Citrix and Server 2012 legal notice scrollbar

If you have a Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop 7.x environment and enabled the legal notice and you are seeing the legal notice being displayed in a window with scrollbars here’s the solution.

On the XenApp/XenDesktop machines add these registry keys: Continue reading “Citrix and Server 2012 legal notice scrollbar”

XenDesktop/XenApp 7.6 VDA agent exclude options

When you want to install the bare essentials of the XenDesktop/XenApp 7.6 Virtual Desktop Agent you can use the command line switch /EXLCUDE to install only the bare minimum of the VDA agent.

The following KB article lists the 4 components which can be excluded using the XenDesktopVDASetup.exe /EXCLUDE command.
Continue reading “XenDesktop/XenApp 7.6 VDA agent exclude options”

XenDesktop and XenApp 7.6 feature overview

With the upcoming release of XenDesktop/XenApp 7.6 Citrix has released an overview of the features available per license model:

 

Meet the demands of any use case

XenApp Advanced XenApp Enterprise XenApp Platinum XenDesktop VDI XenDesktop Enterprise XenDesktop Platinum
XenApp published apps (Server-based hosted apps) can be deployed on 5 generations of Windows operating systems, enabling secure access to Windows apps on any type of device including iOS, Android, Mac and Windows devices for on-demand access from anywhere, lets users focus on work.
XenApp published desktops are low-cost, locked-down virtual desktops that provide the flexibility and mobility benefits of desktop virtualization while maximizing IT control through enhanced security and simplified management.
VDI desktops offer maximum user personalization of a persistent Windows virtual desktop that can be fully customized to meet the needs of your most-demanding users.
VDI with Personal vDisk pairs the maximum user personalization benefits of VDI with the storage optimizations and administrative efficiencies of single image management to deliver a desktop virtualization solution that meets the needs of both users and IT admins.
Server VDI enables enterprises and service providers the ability to deliver to an individual user a single session, server-based virtual desktop from the cloud.
Hosted physical desktops enable high performance remote access to physical desktops securely protected in the datacenter for optimal data protection, especially beneficial for graphically intensive applications that run best on a native OS that has direct access to the physical desktop hardware.
Remote PC Access (with Wake On LAN) instantly delivers desktop virtualization benefits without the need to migrate desktops to the datacenter by providing users with a secure, high-definition, direct connections to their office PCs.
Offline client virtualization (XenClient Enterprise)extends the benefits of desktop virtualization to people who need to work from anywhere including offline, by enabling them to work in a disconnected state thereby extending use case flexibility.
DesktopPlayer for Mac (Add-on*) extends the benefits of XenDesktop to MacBook users, enabling them to run Windows desktops on a Mac whether they are online, offline, or even experiencing a slow or intermittent network connection. End users gain freedom while IT gains control by centrally managing Windows virtual desktops deployed to corporate and BYO MacBooks.

*Add-on purchase required

VM hosted apps ease Windows OS transitions and overcome application compatibility challenges in a multi-user, server environment.
Pre-launch technology creates a local-like app launch experience by expediting the session creation process.  With pre-launch, a session waits for the user in an active or disconnected state, enabling quick, instant-on app access to an already active app session making for a fast and local-like app launch experience.  Pre-launch configurations have been improved on the FMA platform, making it simple to configure from the Citrix Studio management console.

Available with Receiver for Windows.

*Feature of XenApp

Session linger keeps the user session open after the user closes the app, to provide a quick app reconnect or enable the user to open a new app without repeating the logon process. Admin-configurable time-based policy automatically releases a license consumed by a pre-launched and lingering session to improve license management.

Available on all Citrix Receivers

*Feature of XenApp

Unauthernticated user (anonymous logon) enables administrators to authenticate users at the applications. Employees get instant, unauthenticated access to a single app while access to other, more personalized apps such as email remains authenticated.
Support for USB 3.0 devices with automatic drive mapping and redirection provide users a plug-n-play capability with the latest web cams, microphones, headsets and other peripherals to enhance the user experience within published app sessions.

