Citrix NetScaler Interview Questions

Mindmajix as a team has got enough questions from the trainees who got their Citrix NetScaler Training and cracked interviews at various MNCs around the world and successfully placed. From the collection of Citrix NetScaler Interview Questions, the following are the most common questions we got are listed to make it easy for those who are willing to crack the interview with ease. All the answers to those were written by our professional experienced trainers and are tailored to meet the concepts expected by the interviewer.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Citrix NetScaler Interview Questions

1. What is Citrix?
2. What according to you are the services that Citrix can easily provide?
3. What do you understand by the XML Broker of Citrix?
4. What is Citrix Receiver?
5. You will be migrating from XenApp 6.5 to XenApp 7.6, what are the two differences between IMA and FMA?
6. What is the Role of the XenDesktop Controller?
7. What are the types of Printer Terminology in Citrix?
8. What do you know about Shadowing in the Citrix?
9. Mention a few Load evaluators which are present in the Citrix?
10. What are the load evaluators which support Citrix?

1. What is Citrix? 

Basically, it is one of the very popular systems for application deployment. All the customized applications can directly be accessed. The users are free to deliver them without doing much to the remote machines and nodes. In addition to this, e-mail accessing and data transfer tasks can be performed very easily. For the users, it really doesn’t matter what exactly was the size of the file or data to be transferred.

2. Name any three important ports which are directly associated with the Citrix Services?

These are IMA Port 2512 & 2513, CMC and SSL port, and UDP Port

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3. What according to you are the services that Citrix can easily provide?

One of the best services that can simply be assured from it is the Citrix Virtual memory optimization. For security and privacy, it offers another service called Encryption service that simply lets the users keep up the pace with the same. The Citrix SMA Service is another one that cuts down the complexity from several important tasks in a very reliable manner. Moreover, it provides the Independent Management Architecture that lets the users get the desired outcome from the cluster approach.

4. What do you understand from the Web Interface in Citrix?

It is also known as NFuse and is useful in offering Web access to Unix, Java, Linux, as well as to Windows-based applications which are hosted through the server software meant for the Citrix environment. Citrix simply lets the users have server-side control of all the applications that come with a tag of Citrix. Also, the applications can directly be accessed through the web browser interface. 

5. Can you tell something about the components in Citrix and how they are different from one another?

There are 5 prime components in Citrix and they are very useful for the users. The very first one is the XenApp which makes sure that users can simply host all applications on the server and ensure the local execution of the same. In addition to this, it enables users to directly access the files through the remote approach. The next component is Netscaler which makes sure of load balancing of level 4 to the users. The XenDesktop lets the users host a desktop OS with the help of a virtual machine. However, it is necessary that the machine should run on the same server. The XenServer and the Provisioning Server are the other components. XenServer is useful when it comes to combing the multiple servers that are Xen enabled using the clustering technology whereas the latter is useful in impost a limit on the overall number of nodes that can be managed through the system.

6. Is there any boundation on the refresh time for the Local Host Cache? 

When the IMA is stopped, the Local Host Cache has a time limit of 30 minutes. 

7. What exactly do you know about the Data Store in Citrix? What kind of information can it store?

The Citric farm needs a lot of information about the configuration and the same is present in the Data Store. It is possible to modify the Meta Farm Server whenever the need of the same is felt. It can easily store information about the User & Server Configuration, Print Environment, as well as Published Environment.

8. What exactly do you know about the connection leasing process?

It is basically a built-in ability of the XenDesktop. The users can connect themselves to the recently used desktops and the applications. This can be done even when the database remains unavailable from the users. However, in case the user is trying to connect the desktop or the application first time, this situation is not valid. All the default connections can be cached easily. 

9. Is it possible in Citrix to clear the XenServer cache?

Yes, this is possible and the users can perform this task through the command prompt.

10. What do you understand by the XML Broker of Citrix?

Well, it is actually considered as an intermediary between the farm and the Web interface of the concerned applications. From the interface, it directly gets all the important credentials of the users. All the applications that the users can access have valid permission which it simply makes sure to implement in the Citrix environment. There is a management architecture that is independent and makes sure of Web interface functionality. It generally performs functions between the web interface and the IMA.

11. Abbreviate LHC in the Citrix?

It stands for Local Host Cache. It is basically a local database in the Citrix Environment. 

12. Is there any Default test available in the recovery tool? What do you think is the benefit of the same?

Yes, there are some important Default tests that are available and the users are free to use them anytime. These are XML Service Test, IMA Service Test, Terminal Service Test as well as the Logon Monitor test. They simply let users eliminate errors and maintain quality. In addition to this, various short and complex errors can directly be reported to the user or to the virtual machines. 

