My Road To Citrix: The CCA Exam
My experience becoming a Citrix Certified Administrator for MetaFrame 1.8 (NT).
by Hinne Hettema
1/21/2001 --
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| Exam |
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Citrix MetaFrame 1.8 (NT), Exam #218 |
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| Vendor |
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Citrix |
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| Status |
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Live. |
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| Reviewer's Rating |
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“A fairly straightforward exam, which has a tendency to focus on details of the tools and user interface." |
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| Test Information |
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Non adaptive, 40 questions, $100 (U.S.) |
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| Who Should Take This Exam? |
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Citrix MetaFrame administrators, and MCSEs / MCPs with at least NT Server qualification. If thin client computing interests you, this is the one to do. |
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| What Classes Prepare You? |
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CTX 302.2 MetaFrame Administration |
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| Links |
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http://www.citrix.com/
training/cca_cert.htm will give you general information on the CCA program. http://www.citrix.com/
training/testing.htm. From this link, you can download the exam preparation guide in pdf format. |
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Had you asked me a year ago whether I would be interested in Citrix certification, my answer would most likely have been negative. Back then, I thought Citrix technology was some sort of interim technology, which mainly allowed companies to continue using antiquated hardware until such times as they had the money to buy a real machine.
I have to admit that my opinion was heavily influenced by the attempts at my previous employer to roll out an enterprise management system over Citrix under severe budgetary constraints. The results were not very pleasant: Overloaded MetaFrame servers, endless printing problems, a bewildering array of icons on user's desktops, and confusion and frustration all around.
Over the past year, three factors have made me review the decision with regard to Citrix, and eventually made me pursue the CCA certification.
- Microsoft made Terminal Server a part of the standard Windows 2000 Server operating system. The core of terminal server (which is called Multiwin technology) is licensed from Citrix, and Citrix has thus become much more important. (Note: Terminal Server is mainly used for remote administration and uses Microsoft's Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP). Remote use of applications is still better done using Citrix's Independent Computing Architecture (ICA) protocol. RDP only has clients on other Microsoft platforms, but you can get ICA clients for Linux, Macintosh, UNIX, DOS and Windows platforms. RDP and ICA are both presentation-layer protocols, which means they can run on a host of network protocols. RDP runs on TCP/IP only, but ICA can run on TCP/IP, IPX, SPX and asynchronous, to mention a few.)
- The growth in use of PDAs gives Citrix's vision of independent computing a new lease on life in the 'cool' market. Citrix is not just suitable to make your outdated hardware work (although it does a pretty good job of this), but it is also the technology of choice to get the most out of that nice new little gadget.
- The emerging application service provider (ASP) market which aims to provide applications over the Internet. The technology of choice for most ASP's is Citrix.
An earlier article on CertCities.com finally convinced me of the value of obtaining Citrix certification, pointing out both Citrix's contribution to Terminal Server and how Citrix has (to a large degree) maintained an identity and strong presence in the thin-client market. This article is well worth while reading if you intend to pursue Citrix certification.
All in all, a lot of strong reasons to pursue Citrix certification. As an added bonus, Terminal Server technology has, up to now, not been very strongly represented in the MCSE. The CCA exam fills this hole. If you want to show off a credential in thin-client computing, Citrix is the certification of choice. Below is my take on the CCA exam, the first level of Citrix certification.
Exam Basics
The exam, provided you know your materials, itself is quite straightforward. Citrix's exam preparation guide gives a good example of the types of questions to expect. The exam consists of 40 questions, and although the exam guide states that candidates outside of North America will have 90 minutes to complete the exam, my clock in New Zealand started ticking at 60. Most people, however, will be done well within this timeframe.
Questions vary between multiple choice with one answer, multiple choice with multiple answers, and answer questions where you have to type in a number. The multiple answer questions have the number of answers to choose displayed in the lower left corner of the screen. Don't miss this important piece of information.
You can register for the CCA exam through Prometric (http://www.2test.com).
(NOTE: You can also become a CCA by taking an exam for Citrix MetaFrame 1.0/1.1 Unix or Citrix WinFrame 1.8. However, this article deals with the most popular CCA track, the exam for Citrix MetaFrame 1.8 for NT.)
