Citrix Interview Questions & Answers

Question 1. Explain What Is Citrix?

Answer :

It is an application deployment system. With Citrix, one can access the customized application and can also delivered to remote systems. It also allows file transfer from home computer to office computer and e-mail accessing.

Question 2. List Out The Major Citrix Components?

Answer :

Major Citrix components are

• XenApp: It allows to host applications on central servers and enables users to interact with them remotely and deliver it to the user’s devices for local executions
• XenDesktop: It is the practice of hosting a desktop operating system with a virtual machine running on a remote server
• XenServer: It enables you to combine multiple Xen-enabled servers into a powerful resource pool using industry standard shared storage architecture and leveraging resource clustering technology created by XenSource
• Provisioning Server: It reduces the number of systems that they manage, even as the computers number continues to grow.
• Netscaler: It is used to provide level 4 load balancing

Question 3. List Out The Services Provided By Citrix?

Answer :

Service provided by Citrix includes

• Citrix virtual memory optimization service
• Encryption service
• Citrix XTE service
• Independent Management architecture
• Citrix SMA service
• COM (Common Object Model) services

Question 4. Explain What Is Data Store?

Answer :

Data store is a database which consists of all the configuration information needed by the Citrix farm.  Changes can be made at any time to the Meta Frame Server. The changes are persisted in the data store.  It will data store following information like

• Server configuration
• User configuration
• Print Environment
• Published Application

Question 5. List Out The Ports Associated With Citrix Services?

Answer :

• Default port is A: 1494
• Default listening port for Citrix XML service: 80
• For ICA: 1494
• UDP port used for client broadcasting: 1604
• IMA port: 2512 and 2513
• CMC and SSL port: 443
• Server to SQL port: 1433
• Session Reliability: 2598
• Port Number for licensing: 27000

Question 6. Mention What Is The Query Command In Citrix?

Answer :

Query command in Citrix includes

• qfarm
• querydc
• queryds
• queryhr

Question 7. Mention What Is Web Interface Or Nfuse?

Answer :

Citrix web interface software provides web access to Java, Unix and Windows applications which are hosted via Citrix application server software. Citrix offers server side control of hosted applications, while Citrix web interface makes applications accessible through a web browser interface.

Question 8. Explain What Is Citrix Xml Broker?

Answer :

Citrix XML broker behaves as an intermediary between the web interface and farm.  It receives the credentials of the user from the web interface. It retrieves the applications that have user permission to access.  It is done by independent management architecture and returns to the web interface. XML broker detects the server in the farm, once the user is authenticated.  It returns the address of the service rendering server to the web interface.  It functions between IMA service and web interface.

Question 9. Explain What Is The Step To Clear Xenserver Cache?

Answer :

To clear XenServer cache you have to use command Dnscmd Server Name/clearcache.

Question 10. Mention What Are The Default Tests Available In Health Monitoring & Recovery Tool?

Answer :

The tests in XenApp Health Monitoring and Recovery Tool are

• Citrix IMA service test
• Logon Monitor test
• Terminal Service test
• XML Service Test

Question 11. Explain What Is Lhc In Citrix?

Answer :

The IMA service executing on each Presentation Server downloads the information it requires from the central data store into a local MDB database known as  the Local Host Cache or LHC.

Question 12. List Out The Load Evaluators That Are Supported In Citrix?

Answer :

Load evaluators that are supported in Citrix includes

• Memory Utilization
• CPU Utilization
• IP Range
• Page Swap
• Page Fault
• Context Switches
• Disk Data I/O
• Scheduling
• Server Application Load
• User Application Load

Question 13. Mention What Is The Limit Of Refresh Time For Local Host Cache In Citrix?

Answer :

The refresh time set for Local Host Cache is 30 minutes, it can be created when IMA is stopped.

Question 14. Explain How You Can View The Lhc Information?

Answer :

The LHC information is found in the file imalhc.mdb, and this file is available in c:program filescitrixindependent management architecturedirectory.

Question 15. Explain What Is Citrix Reciever?

Answer :

Citrix receiver is a collection of suite of products that enables client devices to connect to various desktop virtualization services offered by Citrix.  Citrix receiver can link with client devices to XenDesktop applications, XenApp and desktops via the HDX protocol.

Question 16. Explain What Is Citrix Access Gateway?

Answer :

CAG or Citrix Access Gateway is a universal secured socket layer virtual private network appliances. It got features like IPSec and SSL VPN.  It also enables instant access to the users and secure access to the company.  Any information resource can be retrieved by using CAG with secure, single point access, always on features.  It supports various types of applications including IP telephony.  Any application which is hosted on Citrix Presentation Server can be used in a secured manner.

