Citrix Admins: Please advise

The_KiD · 19 Oct 2006 at 10:50

Ok here's the situation.

We have 3 Citrix servers, with 110 Citrix user licenses.

We are rapidly approaching 110 users so a new server is needed.

However we have not been renewing our licenses each year, so can I get a server and buy some extra licenses for the server? or do I have to renew all the licenses before I can get extra ones?

Also how easy it to add another server in to the farm?

The_KiD · 20 Oct 2006 at 08:11

Aww dont be shy! I know you citrix admins are just dying to help me out here

Baz · 20 Oct 2006 at 08:39

Having just done a CCA I can answer your questions

The licenses are concurrent, so if you have 110 users and 110 licenses you are ok, no matter how many servers you have. Also you don't pay for a server license, once you pay for the Client licenses you can have as many servers as you like, obviously you have to pay for the OS license though.

Its easy to add another server into the farm, depends on what version of Presentation server you have though. Once you have installed windows, and updated it (don't install .NET 2.0 though, screws up Citrix!) install Citrix, you will ask you if you want to join an existing farm. Once you have joined the farm, the new server will take the farm settings. It is advised that you install the applications before installing Citrix, but it's not essential.

The OS can be different as well, you can mix windows 2000 and 2003, but if you move to 2003 you WILL need to buy terminal services CAL's (not cheap!)

Hope that helps.

The_KiD · 20 Oct 2006 at 08:50

Thanks Baz, that answers some but not all.

I need to buy more licenses as we have 108 concurrent users at the moment and more ocming on all the time,

as I said we have not renewed the licenses each year, so can I just buy some extra licenses or do I have to renew all of our license first?

Baz · 20 Oct 2006 at 09:17

Ahh, I see what you mean now. Not sure if MPS4 licenses are backwards compatible. It might depend on what version you are currently running, as the new licensing is done with .lic files tied to the license server. Thinking about it though, I doubt it will work as it's a different system than in MPS3 and below.

Ring your reseller and ask, or failing that, ring Citrix.

The_KiD · 20 Oct 2006 at 09:45

We are using Metaframe XPe FR3

Baz · 20 Oct 2006 at 10:42

Not used XPe3, so I am just guessing, I think the way licensing works has changed since then, you may have to upgrade all your licenses. Best check with Citrix or your reseller.

Baz