Write a commentIn 2007, I recommended Citrix to buy the User Profile Manager (UPM) from sepago. Now it's time to relaunch the Profile Manager! In modern Citrix environments, the Profile Manager is an essential tool for managing user profiles. However, increasing complexity and a multitude of configuration options have repeatedly led to misconfigurations in the past. Outdated guidelines often stood in the way and made it difficult to implement modern solutions. My advice to Citrix is therefore now to fundamentally revise the UPM and focus exclusively on profile disks!
Introduction
The Citrix Profile Manager forms the backbone of profile management in Citrix virtualization environments. In view of the increasing demands on performance, flexibility and security, today's multifunctional approach with numerous setting options is reaching its limits. Misconfigurations and streaming problems often impair the user experience and make administration more difficult. Simplification - through the exclusive use of profile disks - is an innovative step that meets modern requirements.
Why profile disks?
Conventional, file-based profile management or the mix of profiles with app containers always causes problems. Profile disks offer decisive advantages over these solutions:
- Centralized storage: All user data and settings are combined in a single VHD(X) file.
- Reduced complexity: The elimination of numerous file paths and setting options significantly reduces the risk of incorrect settings.
- Simple administration: Troubleshooting and maintenance are simplified as all relevant data is available in one place.
These advantages help to reduce the administrative effort and increase the overall performance of the environment.
Simplified configuration and troubleshooting of streaming problems
In practice, the wide range of configuration options in the current UPM has often led to misconfigurations for customers, which I often found in health checks. The streaming of small files such as cookies, passwords or temporary Office files proved to be an omnipresent problem, as these small files sometimes slowed down the logon significantly, but the administrators were not aware of this. The combination of profile disks with Office containers has also repeatedly led to problems, e.g. with Microsoft Teams. The mix has also introduced unnecessary complexity that does not justify the very low added value. With profile disks, these problems are a thing of the past:
- Simplicity instead of complexity: The entire configuration is reduced to a few, but meaningful settings.
- Error prevention: Profile disks minimize logon times, which are always problematic with streaming and conventional profile methods.
- Updating outdated policies: As part of the realignment, old policies that are no longer valid are removed or adapted to modern application requirements.
Increased compatibility with modern applications
Cloud-based services and modern applications such as OneDrive, Office 365 and Microsoft Teams require stable and consistent profiles in order to function optimally. The advantages of profile disks are obvious here:
- Seamless integration: Thanks to ProfileDisks, users can easily work with OneDrive and similar applications without having to worry about compatibility issues.
- Optimized synchronization: Storage in a single VHD file enables precise control of caches and data, which both shortens logon times and increases system stability.
Official support for modern applications
The official Citrix support statement emphasizes that profile disks approaches are the recommended method to integrate Office 365, Microsoft Teams and OneDrive into Citrix environments. Citrix explicitly advises against using the OneDrive sync client in combination with classic, file-based profile roaming methods, as this leads to synchronization problems and inconsistencies. Citrix Profile Management uses the Profile Disk to ensure that dynamic data - such as Outlook, Teams and OneDrive caches - is processed consistently, stably and efficiently. This leads to a significantly improved end-user experience, shorter logon times and greater system stability.
Strengthening the position vs FSLogix
FSLogix has established itself as a strong challenger on the market in recent years. A realignment of the UPM with an exclusive focus on profile disks offers several strategic advantages:
- Easier to use: Simplified configuration and centralized management reduces sources of error, which creates tangible added value, especially in complex environments.
- Improved integration: Seamless integration with other Citrix products optimizes the overall end-user experience, e.g. better integration with Director (VHD occupancy, etc.), uberAgent and Citrix Workspace Management.
- Convincing migration path: Customers who have previously used FSLogix can be advised to make a structured transition or to use the existing FSLogix disks and redirection.xml files directly - switching to a Citrix-native solution increases performance and support in the long term.
Unique features of the UPM compared to FSLogix
In addition to the advantages mentioned above, the UPM has special functions that are not available to the same extent in FSLogix:
Multi-Session Write-back
- The challenge:
In VHDX-based profile disks, usually only one session can operate in active write mode. If a user uses multiple sessions at the same time, other sessions run in read-only mode, which could lead to data loss.
The solution:
With the multi-session write-back feature, UPM automatically synchronizes changes from multiple active sessions. With the help of a "last write wins" mechanism, all adjustments are merged and the last change made is saved. This function optimizes operation, particularly in multi-session environments in which several applications are used in parallel.
In-Session Reattachment
- The challenge:
Temporary network interruptions or other disruptions can lead to disconnection of the profile disks and interrupt the workflow.
The solution:
Thanks to automatic reconnection (in-session reattachment), a disconnected VHD(X) is immediately and seamlessly reintegrated into the active session. This allows users to continue working without having to log in again, which significantly stabilizes the workflow.
Store Migration
- The challenge:
As IT infrastructures evolve, the original storage location (user store) often no longer fits the new requirements in terms of scalability, performance and administration.
The solution:
Store Migration enables a seamless change of storage location without losing user settings or data. Group policy configurations are used to define how and where existing profile information is moved - a process that takes place automatically at the next logon, thus saving resources and improving maintainability.
My advice to Citrix
- Focus on profile disks
"UPM 2.0" focuses exclusively on profile disks. - Citrix policy adjustments
Citrix removes policies for data-based and streaming profiles from Studio and WEM, but these are temporarily retained in Group Policy. - Migration support
Customers receive migration paths and tools to migrate to profile disks. - Simplified migration to UPM 2.0 from FSLogix
The changeover from FSLogix to "UPM 2.0" is considerably simplified by supporting tools and the possible use of existing FSLogix data. - Clear advantages of UPM 2.0
The advantages of "UPM 2.0" over FSLogix are more clearly emphasized and further expanded. - Optimized integration
An improved integration of profile disks in Citrix Director is being sought, possibly supported by uberAgent.
Conclusion
The realignment of the Citrix User Profile Manager with a clear focus on profile disks is a decisive step towards lean, high-performance profile management. The simplified configuration, the elimination of streaming problems and the increased compatibility with modern applications not only create operational added value, but also give Citrix a clear competitive advantage over FSLogix. Integrated features such as multi-session write-back, in-session reattachment and store migration complete the offering and provide a compelling migration path for existing FSLogix users.
This approach transforms an overloaded solution into a modern, future-proof concept and will significantly increase customer satisfaction - as well as further cement Citrix's position as a leading provider in the field of virtualization.
I invite all Citrix employees and interested parties to share their experiences and opinions on this approach in the comments.
