Project: Citrix Metaframe SOLUTION Client: GSA
	Solution Summary 3H Technology (3H) has implemented a Metaframe solution at the General Services Administration (GSA). The design at GSA consists of 4 highly available Metaframe application servers and two NFuse web servers. The solution is redundant and allows for flexibility and growth.

ENVIRONMENT
The General Services Administration (GSA) National Capital Region (NCR) of the Public Buildings Service (PBS) consists of one main office and 67 field sites. The field sites are distributed throughout the Washington DC metropolitan area. There are around 1,100 users at the main site and 1000 users distributed among the field sites. The main site contains over 70 servers operating in a mixed mode environment (Microsoft Windows 2000 and NT 4.0). 27 out of the 67 field sites house servers. . The field sites are classified into three types:

• Dialup Sites: These sites consist commonly of 1 to 6 users connecting to the GSA network using normal phone lines and a Remote Access Server (RAS) solution. The authentication in this case is handled by the RAS.
  
• Circuit Sites (without Servers): These sites have a direct broadband link to the GSA network (T1 or DSL) and consist of 6 to 25 users. Users in these sites authenticate directly to one of the domain controllers at the main site.
  
• Circuit Sites (with Servers): These sites have a direct broadband link to the GSA network and consist of more than 15 users. These sites are equipped with local dedicated backup domain controllers for authentication and might also have a file and print server.
  

CHALLENGE
Introduce and implement a solution that facilitates the following tasks:

• Allow application accessibility to field site users based on authentication groups.
  
• Enable users working from home to access the same set of applications at any given time.
  
• Web enable all proprietary applications to offer a wider set of accessibility options to all fields site and home users.
  
• Centralize management and administration of all field sites.
  
• Centralize field sites storage and backup.
  
• Cut the costs on application upgrades and workstations maintenance.
  
• Provide a mechanism for estimating the hardware resources needed.
  
• Increase security in terms of authentication, users access and file transfers.
  
• Provide high availability and scalability for all applications.
  
• Educate and train both the administrators and the users to be able to use the new solution.
  

• A complete and comprehensive survey for all field sites.
  
• An extensive process for testing and evaluating all the applications under a pilot environment.
  
• Develop an in-house sizing and scaling software to calculate the correct number of SBC servers needed to serve a given number of users and vice versa. The software uses a large set of parameters (RAM, CPU power, network segmentation, peak hours, etc.) to project as accurately as possible the hardware requirements.
  
• Build a load balanced farm of Metaframe application servers and NFuse web servers.
  
  
• Publish the selected applications to Citrix Program Neighborhood and create shortcuts for these applications on users’ desktops. Additionally, implement NFuse to provide a web based interface for accessing the published applications and to facilitate home users’ access.
  
• Configure NFuse to provide maximum security and brand its pages to follow the GSA standard.
  
• Move both users’ home drives and their terminal profiles to a managed, centralized, scalable solution. SAN (Storage Area Network) was the best solution to host these folders and to provide a centralized location for backup as well.
  
• Control users access and permissions using system policies.
  
• Fine tune the Windows registry and file system to offer the optimal performance.
  
• Train the helpdesk team to handle basic Metaframe related calls and to use Metaframe Shadowing to assist and guide users with their day-to-day application problems.
  
• Centralize and structuralize the procedures for testing, installing and configuring new applications; as well as, maintaining and testing the usability of the existing applications.
  
• Create a CBT (Computer Based Training) web site to educate users about the transition and about the new features that the solution will offer them. The CBT includes step-by-step instructions that simulates real life scenarios, introduces questions and provides answers.