What To Know
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The exam really tests whether you know which tool to use in a given scenario.
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Understand NT policies and profiles and how they interact with MetaFrame
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Although it sounds silly, remember that users get a 'terminal' to the server and really do all the work on the server. Citrix calls this 'server based computing.' This influences the settings for security on the server.
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Download the exam preparation guide from Citrix's Web site (direct link in box, above) and look at the prep questions
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Don't get confused by the extensions implemented into Feature Release 1 of MetaFrame Stick to the objectives
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For the exam, 128-bit security is still restricted to the USA. In real life, export restrictions on 128-bit security have been lifted.
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The exam still tests on some relatively outdated modes for embedding and launching Web applications. In real life, you would use NFuse to do this.
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Know the ICA clients and its configurable options through and through
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Know how an ICA gateway is configured and what it is good for.
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Know how Load Balancing works.
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To be successful on the exam, you will need to know the differences between Citrix MetaFrame and Terminal Server, and, specifically, the ways in which MetaFrame enhances the capabilities of Terminal Server.
You also need to know some details (more or less up to MCP- or MCSE- level) about Windows NT, since part of the exam focuses on Terminal Server Edition, the 'core OS' of MetaFrame. MetaFrame is a special add-on to TSE which allows you to run the ICA protocol. As a consequence, the multi-user capabilities, as well as the authorization, are handled through NT (with technology licensed from Citrix). I found it quite useful to build (after the course) just a Terminal Server and have a look through the options. This will really help you to appreciate the differences between MetaFrame and TSE.
The ICA protocol is really where Citrix technology comes into its own. ICA will allow you to deliver an NT desktop to a large variety of clients. ICA is a presentation layer protocol which consumes between 10 to 20 Kbps of bandwidth and uses TCP port 1494 when run over TCP/IP. Packets only have to contain the 'command' data; all other fields are optional, but some will be activated when ICA runs over a different network protocol (IPX, for instance, will enable the use of the 'reliable' field).
Citrix administrators should become quite familiar with how to configure ICA clients. I found this to be one of the hardest parts of the exam. Part of my problem was that the client interface is quite simple and intuitive. Therefore, it's hard to remember what all the options are and where they are found -- in a simple interface there is simply no payoff for remembering this.
The exam will grill you about the configurable options of the client in some detail. The Win32 clients introduce a new feature called program neighborhood, which has a number of configurable options you'll have to know. It is also important to know the bandwidth consequences of some of your decisions -- sound, for instance.
You'll be expected to know the client in detail on the exam, and especially know which options are configured on the client and which on the server.
Another thing you'll have to know quite well is which tools on the server are used for which purpose. Any competent Citrix administrator should know the three main tools on the server are:
- Client Connection Configuration is, as a rule, used to configure connectivity options.
- Citrix Server Administration is a utility that allows you to display client information, log off and disconnect users, send messages, or configure ICA gateways to mention some. You have to know the tabs that show up when you select an option in the left hand pane -- ICS gateways, for instance, is only visible with the 'All Servers' selected in the right-hand pane.
- Published Application Manager is a tool to manage the published applications from the MetaFrame server. The Web connectivity is created here by the "ICA" button
Citrix also includes a feature called load-balancing (which has to be purchased separately). Load balancing in Citrix MetaFrame is simple: When a new connection is requested, one MetaFrame server (the Master Browser, not to be confused with NT's Master Browser) just shifts the connection to the MetaFrame server with the lowest user load. Load balancing does not provide failover -- if a MetaFrame server goes down, the connections to it are lost.
Finally, it is important to become very familiar with NT Performance monitor. In particular (and this can be a problem for seasoned Performance Monitor users) what performance measurements are reasonable and which ones indicate various upgrades. The fact that MetaFrame and TSE are multi-user operating systems changes some of the counters in important respects. Discover what these are before you sit for this exam.
