Pros and Cons of using SAPGUI with Citrix

I must install SAP client on a Terminal Server (with Citrix). I haven't got any problem with this because it is very easy.  Now the clients connect without problems, but on his window has a button that for me is an important problem: Local Configuration Tuning (sorry if is incorrectly translate from spanish). 

With this button, the users can change options that can cause problems in this environment. I need a way to eliminate this button and all things that could be important to get a best performance and eliminate errors. 

In any kind of IT installation, there will be its pros and cons. 

Citrix does work well, although it isn't perfect (but is any man-made application perfect?). 

There are good cost savings as well. I mean before Citrix we had laptops issued to each and every one of our 200 IT staff, so that they could work from home. Along with the laptops there was the usual costs from support, maintenance etc. 

Now all of them have a basic spec PC at home that has an ADSL connection right to the Citrix server farm. These cost savings are impressive in themselves but when coupled with the other advantages of Citrix - one upgrade point, dynamic load balancing , access to all information (including word documents, powerpoint presentations, pdfs) anywhere in Europe (just read the marketing blurb) etc. 

Of course if the Citrix farm goes down or gets corrupted, we're.....well, let's not talk about that... 

In summary, the following are the pros and cons of using SAPGUI with Citrix Metaframe:

Pros of Citrix 

  • You only need to load one copy of SAPGUI into the Citrix server. 
  • It save time and manpower during any SAPGUI upgrade as only one copy of SAPGUI need to be loaded on the Citrix server rather than having to un-install and install on every PC again and again.
  • The Citrix client will be loaded once on the PC of every user.
  • The PC resources required for using a Citrix SAPGUI is much lower than using the SAPGUI directly.
Cons of Citrix
  • You cannot control the Display options of the SAPGUI.  This means that if one user change the SAPGUI display options, for e.g. the fonts or color, it will affect all the Citrix SAPGUI users.
  • Users will not be able to access SAP if either the Citrx or SAP server is down, instead of just SAP if you are not using Citrix.  This should not be able major concern as most companies that deploy Citrix have a fall back Citrix server.  If one Citrx Server is down, it will auto switch to the other Citrx Server. 
  • Additional cost for purchasing the Citrix Server.
Therefore, whether to use a Citrix server for your SAPGUI will depends on the cost savings on manpower and time against loading the SAPGUI (or upgrading) one at at time. 

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