Virtual Channel Insights for Scalable Session Analytics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network devices face challenges in providing real-time, scalable, and extensible insights for virtual session analytics due to the resource-intensive process of deep parsing virtualization protocols like Citrix ICA and HDX, which limits scalability and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a separate and independent App Flow Virtual Channel (VC) for transmitting insights between client-side and server-side agents, allowing for scalable and extensible processing without deep parsing, and supporting state transitions during network device failover and efficient identification of MSI HDX streams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network devices perform deep parsing of virtualization protocols (ICA, HDX) to gather insights, then comprehensive performance and user experience metrics can be obtained, but CPU resource consumption increases and scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the insights collection process by introducing intermediary agents (client-side agent and server-side agent) that collect and pre-process performance metrics locally. These agents gather insights from protocol streams without requiring the network device to perform deep parsing, thereby dividing the complex task of metrics collection into manageable portions performed at different system levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary agents as mediators between the protocol streams and the network device. These agents (client-side agent 502 and server-side agent 504) intercept and analyze protocol data locally, then provide processed insights to the network device through a virtual channel, eliminating the need for the network device to perform resource-intensive deep parsing while maintaining comprehensive metrics collection.
2Loss of information
If network devices perform deep parsing of virtualization protocols to obtain insights, then end-to-end performance data can be collected, but device complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary agents as mediators between the protocol streams and the network device. These agents (client-side agent 502 and server-side agent 504) intercept and analyze protocol data locally, then provide processed insights to the network device through a virtual channel, eliminating the need for the network device to perform resource-intensive deep parsing while maintaining comprehensive metrics collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the protocol data flow through the virtual channel 514. Instead of requiring the network device to parse complex virtualization protocols directly, the agents create processed copies of performance insights that traverse the network device in a simplified format, reducing parsing complexity while preserving essential performance information.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate App Flow Virtual Channel is established for insights transmission, then scalability and extensibility improve, but additional communication infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the virtual channel infrastructure multi-functional by designing it to handle both traditional protocol traffic and insights transmission simultaneously. The virtual channel 514 serves as a universal communication pathway that can carry various types of data (protocol streams, performance insights, control messages) between agents and network devices, eliminating the need for separate dedicated infrastructure for each function.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are systems and methods for providing insights or metrics in connection with provisioning applications and/or desktop sessions to end-users. Network devices (e.g., appliances, intermediary devices, gateways, proxy devices or middle-boxes) can gather insights such as network-level statistics. Additional insights (e.g., metadata and metrics) associated with virtual applications and virtual desktops can be gathered to provide administrators with comprehensive end-to-end real-time and/or historical reports of performance and end-user experience (UX) insights. Insights relating to an application or desktop session can be used to determine and/or improve the overall health of the infrastructure of the session, Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops, the applications (e.g., remote desktop application) being delivered using the infrastructure, and/or the corresponding user experience.