Tell the world: Run XenDesktop on UCS!

“UCS only runs VMware, right?” is a question I’ve heard a few time from folks new to Cisco’s Unified Computing System.  ”No,” I say, “it runs any Intel workload – ESX, Oracle, SAP…” and now… Xen!

The Register was first to the wire… but that was only part one of the story…  the official announcement, plus video, is here.

Whilst you’ve always been able to run any Intel workload (because it’s an open, standards-based system – don’t listen to that “proprietary” FUD from server vendors that don’t innovate) sometimes it takes something like a Cisco Validated Design to make it real.  Yes it’s possible but how?  Bring on the CVDs!

If this was “just another marketing announcement” then I’d understand if folks were “yeah, whatever” but this is more: today Cisco has published two Cisco Validated Designs which explain how to run XenDesktop on XenServer/ESX on UCS with NetApp storage:

1. Read the CVD for XenDesktop on XenServer on UCS with NetApp
2. Read the CVD for XenDesktop on ESX on UCS with NetApp

So – not only a joint announcement, working together, but backed up by two very detailed “how to” documents.

Cisco Citrix NetApp

What’s in the docs?  There’s a similar pattern to both, listed below, the difference being a choice of hypervisor: ESX or XenServer.  What will you find in these CVDs?  A blend of the following components into a VDI solution:

• Windows 7
• Nexus 5000
• UCS Fabric Interconnect
• UCS Fabric Extenders
• UCS B200, B250 and B440 Blade Servers including extended memory
• Intel 55xx and 56xx CPUs
• UCS M71KR-Q CNA – (Qlogic)
• UCS M81KR CNA – Cisco Virtual Interface Card (VIC) with VN-Link in hardware
• XenApp, XenDesktop, FlexCast, HDX, Provisioning Services (PVS)
• vSphere ESXi or Citrix XenServer hypervisor
• NetApp Single, Scalable Storage with Thin Provisioning, Deduplication, Transparent Storage Cache sharing, Flash Cache, PAM, Write Optimization, Flexible Volumes and Aggregates, Virtual Storage Console (VSC), Provisioning and Cloning Plug-in (V3.1), Backup and Recovery Plugin, SANscreen VM Insight, NetApp Operations Manager, Data Protection (breathe!).

More than the components, there is also detail on these important design topics:

• QoS and CoS
• XenApp Deployment
• LAN configuration
• SAN configuration
• OS install and tuning
• Testing
• Sizing and scalability

and more!  Go read them… might take you a while as they are more than 100 pages in length… awesome job.  But while you’re reading and thinking “so what”, here’s a hard reason why it makes sense:

VDI is best on UCS

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