For more comparison tables check out this link.

 

Hotfixes Update 5 released for XenDesktop 5.6 Controller

Citrix has released update 5 for the XenDesktop 5.6 Controller software.

Fixed with this update:

  • This update is intended to be applied only by customers who require Federal Information Processing Standards compliant encryption. This update supports end-to-end TLS encryption of HDX communications in a XenDesktop 5.6 environment.

    [From XD560BrokerSvcWX86005]<cat_security_issues>[#LA3873]

Download:

You can download and read more about installing and uninstalling this update at the following locations.

XenDesktop 7 Features and Entitlements

Citrix has released a cool overview about the features and entitlements around the new XenDesktop 7 version which is going to be released.

Windows apps and desktops anywhere

Check the other matrix overviews here at the Citrix webpage.

A script on this page is causing your web browser to run slowly

In Desktop Director, the following message is displayed in Internet Explorer: “Stop running this script? A script on this page is causing your web browser to run slowly. If it continues to run, your computer might become unresponsive.” Note: This can occur when you have an unusually high number of Desktop Groups created.

Cause

When running scripts in Internet Explorer, the default threshold limit for the time-out dialog box (containing the message under Symptom) is 5,000,000 script statements for Internet Explorer 4 and later.

Resolution Continue reading “A script on this page is causing your web browser to run slowly”

Personal vDisk 5.6.13 released

Citrix has released a new version of the Personal vDisk. Version 5.6.13 has the following new features:

Personal vDisk v5.6.13 is the latest release which includes a redesigned filter driver that improves overall application compatibility. PvD no longer requires an assigned drive letter for the app space (currently the V: drive) and offers dynamic free space balance between the apps and profile space on the user’s personal vDisk. This release contains the reduction in the PvD generated CPU overhead by 44%.

Review the Citrix Personal vDisk Administrator’s Guide. This document contains information on the release, system requirements, and install instructions. For more configuration details, please refer to Citrix eDocs.

You can download this new version here at the Citrix downloads section (a valid My CitrixID is required).

Hotfixes Update 4 for Citrix XenDesktop 5.6 Controller

Citrix has released 1 update (X86 and X64) called Update 4 for XenDesktop 5.6 Controller side.

Fixed in this release:

Installing, Uninstalling, Upgrading

  1. Installing Hotfix XD560MISvcWX64003 on Desktop Delivery Controllers in a site with failed provisioning workflows can prevent the Machine Identity Service from starting.

    [From XD560ADIDSvcWX64004, XD560ConfSvcWX64004, XD560HostSvcWX64004, XD560MISvcWX64004]<cat_install>[#LA3556]

Server/Site Administration Continue reading “Hotfixes Update 4 for Citrix XenDesktop 5.6 Controller”

Overview of often overlooked or misconfigured settings to improve graphics performance

Throughout the life of XenApp and XenDesktop, the combination of many factors such as the architecture of the base operating system, graphics device drivers and network bandwidth have been a determining factor in the overall end-user experience from a graphics quality standpoint. Citrix’s HDX protocol has made many enhancements in this area using such technologies as advanced compression methods and features such as Progressive Display and Adaptive Display. In addition, many HDX features (for example HDX MediaStream, HDX RichGraphics, HDX Optimization Pack for Google Earth) are provided to enhance the experience with certain types of content by offloading certain processes onto the client endpoint when possible.

However, because of limitations in current technologies, many Citrix environments do hit certain points where customers must make some amount of trade-off between end user-experience and session performance. The most prevalent example of this is improving session performance over lower bandwidth/WAN connections by reducing graphics quality using image compression. As Citrix continues to make further innovations in this area, there are some features added within the existing product versions that are often overlooked or misconfigured that can greatly improve current graphics related performance in certain environments. For example, some settings within an environment can be tweaked to try and avoid screen refresh issues sometimes seen with certain types of applications, or with scrolling issues that have also been reported amongst customers in the past. This article serves to point out some of these overlooked or misconfigured settings. Continue reading “Overview of often overlooked or misconfigured settings to improve graphics performance”