13. Imagine a Server is totally dead from the Citrix Management Console, what would be the action you will take in such a situation?

The dead server can be removed from the Console through the command prompt. This is done to maintain the uninterrupted functionality of the Console. 

14. What is Citrix Receiver?

Well, it is an array of a suite of the products that are responsible for enabling the devices of the client to get connected directly to the other virtualization services which are related to Citrix. All the devices of the clients can be linked to the XenDesktop applications simply through it.

15. What is the significance of the Citrix Access Gateway?

It is basically a universally secured Socket based VPN appliance. When it comes to getting instant access and the same is required to be secured to the company, the Gateway is the approach that is useful. It is equipped with several important features such as SSL and IPSC. . A lot of type of applications is supported by it directly. Also, it makes sure of the security of the applications running. 

16. Tell about the significance of the Zones in the Citrix environment?

Zones are nothing but a farm that consists of a subset. There are a lot of server members and one among them is the Zone data collector which manages traffic controlling and this is the prime task of the Zone. It is also possible to establish a communication link between different zones. 

17.You have been asked to reduce the time on Citrix support calls, by making sure your Citrix XenApp 6.5 farm is “Citrix Support Ready” and already has the proper tools installed before contacting Citrix, what is the main tool you would install?

Citrix Scout

18. You will be migrating from XenApp 6.5 to XenApp 7.6, what are the two differences between IMA and FMA?

Some answers include: FMA uses Sites and no longer utilizes Zones or Zone Data Collectors, FMA uses Virtual Desktop Agents (VDA’s), FMA leverages MCS for Servers and Desktops, IMA uses Local Host Cache (LHC), IMA uses IMA Service.

19.You have been tasked to come up with an Active/Active GSLB scenario for your Citrix XenDesktop environment. What are some underlying factors you should consider during your research and planning phase?

You want to make sure you have a working way for data replication, including profile replication between the two sites. Microsoft does not support two-way replication for their profiles. You will also need to make sure you have a way to disconnect sessions from each site. It is best to use Active/Passive with manual failover in this scenario.

20.You are creating a XenApp/XenDesktop environment and your manager asked you to optimize your profiles without using a third-party solution. How would you accomplish this?

Citrix has a User Profile Manager, which will allow you to streamline your profiles and leverage Microsoft folder redirection.

21.You are migrating your Citrix environment from a 2003 OS to 2008R2 OS, and you want to make sure your current applications will run correctly on the 2008R2 OS. What software or utility does Citrix provide to help you make sure your applications will be compatible with the 2008R2 OS before the migration?

A5) – Citrix AppDNA

22. Can you name two of the services required to be running on the Provisioning Server for it to function?

SOAP and STREAM services must be running on the PVS Servers.

23. What is the Role of the XenDesktop Controller?

A controller is the server-side architectural component of XenDesktop that is responsible for distributing desktops, managing user access, and optimizing connections.

24. Your manager has requested you to come up with a way for your helpdesk to monitor and troubleshoot your XenDesktop/XenApp 7.x environment, without adding on a third-party solution. What built-in Citrix functionality would you use to do so?

Citrix Director Enables level-1 and level-2 IT Support staff to monitor a XenDesktop deployment and perform day-to-day maintenance tasks. You can also view and interact with a user’s session, using Microsoft Remote Assistance, to troubleshoot problems.

25. You are architecting a Citrix Provisioning Services (PVS) deployment which will be placed across different datacenters via a WAN link. You only want the PVS disks to be streamed in each local data center and not cross over the WAN. What feature in PVS would you use to accomplish this?

Subnet Affinity

26. You are preparing a PVS master target device which is created on VMware vSphere virtual hardware version 10 or higher. What must you do with the CD/DVD Rom setting for PVS to work correctly?

You will need to change the CD/DVD Rom to IDE instead of SATA. SATA is not supported in PVS.

27. What free tool from Citrix will allow you to analyze your log files, profile your Citrix environment, scan for known issues and attach a log file to a Citrix support ticket.

Citrix Insight Services or TaaS

28. Explain a difficult challenge you had with XenApp and or XenDesktop and what you did to solve it?

A17) – It should be fairly simple for an experienced person to come up with something.

29. Explain what you do to keep up your professional development?

You are looking for blogs, training (if they are willing to get training on their own, without relying on an employer), video’s and a biggie is a home lab. There is not a good excuse in today’s climate for an engineer or architect not to have either a home or cloud-based lab if they take their career seriously.

