Month: October 2012

VDI-in-a-Box project Bermuda Tech Preview

Citrix has released the Tech Preview of Project Bermuda. This release delivers a simple, complete VDI solution with personalized and pooled desktops. It runs on latest Windows operating systems, supports latest hypervisors, and integrates  with your existing Citrix environment. Project Bermuda extends Citrix VDI-in-a-Box with several features:

  1. Support for Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V, enabling you to stay current with Windows Server technologies
  2. Deliver central storefront through Citrix Cloud Gateway, providing single point access to virtual desktops from any device
  3. Optimization pack for Microsoft Lync, offering unified communications platform for  high-definition user experience

Note: This software is not supported in a production environment

You can download the Tech Preview here. You require a valid MyCitrix ID to download this Tech Preview.

Flash 11.4 and ICA Client 12.3 update2

A few weeks ago Citrix has released an update for ICA Client 12.3.

While this update is to get Flash version 11.3 and 11.4 rendering again on the client be aware that when Internet Explorer 9 is used on the XenApp server the content will still be rendered on the server instead of the client. In the event logs on the XenApp server this message will be entered.

Continue reading “Flash 11.4 and ICA Client 12.3 update2”

Citrix XenClient 4.5 announcement and Tech Preview

At Synergy Citrix has announced the next release of XenClient Enterprise. Version 4.5 will be generally available in December of this year. But for those who can’t wait the Tech Preview is available for download now.

Here’s a little peak off the new features this version will have:

  • Broader hardware compatibility provides for support for the latest 3rd Generation Intel® Core™ processors including Ultrabooks. The current hardware compatibility list can be found here and will be updated when XenClient 4.5 becomes generally available.
  • XenClient Enterprise is now localized allowing end users around the globe to experience a more engaging and familiar experience when using the product. This release introduces client side support for French, Italian, German Spanish, Japanese and Simplified Chinese. The Synchronizer includes support for German and Simplified Chinese.  Citrix has seen tremendous traction with XenClient in international markets and this reaffirms our commitment to delivering capabilities our customers require to expand their use of the solution on a global basis.
  • VLAN tagging support enables administrators to extend the notion of virtual machine isolation by tagging and routing network traffic to specific virtual machines.  VLAN tagging policies are configured on the Synchronizer Continue reading “Citrix XenClient 4.5 announcement and Tech Preview”

RDP 8.0 update for Windows 7 SP1

Microsoft has released RDP version 8 to the web.

You can download and find installation instructions here.

Download the update today to make your Windows 7 SP1 virtual desktop WAN ready with RDP 8 and RemoteFX. Do make sure you download and install update 2574819 before installing the RDP 8.0 update. For further instructions, please refer to  KB2592687.

Not able to create file or folder on root of USB device

Today I was faced with the following issue.

In my XenApp 6.5 environment I wanted to create a folder in the root of my USB drive I connected to my client. The drive was redirected properly and without any issues. Problem however was that I was unable to create a new folder of file in the Windows Explorer view. I right clicked in the root of my USB drive but no option to create a new folder or file. Strangely enough I could copy paste a file or folder to the root of the drive. So no write protection set in place.

Here’s how my explorer looked like. Continue reading “Not able to create file or folder on root of USB device”

Beta hotfix rollup pack 2 for XenApp 6.0

Citrix has released the beta Hotfix Rollup Pack 2 for XenApp 6.0 for Windows 2008 R2. This HRP should NOT be installed on a production server at any time while uninstalling and upgrading from this prerelease is not supported. Citrix recommends that you rebuild your server before installing the final release and/or before upgrading to the next version of XenApp. This prerelease will not be supported once the official version is released.

Important: While this prerelease version has reached an acceptable level of quality and stability, it is still undergoing testing. Do not apply this prerelease to any live production servers or any servers connected to the production database. The contents of this prerelease are preliminary – Citrix reserves the right to omit fixes contained herein and to include additional fixes in the official, final release.

You can download the beta HRP02 here at the Citrix knowledge base website.

You can provide feedback, ask questions, and report problems by sending an email to hrpbetaissues@citrix.com during the testing of the beta. If you contact Citrix please include any supporting files, such as MSI logs, memory dumps, or screen captures, that may assist us in troubleshooting any issues you may encounter. It is always recommended you test new software in a near copy of your production environment. This way you (and Citrix in a way) will have the best chance to check whether the new HRP is working as it should in your environment.

How to generate diagnostic data for upload to Citrix Auto Support

In this post is already explained what Auto Support is and what it does. Well if you didn’t know how to collect the data needed to upload to Auto Support look no further. Here’s described what you need to do to get the correct data for uploading to Auto Support.

Did I mention that Auto support is THE greatest online support tool ever made? NO, well you need to read this post again :).

XenApp / Xen Desktop: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX130147

XenServer: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX125372

NetScaler: http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX127900

For XenApp & XenDesktop, you can upload the data to Auto Support directly from the Scout tool. For XenServer & Netscaler, simply save the Support Data bundle you generate, and then you can upload it via the Auto Support website.

As for most Citrix downloads and tools you need a My Citrix ID. If you do not have one, you can set one up for free at http://www.citrix.com/English/myCitrix/loginNewUser.asp

How to set a unique STA ID in XenApp 6.5 provisioned environment

In a XenApp 6.5 provisioned environment the STA (Secure Ticket Authority) ID is not unique. This is because when a XenApp 6.5 (provisioned) is rebooted the NIC (Network Interface Card) has not completely started and loaded and is not functional when the Citrix services start. Therefor the STA ID is not changed with the MAC Address of the provisioned server (as expected).

Resolution

Open the Target Device in Read/Write mode and change the startup type to Automatic (Delayed Start) for Citrix XML Service.

You can find the original KB article here.

Hotfixes GPMx170WX86001 and GPMx170WX64001 removed from distribution

Citrix has removed hotfixes GPMx170WX86001 and GPMx170WX64001 from their distribution because an incorrect package had been posted for download.

You need to upgrade to Hotfixes GPMx170WX86002 and GPMx170WX64002 asap as not all planned hotfixes made it in to the first hotfixes. If you have already installed Hotfixes GPMx170WX86001 and/or GPMx170WX64001, there is no need to uninstall those before installing the replacement hotfixes.

You can download the new hotfixes from these locations:

CTX135403 – LIMITED RELEASE – Hotfix GPMx170WX64002 – For Group Policy Management Console for Windows x64 – English

CTX135402 – LIMITED RELEASE – Hotfix GPMx170WX86002- For Group Policy Management Console for Windows x86 – English

Optimization Pack for Microsoft Lync v1.1

Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Microsoft Lync provides a highly scalable solution for delivering real-time audio-video conferencing and USB or VoIP enterprise telephony through Microsoft Lync in XenDesktop and XenApp environments. HDX RealTime Optimization Pack leverages your existing Lync infrastructure and inter-operates with other Lync endpoints running natively on devices.

HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Microsoft Lync consists of both client and server components:

  • The client component, called Citrix HDX RealTime Media Engine, is integrated with the Citrix Receiver on the endpoint device and performs all signaling and media processing directly on the user device itself, offloading the server for maximum scalability, minimizing network bandwidth consumption and ensuring optimal audio-video quality.
  • The server-side (and virtual desktop) component, Citrix HDX RealTime Connector for Microsoft Lync, is a connector to the Microsoft Lync client that drives the RealTime Media Engine on the endpoint. Connector runs in the virtual server environment alongside Microsoft Lync and communicates signaling information over a Citrix ICA virtual channel to the RealTime Media Engine running on the user device.

What’s New