With so much riding on the success of Citrix projects, having the right test tools is critical to ensuring that deployments go smoothly. Unfortunately, many organizations cut corners when it comes to choosing the right tools for testing Citrix environments, which can lead to serious problems later when the system is live. Inadequate testing can result in undetected issues that only surface after deployment, and by then, the cost of fixing these issues can be exorbitant.

Automated testing tools, while not cheap, offer a way to reduce risk by identifying issues early on—before they have a chance to become major problems in a live environment. The cost of automated testing tools can be high, but it’s far less than the cost of rectifying issues in production. Automated tools can simulate real-world conditions, helping identify potential showstoppers before they become critical.

The “Boxer Principle” of Automated Test Tools

I like to refer to this approach as the “Boxer Principle.” Imagine you are trying to assess how good a boxer is. A few light punches won’t reveal much about the boxer’s capability. However, if you increase the frequency and intensity of punches, you create a more realistic and sustained challenge, providing a much better understanding of how the boxer can handle the pressure.

This is exactly what automated test tools do for Citrix environments. They simulate sustained loads, replicating weeks or months of activity within just a few days. Just like a few punches won’t test a boxer, running only a pilot or acceptance test won’t adequately test the Citrix environment. To put the system through its paces and test it thoroughly, automated tools can simulate real-world conditions under heavy load.

Automated Testing Tools: A Necessary Investment

There are many tools available to test Citrix environments, and while it would be valuable to discuss the specific features and drawbacks of each, some tools have restrictive licensing agreements that limit how much can be shared publicly. These restrictions make it difficult to provide an in-depth discussion of individual tools without running into licensing issues. However, I can offer insights into what to look for in test tools, based on years of experience working with a wide range of them.

In the following sections, I’ll provide some guidance on what features to prioritize and what pitfalls to avoid when selecting a testing tool. But before diving into the checklist, there’s one specific tool I can discuss: the Citrix Server Test Kit (CSTK).

Citrix Server Test Kit (CSTK): Not a Serious Testing Tool

The Citrix Server Test Kit (CSTK) is a tool developed by Citrix engineers to function as a testing tool. However, I do not consider CSTK a serious or reliable testing tool. It’s a basic utility that falls short in several critical areas.

What surprises me most is that some still advocate for CSTK as a legitimate solution for testing Citrix environments. When an organization has already invested substantial resources into enterprise software, such as Microsoft’s Windows Server 2003 and Citrix Presentation Server 4.0 Enterprise Edition, along with sophisticated monitoring, reporting, and software deployment systems, why would they rely on a rudimentary tool developed by engineers (not testers) to validate their entire setup?

The problem with CSTK is that it’s too intrusive and lacks the sophistication needed to handle high loads. Because most of the tests run directly on the Citrix server under test, the results can’t be trusted—the additional load introduced by the testing tool itself skews the outcomes. This makes it difficult to obtain an accurate picture of how the system will perform under real-world conditions. In my opinion, CSTK is not a viable option for serious Citrix testing.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Test Tools

Choosing the right tools for testing Citrix environments is crucial to ensuring that the system will perform as expected under the pressures of live usage. To help organizations make more informed decisions, I’ve developed a Test Tool Guide that outlines a checklist of what to look for when selecting testing tools for Citrix environments.

The guide includes advice based on years of working with various tools, identifying the features that matter most, as well as those to avoid. By following this checklist, organizations can make sure they choose tools that will truly help them identify and resolve issues before they cause problems in production. You can access the guide through the “Test Tool Guide” button on the navigation bar of my website.

Citrix Test Environments: Dedicated Environments for Effective Testing

When testing Citrix systems, it is essential to have dedicated test environments that mirror the production setup as closely as possible. A common mistake is to rely solely on User Acceptance Testing (UAT), which is more about getting sign-off from end users than rigorously testing the system’s performance. While UAT can provide valuable feedback, particularly in terms of user experience, it’s not a replacement for thorough, automated testing during earlier stages of the project.

A properly configured test environment should allow for comprehensive testing at all levels—performance, load, volume, coexistence, and compatibility—before the system ever reaches the UAT phase. This way, the most critical issues can be addressed early on, preventing costly delays or problems after deployment.

What to Look for in Citrix Test Tools

Here are some of the key features to consider when selecting a test tool for Citrix environments:

1. Scalability: The tool should be able to simulate a large number of users, applications, and tasks simultaneously. Look for tools that can handle not just user load, but also complex workloads that mimic real-world usage patterns.
2. Non-Intrusiveness: The tool should not introduce excessive overhead or additional load on the servers being tested. Intrusive tools, like CSTK, can affect the results and make it difficult to gauge the true performance of the system.
3. Detailed Reporting: A good testing tool should provide in-depth reports on system performance, highlighting areas where resource utilization is spiking, transactions are slowing down, or memory leaks are occurring. The more granular the data, the better.
4. Customizable Testing Scenarios: Different Citrix environments have different needs, so the testing tool should allow you to customize scenarios to simulate different workloads, user behaviors, and system configurations.
5. Automation Capabilities: Automation is key to achieving thorough testing without exhausting manual resources. The tool should be capable of running scheduled tests over extended periods, enabling you to simulate long-term system usage.
6. Compatibility with Monitoring Tools: The ability to integrate with existing monitoring and reporting tools is crucial for getting a complete picture of the system’s health. Look for tools that complement your existing infrastructure rather than duplicating functionality.
7. Vendor Support and Documentation: Testing tools should come with reliable vendor support and comprehensive documentation to help you get the most out of them. If the tool is difficult to use or troubleshoot, it will hinder the testing process.

Conclusion: Test Tools Are Critical to Citrix Success

Selecting the right test tools for Citrix environments is one of the most important steps in ensuring a successful deployment. While it may be tempting to cut corners to save money or time, this can lead to disastrous results later on, when problems are harder and more expensive to fix. Automated testing tools offer a way to thoroughly assess the system under real-world conditions, ensuring that potential issues are identified and addressed before the system goes live.

The Citrix Server Test Kit (CSTK), though sometimes advocated by others, is not a serious tool for high-load environments due to its intrusive nature and lack of accuracy. Instead, organizations should prioritize robust, scalable testing tools that can simulate real user workloads without affecting the servers being tested.

By following important guidelines organizations can make informed decisions about which testing tools to use, ensuring that their Citrix environment is stable, scalable, and ready for real-world usage.