XenApp 6.5 Migration to XenApp/XenDesktop 7.15 LTSR

Here are the recommendations from Citrix to migrate XenApp 6.5 farms to XenApp/XenDesktop 7.15 LTSR. I too recommend this and followed it..

XenApp 6.5 migration

In Place Upgrade of VDAs:

The XenApp 6.5 migration process helps you more efficiently and quickly transition from a XenApp 6.5 farm to a Site running XenApp 7.15 LTSR (or a later supported release). This is helpful in deployments that contain large numbers of applications and Citrix group policies, lowering the risk of inadvertently introducing errors when manually moving applications and Citrix group policies to the new XenApp Site.

After you install the XenApp 7.15 LTSR core components and create a Site, the migration process follows this sequence:

• Run the XenApp 7.15 installer on each XenApp 6.5 worker, which automatically upgrades it to a new Virtual Delivery Agent for Server OS for use in the new Site.
• Run PowerShell export cmdlets on a XenApp 6.5 controller, which exports application and Citrix policy settings to XML files.
• Edit the XML files, if desired, to refine what you want to import to the new Site. By tailoring the files, you can import policy and application settings into your XenApp 7.15 LTSR Site in stages: some now and others later.
• Run PowerShell import cmdlets on the new XenApp 7.15 Controller, which import settings from the XML files to the new XenApp Site.

Reconfigure the new Site as needed, and then test it.

Here you are going to transfer application glitches or bugs from previous farm.

https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/xenapp-and-xendesktop/7-15-ltsr/upgrade-migrate/xenapp-worker-upgrade.html


Parallel migration:

Build new farm using XenApp/XenDesktop 7.15 LTSR with new site and controllers. Create Machine catalogs, Delivery groups and application groups for new farm. Upgrade license server /or install a new license server to cater licenses to new farm.

New two farms are up and running. Follow the application migration life cycle to migrate apps from legacy farm to new farm.

I prefer Parallel migration as such there is no downtime for business. Applications can be migrated cleanly by this method.

Have a nice day!