Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

Centralized AOT Log Server

Centralized log server

The AOT Log Server acts as a centralized destination for collecting and storing Always On Tracing (AOT) logs from various Citrix components. It is containerized using Docker technology and is preferably deployed on Linux, though it also supports Windows environments via Docker Desktop.

Key Features of the AOT Log Server

  • Centralized Log Storage: Aggregates diagnostic logs from multiple Citrix components into a unified and searchable location.

  • Retention Policy: Logs are retained based on a configurable policy (default: 7 days) to optimize storage usage and performance.

  • Deployment: The Log Server is deployed using packaged installer scripts and Docker containers. The setup requires compatible hardware and a Docker runtime environment.

  • Secure Log Access: Logs can be retrieved using CLI tools included with the Log Server. All access requires proper authentication to ensure security and compliance.

  • Integration with Citrix Core Components: The AOT Telemetry Service is embedded within core Citrix components, enabling them to act as log generators. Telemetry Service ensures seamless and automated log capture across these components, enabling consistent diagnostic visibility throughout the Citrix infrastructure.

AOT Log Server Deployment and Configuration

AOT Prerequisites

The AOT Log Server is deployed using Docker container technology. Linux is the preferred operating system, though it can also be installed on Windows using Docker Desktop.

Linux

  • Supported OS: Ubuntu 24.04, Ubuntu 22.04 and RHEL 8.10, 9.4 with Docker installed.
  • Hardware requirements: Minimum 4 cores CPU, 16 GB RAM, and 500 GB free disk space.
  • Software Requirements: Install Docker Engine for Linux or Docker Desktop for Linux.
  • User permissions: Ensure the user can start Docker without requiring root.

Windows

  • Supported OS: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows Server 2022 and Windows Server 2025. For Azure VMs see recommendations here.
  • Hardware requirements: Minimum 8 cores, 24 GB RAM, and 500 GB free disk space.
  • Software requirements: Install Docker Desktop (subscription may be required) for Windows.
    • WSL version 2.1.5 or later is required.
    • Enable Hyper-V and Containers Windows features.
Centralized AOT Log Server