30. If you were tasked to architect a Citrix XenDesktop 7.6 environment, what would be some of the questions you would ask the business, so you can design a technical solution?

You want to see if they know how to start with a business outcome and work backward into the technology. Good signs are, asking specific business-related questions such as: How do you envision the end goal, what are you trying to accomplish?, What is the importance of this project to the business.

31. What do you know about Shadowing in the Citrix?

It simply lets the users remotely connect to others. It is possible among the users to share the sessions only because of the Shadowing approach. With it, the users are always free to get the outcomes in the shortest possible time. 

32. What according to you is the biggest issue that can be solved by the Netscaler?

Well, Netscaler is an approach that simply avoids the low internet speed in which desktop streaming is involved and is based on a central server. On the virtualization solution, excellent support is available that simply let the users keep up the pace with this. 

33. Can you tell me something about the XenDesktop Controller?

It is basically a component that is based on the server-side and defines the architecture of the XenDesktop. One of its key roles is to manage user access and enhance connections. This is exactly what makes sure of reliable data transfer among the nodes within the same server.

34. How many levels are there in Citrix when it comes to implementing the security policies? Can you name them?

There are 3 levels that are available and they are Farm Level, Policy Level itself, and the Citrix Server Level. Leveling may not be the same depending on the host and at each level, there is a security check of the implementation of the protocol that simply makes sure of a secure approach for all the apps under consideration.

35. What are the types of Printer Terminology in Citrix?

This task can be accomplished in three ways. The very first one is the Network Printer in which the printer driver should be available on the Citrix server. This is basically a connected printer server and the driver. Next is the Client printer in which the drivers are present on the Citrix server again and it is connected to the workstations within the network. Last is a Local printer which is connected to all local devices and the drivers are present on the print operation.

36. Name the variants of the Speed Screen Technology you are familiar with?

These are Speed Screen Image Acceleration, Speed Screen Multimedia Acceleration, Speed Screen Latency Reduction, and Speed Screen Flash Acceleration

37. Tell one basic difference between the StoreFront and the Web Interface?

Well, the StoreFront depends on the Active Directory domain controller for its functionality whereas the Web Interface doesn’t. Before storing the data into the memory the StoreFront perform a basic task and i.e. it checks the application subscription for the existing user. On the other side, the Web Interface doesn’t perform this task. 

38. Suppose no Delivery Controller Servers are available, what would be its impact on the end-users?

The VDA cannot register themselves with the controllers during such a scenario. Whenever the new sessions will be launched, they will remain unavailable It is because of this reason users cannot directly access the desktops and the applications. In case the sessions are already connected, it will continue to work with the same. VDA is equipped with a useful feature and i.e. it automatically starts load balancing after 20 seconds in case the Delivery controller remains unavailable. 

39. Is it possible for the users to share the network printer with Citrix Server?

Yes, this is possible and an approach known as Replication can be applied for this task easily. Simply the driver of the printer is replicated and is provided to the concerned server. However, it is necessary to install the driver at the same location from where the replication process is initiated. This seems quite similar to that of mapping which is an approach that is used for mapping the driver software for the domain users only.

40. Mention a few Load evaluators which are present in the Citrix?

There are several Load Evaluators which are present and they simply make sure of accomplishing a lot of important tasks without bringing the users to adopt the complex approaches. A few of them are Central Processing Unit Utilization, Disk Data Input/Output, Page Swap, Memory Utilization, Scheduling, Context Switches, Page Fault, and User Application Load.

41. What could be the possible reason when the users fail to launch the Citrix applications?

1. The user might not have installed the latest version of the software.
2. The application might need special permissions which are not provided
3. The proxy settings might be wrong
4. Applications should be integrated into the ID
5. The user might be accessing the application directly
6. The applications might not be registered on the server

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42. Name any three benefits that you can derive from the Citric Netscaler?

1. It boosts the delivery speed
2. The traffic optimization in the network can simply be assured by the users
3. The infrastructure intelligence can simply be assured by the users

43. Name the different versions of Netscaler ADC you are familiar with?

These are Netscaler MPX, Netscaler VPX, and NetScaler CPX

44. How can integration be made possible with the Citrix Netscaler?

Well, this can be assured simply with the application access control ability of the scaler.

45. What are the load evaluators which support Citrix?

Memory Utilization, IP Range, CPU Utilization, Page Swap, Context Switches, Page Fault, Disk Data I/O, Scheduling, and Server / User Application Load are the Citrix load evaluators that are supporting.