Because each PVS Server is connected directly to the shared LUN via a dedicated, high-bandwidth connection (i.e., 1GB, 10GB iSCSI or 4GB, 8GB Fibre Channel), all I/O operations generated by the PVS Servers are offloaded from the network to the SAN, resulting in significant improvements in performance as vDisks are read into the PVS Servers, cached in RAM and streamed over the LAN to the target devices. Reducing the amount of network traffic on the LAN not only improves the performance of PVS, it also allows non-PVS applications to achieve higher levels of performance. Best of all, customers do not have to make any changes to the registries of their PVS Servers in order to garner these performance enhancements!

When considering cost, another important aspect mentioned in the Citrix blog, one must take into account the total cost of the solution, i.e., XenDesktop or XenApp, and not just the individual components comprising the solution. Unlike other storage options for PVS, such as replication or Read-Only LUNs, Melio 2010 includes a ton of useful features that actually help drive down the costs of deploying, managing and building out XenDesktop and XenApp infrastructures.

In addition to HA for the vDisks, load-balancing for the devices, and simplified vDisk management, customers also get HA for the PVS database, reliable data protection via cluster-wide VSS-based snapshots, the ability to further improve I/O performance using stripe sets comprised of LUNs provisioned from multiple storage arrays, and a fully-automated DR solution that allows target devices to fail over to PVS Servers at a remote DR site while offering PVS administrators complete visibility and manageability of their PVS Farms.

And the benefits don’t stop there! Since Melio FS has its own advanced, multi-layer locking mechanism and thus, does not rely on file-sharing protocols such as CIFS to handle locking, customers can scale-out their XenDesktop and/or XenApp infrastructures quickly and seamlessly by adding more PVS Servers and/or more storage resources “on-the-fly” without disrupting user productivity. With only one LUN accessed by all PVS Servers, there is no need to replicate vDisks amongst multiple LUNs and no need to use Read-Only LUNs. The end result – simplified vDisk and storage management AND reduced storage costs through more efficient use of storage resources for a lower total cost of ownership.

So there you have it… organizations use Sanbolic Melio 2010 to achieve the highest levels of performance, availability, scalability and manageability for Provisioning Services, allowing them to realize the greatest return on their investments in Citrix solutions.

For more information on how Sanbolic Melio 2010 enhances the value of Citrix solutions, click here: https://www.sanbolic.com/Citrix.htm.

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