for Load Testing

EdgeSight for Load Testing is an automated performance testing and test case solution for Citrix environments. EdgeSight for Load Testing records a series of actions as a script and runs them as a test case against systems to simulate different types of load.

Test cases can be created by recording a session that captures the actions taken within the session and converts that into a script. These scripts can also be created manually without the use of session recording and can be edited as needed to simulate workload.

The data collected from the test case can be used to develop a scenario with a specific number of client devices, running applications and functions that are used within those applications. Engineers can then increase the level of each variable to measure the maximum number of possible users, sessions or applications that could run on a specific type of system.

One of the most time-consuming tasks an engineer faces with a performance monitoring tool, such as Citrix EdgeSight, HP OpenView or Microsoft System Center Operations Manager, is to accurately configure thresholds in an environment. Thresholds that are not configured correctly will continually send false positive alerts about items, which may not even affect the environment. Through the use of EdgeSight for Load Testing, engineers can increase the level of each variable in the scenario to determine different baseline benchmarks that can be used to set realistic thresholds within a performance monitoring tool.

EdgeSight for Load Testing is available to customers who are licensed to use the Enterprise and Platinum Editions of XenApp. 

EdgeSight for Load Testing Components

The following terms are components of Citrix EdgeSight for Load Testing:

EdgeSight for Load Testing Controller

EdgeSight for Load Testing records and creates virtual user scripts and defines the tests. When the test is ready for playback, the Controller instructs the Launchers to run the test with a certain number of virtual users for a period of time.

EdgeSight for Load Testing Launcher

EdgeSight for Load Launcher receives the commands from the Controller and generates virtual user sessions on the target XenApp servers. The number of Launchers required varies based on the target virtual user load. Launchers report session information back to the Controller for run-time and post run-time analysis.

Launchers are installed on the client devices of the servers that will be under test. They can be installed on servers that contain the Controller or installed as stand-alone launchers.

Creating an EdgeSight for Load Testing Test Case

An administrator can use the following process to create an EdgeSight for Load Testing test case.

1. Create a new script within the Citrix EdgeSight for Load Testing console.
2. Configure the test script for test case instructions.
3. Create a connection to the XenApp and XenDesktop environment.
4. Create test users for the test case.
5. Select the connection to display the list of users associated with the connection.
6. Select a recording user.
7. Start the test recording.
8. Perform the desired actions within the ICA session that should be included in the test case.
9. Stop the test recording.
10. Edit the script as needed to accurately simulate the workload according to realistic usage patterns.

Note: The script should be edited to allow for delays while the script is running to mimic an average user workflow.