Let's talk about Provision Networks
Quite a few customers are interested in an integration of the Provision Networks broker and Sun Ray. And the only thing they really need is a specific kiosk session type and a login sequence against the Provision Networks broker. The rest is nearly identical with the way the Virtual Desktop Connector works.
So Sarah from my team has created a new session script for Provision Networks. You find it in the pnclient.tar.gz tarball. The installation is straightforward and can be done with a few steps. Look into the README for further details.
After installation and configuration users get a simple login dialog, where they have to specify username, password and a domain. Upon successful connection the user will be directly routed to their desktop. If there are multiple desktops defined, the first desktop on the list will be selected.
That's it. Note, that this is not a supported session type. But it is simple and should help you getting started and expand from here.
- Dirk
It seems that quite a few customers prefer the Provision broker over the Sun conector and Vmware simple VDM2. I'm going to give it try. Thanks for the script.
Posted by John Kliptsch on April 21, 2008 at 04:35 PM CEST #
Feel free to contact me if you need any help with Provision Networks Virtual Access Suite.
Instructions on how to configure Virtual Access Suite can be found here:
http://www2.provisionnetworks.com/kb/
Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
Sr. Sales Engineer, Western USA & Canada
Quest Software, Provision Networks Division
Virtual Client Solutions
(619) 994-5507
http://www.provisionnetworks.com
Posted by Patrick Rouse on April 21, 2008 at 04:56 PM CEST #
First off tar.tar file when downloaded needs to get renamed to a tar.gz
I have managed to install it but for some reason it gets stuck at a screen saying
"username" <===========> pn Connection Broker
and not logging on further than that point.
Any Suggestions?
Posted by Christofflr on April 21, 2008 at 05:03 PM CEST #
Christoff,
When setting the kiosk session, have you pointed the kiosk script to the PN broker?
- Dirk
Posted by Dirk Grobler on April 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM CEST #
Ok finaly got past the first error .Now it's just defaulting back to the username and password screen.When there is no free xp desktop session it notifies me .So it is connecting fine to the broker.
How ever when I give my self a free xp desktop and try to connect it just defaults back to the login screen.
Any Ideas?
Posted by Christofflr on April 22, 2008 at 02:17 PM CEST #
Can you take a look in the log files? They are in /var/opt/SUNWut/log/messages
Are you able to connect directly to the XP desktop using uttsc?
Posted by Sarah on April 23, 2008 at 12:15 PM CEST #
from the readme:
"The Provision Networks Client requires the Sun Ray Connector for Windows to be installed on the
Sun Ray server."
So I take it they need the license cost for both provision
and Sun VDI 2.0 $120/seat ?
Posted by Steve on May 07, 2008 at 07:22 PM CEST #
Steve,
Your assumption is correct, you need both the PN and the SR/VDI 2 license. But this is independent of the Sun Ray Windows Connector.
- Dirk
Posted by Dirk on May 08, 2008 at 07:53 AM CEST #
Hi,
We are testing the pnclient.tar.gz and it works really well. What I would like to know is the following:
- will there be any future revisions of this cient?
- can one customize the look of the logon screen especially auto populate the domain credentials
- what will be nice is to have the native Solaris desktop logon screen to be used instead of the one currently provided
Looking forward to your feedback.
Regards.
Posted by Louis on May 08, 2008 at 05:21 PM CEST #
Louis:
You autopopulate the domain by doing the following:
In the SRSS admin GUI, go to Advanced -> Kiosk Mode
In the arguments put in: -d <DOMAIN>
At the moment the only part of the GUI that is customizable are the status screens that come up while connecting or when there is an error. You can change these by replacing:
/etc/opt/SUNWkio/sessions/provision_networks/wait.png
and
/etc/opt/SUNWkio/sessions/provision_networks/error.png
Posted by Sarah on May 08, 2008 at 06:49 PM CEST #
Hi Guys
I was wonding if it was possible to move the login screen when using the new Sunray 2fs as it is stuck wam in the middle of the 2 screens ?
Regards
Christoff
Posted by Christoff on May 09, 2008 at 09:03 AM CEST #
Christoff,
What would be your preference? Being able to move the window yourself, or place the window automatically somewhere else?
- Dirk
Posted by Dirk on May 09, 2008 at 11:54 AM CEST #
Hi Louis,
The first release was used to see, how much interest is there in such an integration. We are still in the phase of collecting feedback and yours is very valuable.
-Dirk
Posted by Dirk on May 09, 2008 at 11:58 AM CEST #
Hi Dirk,
Great to see that Sun is including Provision in the Sunray offering. We are in the process of building a solution that we will take to market in the next month. One thing we did notice this morning is an extreme delay in the sound coming from the virtual desktop when using the broker on Solaris 10. We are not too sure if this is something Provision or Sun related. Also when watching video on the XP desktop we are only getting 2 frames per second which is no good.
Regards.
Posted by Louis on May 09, 2008 at 12:29 PM CEST #
So two things we are binging to market this year:
1. bi-directional audio (microphone redirection)
2. Multimedia redirection - We can now redirect full motion Windows Media Content to the client CODEC and overlay/pin the client video on the RDP session so it looks like it is part of the session. The initial version will support Windows Clients, but I'm sure this will be ported to any and every client type that we can. We are also working doing the same for Flash content, and hope to deliver both in a performance pack that will include the bi-directional audio and local text echo in Q3/Q4 of 2008.
Bi-directional Audio, Local Text Echo and Windows Media Redirection are pretty much done, but Flash Redirection is still in active development. Bi-directional audio & local text echo will be available in 5.10 (this month), but the multimedia redirection won't be released until later this year.
With the Multimedia Redirection I can watch Full HD Video on my client via a VDI or Terminal Services Session.
Please feel free to fwd me Provision Networks feature requests. My first name . My Last Name @ Quest . com
Patrick Rouse
Microsoft MVP - Terminal Server
Sr. Sales Engineer, Western USA & Canada
Quest Software, Provision Networks Division
Virtual Client Solutions
(619) 994-5507
http://www.provisionnetworks.com
Posted by Patrick Rouse on May 09, 2008 at 01:30 PM CEST #
"bringing" not "binging". See what happens w/o spell check. :)
Posted by Patrick Rouse on May 09, 2008 at 01:31 PM CEST #
Hi Patrick / Dirk.
I spoke to Marcus Owen and was told about the new optimization pack later this year. Will there be another enhancement pack after this. I just want to understand where the licensing is going.
Thank you.
Posted by Louis on May 09, 2008 at 01:40 PM CEST #
You are referring to the Experience Optimization Pack (EOP) which initially includes Bi-Directional Audio, Type Ahead (Local Text Echo) and Seamless Windows Media Redirection. Future additions to EOP are Flash Redirection and support for other protocols like HP's RGS and VESA's Net2Display. Your Regional Sales Manager can provide you with pricing for these add-on features, but the initial release is for Windows Clients only. We are updating our Linux client to support these features, and I would imagine the Sun Client will follow shortly thereafter, if it's not already being worked on. I think Sun actually created a client for us, so I'll have to see what we're doing for you.
Posted by Patrick Rouse on May 20, 2008 at 01:33 PM CEST #
For updates on what Provision Networks is doing and for technical best practices, check out The Official Provision Networks Blog:
http://blogs.inside.quest.com/provision
Posted by Patrick Rouse on May 20, 2008 at 02:01 PM CEST #
Hi Dirk
Regarding the Login screen of the 2fs would be nice if it was auto set to the first screen.
Regards
Christoff
Posted by Christoff on May 21, 2008 at 01:55 PM CEST #