Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Advanced Administration (CWS-315)

Designed to learn how to set up scalability, redundancy and security configurations. You will learn advance features to optimize management of your app and desktop images by building and combining App Layers and Workspace Environment Management, which can improve logon times, centralize user settings management, optimize the performance of machines running the Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA).


In the advanced troubleshooting section, you will learn techniques to investigate many of the common issues that can affect environment health. You’ll leave this course with a good understanding of how to manage more complex solutions such as multizone environments spanning multiple locations with configurations around StoreFront, the Delivery Controllers, and HDX.


What you’ll learn

  • How to implement advanced administration concepts such as backups, disaster recovery, scalability and redundancy consideration for a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktop 7 Site
  • How to configure Workspace Environment Management to improve the end user environment and virtual resource consumption
  • App Layering skills such as how to create and administer OS, platform, application, elastic and user layers


Versions covered

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 1912


Prerequisite knowledge

Strong foundational knowledge of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7. Citrix recommends students prepare for this course by taking the following course:

  • CWS-215: Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 Administration On-Premises and in Citrix Cloud.


Is this course for me?

Built for experienced IT Professionals familiar with Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 in an on-premises environment or Citrix Cloud looking to expand their Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops skills to an advanced level. Potential students include administrators or engineers responsible for the Citrix Apps and Desktop 7 Site.

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Course Modules

Backup, recovery and security considerations and configurations

Module 1: Implementing Redundancy and Scalability

  • StoreFront and Citrix Gateway
  • Site Infrastructure
  • Machines Running the Virtual Delivery Agent


Module 2: Managing a Virtual Apps and Desktops Environment with Multiple Locations Zones

  • VDA Registration in a Multi-Zone Environment
  • Zone Preference
  • Optimal Gateway Routing and Zones
  • Managing StoreFront Store Subscriptions in a Multi-Location Environment
  • StoreFront and Citrix ADC Branding


Module 3: Implementing Backups and Disaster Recovery

  • Backups
  • Disaster Recovery Considerations
  • Disaster Recovery Process


Module 4: Implementing Advanced Authentication Methods

  • Multi-factor Authentication - RADIUS & OTP
  • Multi-factor Authentication - Smart Card Authentication
  • Federated Authentication - ADFS, SAML, and FAS


Module 5: Improving App and Data Security

  • Introduction to Application Security
  • Preventing Jailbreak Attacks
  • Minimizing the Impact of Attacks


Module 6: Securing Machines Running the Virtual Delivery Agent

  • TLS to VDA Encryption
  • GPOs and Citrix Policies
  • Image Management


Troubleshooting techniques and tools

Module 7: Introduction to Troubleshooting

  • Troubleshooting Methodology Process (Standard Slide)
  • Resource Tools and Utilities
  • Introduction to PowerShell


Module 8: Troubleshooting Access Issues

  • Troubleshooting StoreFront
  • Troubleshooting Citrix Gateway


Module 9: Troubleshooting Delivery Controller Issues

  • Validating FMA Services


Module 10: Troubleshooting VDA Registration Issues

  • Troubleshooting VDA Registration


Module 11: Troubleshooting HDX Connection Issues

  • Troubleshooting HDX Connections


Citrix App Layering Considerations and Configuration

Module 12: Introduction to App Layering

  • App Layering Introduction
  • Architecture and How it Works


Module 13: Creating an OS Layer

  • The OS Layer


Module 14: Creating a Platform Layer

  • The Platform Layer


Module 15: Creating App Layers

  • The App Layers


Module 16: Creating Elastic App and User Layers

  • Elastic App Layering
  • User Layers


Module 17: Deploying a Layered Image using Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

  • Using Templates in App Layering
  • Using Layered Images in a Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Site


Module 18: Exploring Layer Priority

  • Layer Priority


Module 19: Maintaining an App Layering Environment

  • Updating Layers
  • Maintaining and Updating the App Layering Environment
  • Common App Layering Considerations and Additional Resources


Workspace Environment Management (WEM) considerations and configuration

Module 20: Introduction to Workspace Environment Management (WEM)

  • Workspace Environment Management (WEM) Introduction
  • WEM Administration


Module 21: Using WEM to Centralize Environment Management

  • Managing User Resources with WEM
  • Managing Profiles with WEM
  • Managing Endpoints with the WEM Transformer Feature


Module 22: Using WEM for Performance Optimization

  • Optimizing Machine Performance with WEM
  • Optimizing User Experience with WEM


Module 23: Using WEM to Secure Environments

  • WEM Security Features


Module 24: Migrating and Upgrading WEM

  • Migrating to WEM
  • Upgrading a WEM Deployment
  • WEM Multi-Location Considerations