Preparing for the CCA
I was lucky enough to attend the CTX 302.2 course, a three-day course offered by Citrix that focuses on MetaFrame administration. Without the course materials, preparation could be a bit of a struggle. The course itself is of course walks you through the materials and a good trainer will be able to give you valuable exam tips. You will need these since Citrix certifications are not (as yet) very popular, and there is little in the way of study guides, practice exams and online study groups to help you on the way.
The course is focused on implementing Citrix MetaFrame on NT4 Terminal Server Edition (TSE), but my course pack contained a dandily little extension that details the changes that will be made to the MetaFrame for Windows 2000 course. MetaFrame on NT4 TSE is very similar to MetaFrame on Windows 2000, and Citrix does not currently require current CCAs to recertify on Windows 2000 technology. In fact, the Windows 2000 exam for MetaFrame is not yet out. (This is less of a problem than it seems. MetaFrame 1.8 runs atop NT4 Terminal Server Edition. In Windows 2000, Terminal Services are a part of the operating system. A lot of the new things you need to know about for Windows 2000 were already part of TSE. MetaFrame 1.8 for Windows 2000, although a separate product, has changed very little. There are quite a number of changes, of course, in the server installation (not the MetaFrame installation) and user authentication side of things.)
If the course is not a possibility, there is Citrix's Web site to help you. The Citrix Developer Network (http://www.citrix.com/cdn) is an excellent place to start. CDN allows for downloads of software, manuals and technical whitepapers -- just what the doctor ordered. It can be confusing, however, that a lot of Citrix's newer technologies, such as those in Feature Release 1 of MetaFrame, are not exam material, and can even lead you to answer questions wrongly.
The CCA Cramsession on BrainBuzz (http://www.brainbuzz.com) is also quite good. This site will also give you specific exam information. However, to find in-depth, valuable Citrix information outside of Citrix's Web site, you have to look for the sites of the real aficionados. Fortunately, there are a number of those.
The Citrix hardcore tech page (http://www.xs4all.nl/~soundtcr/index.html) is one of the best. It collects a wealth of information for the certification as well as the day to day management of a MetaFrame server. The site itself is mainly a collection of links, but it is a great place to start looking for specific and detailed information. The CCA heaven site (http://www.ccaheaven.com) is more focused on the exam, and contains links to some books that can help you.
Citrix certification is not (yet) very popular and the only commercial study guide for the CCA exam currently available is CCA Citrix Certified Administrator for MetaFrame 1.8 by Thomas Eck (Syngress, 2000). The main benefit of this guide is the practice exam which comes in the enclosed CD. This book would also be a good self-study source, when augmented with the materials mentioned above.
CCA and Beyond
It seems that Citrix takes a low-profile approach to its certification program. In fact, 'training and certification' is a modest little link almost all the way down on the right-hand side of Citrix's home page. Following this link leads you off into Citrix certification programs and to the exam preparation guide referred to above.
The main Citrix certification is the CCA. But for those who want to continue down the Citrix certification track, there is a higher level of certification, the CCEA which also includes many of Citrix newer technologies, such as Fuse. It seems to be much harder to find courses for these, and for many candidates self study will be the only available option.
I really hope Citrix will do some more work in the area of making these courses more available -- either through its network of Citrix Authorized Learning Centers or perhaps by making study materials available as PD's on their We site. For the CCEA, there are no outside vendors providing study materials.
The CCA is a very interesting and valuable addition to an NT Server MCP or MCSE qualification. I would really advise prospective candidates to do these certifications first, since the CCA requires in depth knowledge of NT server at various points, and really extends the Microsoft exams in the area where Citrix matters: thin client computing.
Good Luck! 
Have you taken this exam? How difficult was it? Rate it below or discuss it in our Forums.
Hinne Hettema works for a large computing outsourcing firm in Auckland, New Zealand, specialising in the area of Application Service Providers. He is Microsoft (MCSE NT4 and W2K), Citrix (CCA) and Cisco (CCNP) certified and has a PhD in computational chemistry and an MA in philosophy. He lives in a 1930s villa on the edge of the Manukau harbour with his wife, daughter and three cats, as well as numerous computers. He is also the editor of 'Quantum Chemistry: Classic Scientific Papers' (World Scientific, Singapore 2000). He can be reached at and likes to receive email.
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