Citrix XenApp DATASTORE

What is DATASTORE-

Data Store in Citrix is a storage used for storing static information of the farm. The data store provides a repository of persistent information about the farm that each server can reference.

The data store is the database where servers store farm static information, such as configuration information about published applications, users, printers, and servers. Each server farm has a single data store.

Datastore contains following objects (information)-

Farm configuration information

Published application configurations

Server configurations

Citrix administrator accounts

Printer configurations

Data Store Database

The following databases are supported for the XenApp ( 6.5 and above) data store:-

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 SP1 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 SP1 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP3 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP2 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP1 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 SP0 (x32, x64, and Express)

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP4 (x32 and x64)

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 SP3 (x32 and x64)

Oracle 11g R2 32-bit Enterprise Edition

Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Express can be deployed for you by the XenApp Server Configuration Tool when creating a XenApp farm.

How to find location of  IMA Data Store Database -

Examine the DSN file, which contains the connection details to the database.

32-bit Servers
C:\Program Files\Citrix\Independent Management Architecture\MF20.dsn

64-bit Servers
C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\Independent Management Architecture\MF20.dsn

The following is an example of an MF20.dsn file from a server using an Access data store on the local machine:

[ODBC]

DRIVER=Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)

PageTimeout=5

MaxBufferSize=2048

FIL=MS Access

DriverId=25

DBQ=C:\Program Files\Citrix\Independent Management Architecture\MF20.mdb

The following is an example of an MF20.dsn file from a server connecting to a remote SQL Server instance:

[ODBC]

DRIVER=SQL Server

UID=useraccount

Address=MySqlServer,1433

Network=DBMSSOCN

DATABASE=myfarmdb

WSID=MyMfServer

APP=Citrix IMA

SERVER=MySqlServer

In some cases, the DATABASE parameter might not be present in the DSN file. The default database of the specified user (UID) is the one being used for the data store. Open Properties of that user account in SQL Management Studio to identify the user’s default database assignment.
If the MF20.dsn file is not present on the server, the server is doing an indirect connection to the data store. The value of PSserver at the following registry key location shows the hostname of the server containing the DSN file:
Caution! Refer to the Disclaimer at the end of this article before using Registry Editor.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\IMA\
For Access data stores, only one server in the farm (the one hosting the data store) shows imaacces.dll under
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\IMA

Important: Ensure that the data store is backed up regularly. If the data store database is lost, you must recreate the farm. You cannot recreate the data store from an existing farm.