Real-world projects

Real-world examples best illustrate how Thomas Kötzing can support you as a freelance consultant. What is now referred to as the „Digital Employee Experience“ is something Thomas Kötzing has been delivering for over twenty years under the term “well-designed desktop architecture”: workstations that truly work for users. Read about the services provided in specific projects involving Citrix, VDI, and the digital workplace, how long implementation took, and the added value they created.

One detail runs through all the projects: the well-thought-out desktop design. What is known today as „Digital Employee Experience“ (DEX) has always been an integral part of every project for Thomas Kötzing—the workstation must work for the users, not just the infrastructure behind it.

Project Example I – Global Citrix Cloud Across Three Geographic Locations

Hired as a freelance, external service provider for a well-known outsourcing company. The entire Citrix infrastructure was redesigned and deployed globally across three geographic locations.

  • Role: Lead Citrix Architect
  • ~1.200 concurrent users
  • Locations: Americas · EMEA · Asia
  • Duration: ~12 months (including the pilot)

Description

Served as an external Lead Citrix Architect for an outsourcing firm. Deployed a production-ready private Citrix Cloud using Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 1912 LTSR on Windows Server 2019. Highly available and highly secure environment with approximately 1,200 concurrent users, with more than 90 % users working exclusively via Citrix. Client access primarily via thin clients, the Citrix Workspace App, and a StoreFront cluster. All connections run over secure WAN links.

Designed target environment

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 1912 LTSR on Windows Server 2019. Citrix StoreFront cluster, accessed via Citrix NetScaler load balancing. Use of a single FQDN for transparent access via a URL—both internally and externally. Windows desktops managed with Citrix Workspace Environment Management (WEM). Following the pilot, a global Citrix environment was deployed across three geographic regions (Americas, EMEA, and Asia).

Activities Performed

  • Design and development of the pilot and global GEO environments
  • Development of the concept and presentation to the client
  • Sizing the Citrix environment to procure the necessary hardware and software
  • Leadership of the Server Team
  • Configuration of the Citrix environment (policies, MCS, host integration, etc.)
  • Creating a desktop design using Microsoft Group Policy and Citrix WEM, among other tools
  • Implementation of a Citrix NetScaler ADC cluster for load balancing
  • Integration of a Citrix NetScaler Gateway for external access
  • Support for the pilot operation, including troubleshooting
  • Support during the start-up phase, including troubleshooting
  • Documentation of the environment as an operating manual
  • Orientation for the operations team on the site
  • Support for non-Citrix issues such as file servers, Active Directory, and DNS

Project Example II – Big-Bang Migration of a Citrix Platform

Hired as a freelance, external service provider for a well-known outsourcing company. The client’s entire infrastructure was migrated—with the Citrix platform at its core.

  • Role: Subproject Manager & Lead Citrix Architect
  • ~1.300 concurrent users
  • Transition: Big Bang
  • Duration: ~4 months (including the pilot)
  • Availability since launch: 100 %

Description

Served as an external sub-project manager and Lead Citrix Architect for an outsourcing firm. Managed the transition (takeover from another outsourcing firm) of a production Citrix environment running XenApp 6.5 to Windows Server 2008 R2. Highly available and highly secure environment with approximately 1,300 concurrent users, with more than 98% of them working exclusively via Citrix. Client access primarily via Wyse thin clients with embedded Windows XP, Online Plug-in 12.x, and via Web Interface 5.4. All connections run over secure WAN links.

Designed target environment

Citrix XenDesktop 7.6 LTSR on Windows Server 2012 R2. Citrix StoreFront cluster, accessed via Citrix NetScaler load balancing. High availability achieved through a two-room concept with a dedicated VMware cluster. Migration of clients from Web Interface to Citrix StoreFront. Integration of legacy 16-bit applications via Citrix „VM Hosted Apps“ and Citrix Receiver in the published desktop. Highly secure through multiple layers of firewall separation of the environment as well as AppSense Application Manager.

Activities Performed

  • Design and development of the new Citrix environment
  • Development of the concept and presentation to the client
  • Sizing the Citrix environment to procure the necessary hardware and software
  • Lead the server team for deployment using ASG CloudShaper
  • Configuration of the Citrix environment (policies, MCS, host integration, etc.)
  • Creating a desktop design using Microsoft Group Policy, among other methods
  • Implementation of a Citrix NetScaler ADC cluster for load balancing
  • Integration of a Citrix NetScaler Gateway for external access
  • Installing and Testing Legacy 16-Bit Applications on Windows 7 (32-bit)
  • Integration of 16-bit applications into the released desktop
  • Support for the pilot operation, including troubleshooting
  • Preparation and Testing of the Big Bang Migration
  • Go-live with all users immediately migrated to the new platform
  • Support during the start-up phase, including troubleshooting
  • Documentation of the environment as an operating manual
  • Orientation for the operations team on the site
  • Support for non-Citrix issues such as file servers, Active Directory, and DNS

Project Example III – Initial Citrix Setup with Secure Internet Access

Hired as a freelance, external service provider for an international IT services company and its internal infrastructure. Implemented a Citrix environment, including a transition to thin clients and secure internet access—the company previously did not operate its own Citrix environment for its employees.

  • Role: Citrix Architect & Consultant
  • ~150 concurrent users
  • Platform: Microsoft Hyper-V
  • Setup time: ~6 days
  • Availability: 100 %

Designed target environment

Citrix XenDesktop 7.6 LTSR on Windows Server 2012 R2 running on Microsoft Hyper-V for approximately 150 concurrent users. Use of Citrix Machine Creation Services (MCS) for deploying the VDA servers. Citrix StoreFront cluster, accessed via Citrix NetScaler load balancing. Secure external access via NetScaler Gateway, secured by SMS PASSCODE (SMS2) using Google Authenticator. Support for mobile devices—also in preparation for the planned future introduction of Citrix XenMobile.

Activities Performed

  • Workshop with the client and development of a concept
  • Sizing the Citrix environment to procure the necessary hardware and software
  • Joint Installation of Citrix XenDesktop Components
  • Employee training through „learning by doing“
  • Configuration of the Citrix environment (policies, MCS, host integration, etc.)
  • Creating a desktop design using Microsoft Group Policy, among other methods
  • Implementation of a Citrix NetScaler ADC cluster for load balancing
  • Integration of a Citrix NetScaler Gateway for external access
  • Orientation for the operations team on the site
  • Integration of SMS2 as two-factor authentication
  • Internal and external testing of mobile devices
  • Remote Support for the Citrix Environment
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