Question 17. Explain How You Can Remove Dead Server From The Citrix Management Console?

Answer :

To remove dead server from the Citrix Management Console you have to run

• DSVERIFY SERVERS/CLEAN/FORCE for optimizing the Data Store
• DSVerify can be executed on any of the servers in the farm
• MetaFrame feature release 3 has a command line tool known as DSCHECK
• Use the following command DSVerify command line tool DSCHECK/CHECK
• or right click on the ‘server in the farm’ and select option ‘remove from the Farm’

Question 18. Explain What Is The Purpose Of Zones?

Answer :

Data collector stores information about Zones, User’s Session and Published Application.

• A Farm consists of a subset referred as Zones
• It consists of various server members
• One of the server members is referred as Zone Data Collector
• In traffic controlling, Zones are useful
• Using ZDCs communication is established among zones

Question 19. Explain The Use Of Shadowing In Citrix?

Answer :

In Citrix, shadowing resembles for one user to join remotely to another user.  One user can use the session of another user remotely.

Question 20. What Is Datastore In Citrix

Answer :

Datastore is the citrix database which stores all the static information about the farm 

• Farm Configuration
• Published application configuration
• Administration accounts
• Server configurations
• Printer configurations
• polices

Question 21. What Are Authentication Types And Authentication Points?

Answer :

Authentication Types 

1. Explicit
2. Passthrough
3. Passthrough with smart card
4. Smartcard
5. Annonymous

Authentication Point 

1. Web interface
2. Web server
3. ADFS partner account
4. Access gateway
5. Kerbros

Question 22. What Is The Use Of Desktop Virtualization?

Answer :

Desktop virtualization provides optimizations techniques to deliver the applications, data and desktop environment to the users. It further provides the security by managing all the applications and desktop systems at one place. It manages and updates different static desktop images from one place and allows the customization of applications to provide high performance, security and portability to each user.

Question 23. How Citrix Xen Full Fill The Requirements Produced By Desktop Virtualization?

Answer :

Citrix xend virtualization provides a single solution for desktop virtualization that gives on demand services for desktop and other applications. It allows the user to securely deliver the resources through the web to PCs and to the client area with high end user experience.

Question 24. How Xen Desktop Helps In Popularizing The Businesses?

Answer :

Citrix xen desktop provides high level of virtualization to help businesses build their tool and increase their output or productivity day by day. The features that are provided are as follows:

• It enables the virtual space and workflow to increase the productivity. 
• It provides latest features and help businesses with tools to incorporate those easily. 
• It gives an easy to use virtualization platform to deliver fast, efficient and flexible applications.
• It manages, create and secure the desktop applications from one location.

Question 25. What Is The Use And Purpose Of Producing A Desktop Virtualization Platform By Citrix?

Answer :

Citrix has provided a platform that gives desktop virtualization and it delivers the desktop services and applications from anywhere to the users. It reduces the complexity and improves the security of the data. It provides a centralized place to manage the datacenter. It delivers high end experience for the user and provides high latency in the network. It offers reduced time for execution of the application and flexibility in the delivering customized desktops to both virtual and physical devices.

Question 26. What Is The Three Phase Approach To Desktop Virtualization?

Answer :

The three phases provided by Citrix Xen is as follows:

• Assess: This is a phase where the user groups gets profiled and prioritized according to the applications they are using. The decision of ordering and user segments virtualization takes place. 
• Design: in this stage a process to create a detailed design will be included using the networking concept. It will include active directory, storage and image manipulation. This will be the phase where all the requirements will be finalized before install. 
• Deploy: In this stage the xen desktop virtualization will be installed, tested and deployed according to the design.

Question 27. How Desktop Virtualization Different From Application Virtualization?

Answer :

• Desktop virtualization provides the desktop operating system its environment and applications from the datacenter, whereas application virtualization only brings application from the datacenter. 
• Desktop virtualization brings only the desktop features not the application related to it, whereas application keep the desktop separate and bring only those applications that are required at a particular time. This way optimization and efficiency can be maintained.

Question 28. What Are The Different Flavors Available In Citrix Xen Desktop Addition?

Answer :

Citrix xen desktop virtualization comes in different flavors and they are as follows:

1. Express edition- This is the edition which is a trial version and user can use it for 10 days. It has limitation as well on the usage. 
2. VDI (virtual desktop interface) provides scalability and also virtual desktops using the client-server model. 
3. Enterprise edition- It has all the tools available for customization and it is a cost-effective platform that provides flexibility, scalability and delivery of applications without any hassles.
4. Platinum edition- It is a complete package to deliver full performance monitor, Qos capabilities and services for end-to-end delivery. It has support for virtual desktop support.

Question 29. What Is The Difference Between Desktop Virtualization And Virtual Desktop Interface?

Answer :

• Virtual desktop interface is a form of desktop virtualization, whereas desktop virtualization is itself a different entity that is separated with others. 
• VDI create a virtual machine and execute the user's desktop inside it, whereas desktop virtualization allows running the customized desktop without any virtual machines. 
• VDI works only for few users that have different demands but it is unsuitable to meet all the demands for all users, whereas desktop virtualization meet and provide all the required features to the user.

Question 30. What Are The Features Of Citrix Xen Desktop Virtualization?

Answer :

Citrix xen provides high end functionalities to the user for desktop virtualization. It also provide the following features such as:

• High definition user experience:It provides high end multimedia graphics, real time collaborations and connectivity through peripherals. It provides breadth and depth for easy viewing of high end 3D graphics. 
• FlexCast: provides fast delivery of the new technology that enables the delivery of hosted models to meet the requirement of the users. 
• On demand apps: citrix provide the provision for on demand application to the users. It also provides the provision to manage the functionalities of applications on virtual desktops.

Question 31. What Is The Difference Between Citrix Xen Desktop Virtualization And Xen Server?

Answer :

• Citrix xen server provides server virtualization that enables one platform to host multiple operating system, whereas citrix xen desktop provides desktop virtualization that enables many operating systems to be shared in the datacenter. 
• Citrix xen server allow the utilization of the server to be maximum, whereas citrix desktop virtualization allows better performance and efficiency as it is controlled and managed from one place.

Question 32. How Does Citrix Xen Desktop Help In Enterprises?

Answer :

Citrix Xen Desktop is a Desktop virtualization solution for business that need smart management of Desktops. Administrators need not manage applications individually on machines rather it can be done on the go with Citrix Xen Server, remotely. Citrix Xen Desktop enables the client machines to stream a live Desktop to the their machines through centralized Xen Server.

Question 33. What All Elements Could Be Packaged As Images And Then Can Be Deployed On Datacenter In Citrix Xen Desktop?

Answer :

In order to get a new business startup quick and running, the elements like OS, Applications & User profiles can be packaged as single images and then deployed on datacenters. This process dynamically assembles desktops for each user. These images are maintained by administrators and according to the user tasks these images are deployed.

Question 34. What Is Single Instance Management?

Answer :

A Single Instance Management is referred as a task to apply updates and packages just once that is on the images that are maintained by the administrators at Xen Server. This means less storage is required to handle desktop in datacenter. This provides easy to manage features to the maintainers or administrators of the IT departments.

Question 35. Does Citrix Xen Desktop Support Global Or Public Access?

Answer :

Citrix Xen Desktop can be accessed globally from anywhere at any time and any device. This is actually an advantage of having a centralized server at location that serves to all the devices that can actually communicate to it and through minimal C itrix platform tools can actually stream a personally configured Desktop on the go.

Question 36. What Is Flexcast Delivery Technology In Citrix Xen Desktop?

Answer :

FlexCast is a delivery model that ensures a flexible and wide range of modifications in virtualized images of every major OS virtualization such as RedHat Linux, Windows, Ubuntu Linux or Windows Server 2008. This provides a standard lock-down for user without personalized experience that does not save personalized options and preferences in usage.

Question 37. Describe Vdi Facility In Flexcast Technology?

Answer :

The term VDI was coined by Intel and stands for Virtualized Desktop Interface. It is a technology that enables the hosted OS virtualization that meets high graphics and performance requirements to use the local machine resources that can actually leverage desktop streaming through Virtual server. The more powerful is client, the better becomes quality of service.

Question 38. Does Citrix Xen Desktop Work If Its Offline?

Answer :

Citrix Xen Desktop works very well online as well as offline. Suppose the Xen Desktop streamed a desktop application on a client machine and suddenly the network is disconnected that does not allow further access to network. In this case the application streamed as a virtual desktop will run very well as if it has never been disconnected.

Question 39. Does Citrix Xen Destop Application Need To Run On Local Desktop?

Answer :

Citrix Xen Desktop need not run on a desktop but a client applet for desktop is required to be installed at client-side. The whole functionality is orchestrated through a centralized Server. The technology is simple and follows modern and virtualized client-server architecture. Thus it is a model of cloud computing architecture.

Question 40. What Is Hdx Technology Given By Citrix Xen Desktop Solution?

Answer :

The HDX technology is coined for term High Definition User Experience. This technology provides flexible compatibilities to multimedia devices and software as Flash, Audio, Video, USB, 3D graphics applications. This compliance ensures a fast and reliable experience through Citrix Xen Desktop throughout the usage.