Tag: license

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.

 

Access Gateway licensing demystified

Access Gateway discussed in this blog is the Access Gateway based on NetScaler, which is popularly referred to as Access Gateway Enterprise. Citrix has recently announced End of Life for all non-NetScaler based Access Gateway platforms, which then makes Enterprise edition, the de-facto Access Gateway.

In this blog, Prashant Batra will discuss the two license types used on your Access Gateway appliance, the two kinds of vServers you can set up to leverage these licenses to provide standard / advanced functionalities, and an example scenario towards the end, to help illustrate these concepts in a real scenario.

License Types

Access Gateway is licensed at two levels:

  • Platform License
  • Universal License

Platform Licenses

Every Access Gateway (VPX/MPX) comes with a Platform license, which enables all the basic functionality in Access Gateway. After purchasing an appliance, this license is automatically made available in your MyCitrix account, and can be easily downloaded and installed on your appliance.

Platform licenses can be used to provide seamless access to:

  • ICAProxy access to XenApp / XenDesktop, using Web Interface
  • ICAProxy access to XenApp / XenDesktop, using Storefront (CloudGateway Express)

Read the rest of Prashant Batra’s blog here on the Citrix blogs.

XenDesktop license models explained

There are two licensing models available for XenDesktop customers, User/Device and Concurrent.

User/Device Licenses

XenDesktop User/Device licenses provide customers with the maximum flexibility of assigning a single license to either a user or a device. and supports both license types in the same environment. The license server contains the intelligence to automatically assign these licenses to users or devices based on usage.

  • User licensing gives users access to their virtual desktops and apps from an unlimited number of devices.

Citrix Simple license server

Citrix has released version 1 of the simple License server.

You can download the Simple License server here (with a valid My Citrix ID).

About the Citrix Simple License Service 1.0.0.0

The Citrix Simple License Service enables you to allocate and install license files on a license server using a web page interface. This allows products using the Windows based license server to seamlessly allocate, download, and add licenses to their environment directly from the License Server instead of having to visit the My Citrix portal.
Install the Simple License Service on a license server and connect to it locally with the Start menu shortcut or remotely with the Simple License Service URL.

Requirements:

  • Install the Simple License Service on the license server on which you want to install licenses. To install licenses on another license server, install the Simple License Service on that license server or use My Citrix at http://citrix.com.
  • License Server 11.6.1 (build 10007) to 11.10 for Windows only (License Server VPX is not supported)
  • License Access Code supplied in email from Citrix
  • Supported Browsers:

LSQuery – License Server Data Collection Tool

 

LSQuery is used to collect, from the Citrix License Server, data necessary to assist in troubleshooting at the time of an issue.

CTX133160-1

Prerequisites

LSQuery can be run on any Citrix License Server for Windows v11.6.1 Build 10007 or later on one of the following Microsoft Windows platforms:

Continue reading “LSQuery – License Server Data Collection Tool”

Citrix License Server for Windows upgrade

Here’s a step by step upgrade guide for upgrading the Citrix License Server to version 11.10. This guide is written based on a Windows 2008 R2 server.

Go to the Citrix download page and logon with your Citrix ID and download the latest version of the installation files here.

Important: Before starting the upgrade it is always recommended that you have a backup of your license files and server. You can find the license files in the installation directory and then the “MyFiles” folder.

You can check which version of the License Server you have running now by starting the License Server webpage and going to the “Administration” button and logon. You now see the following screenshot (figure 1) which shows the version number.

upgrade LS01

Figure 1

Start the CTX_Licensing installer package on the License Server and select “Upgrade” (Figure 2).

Continue reading “Citrix License Server for Windows upgrade”

Access Gateway 10.0 build 54.6 Licensing issues

Access Gateway 10.0 build 54.6 disables all AG functionality if the hostname within the license file is anything other than “ns”. Note: This issue affects all Access Gateway 8.x and 9.x instances that upgrade to version 10.0 build 54.6.

Cause

The Access Gateway license file is locked to the hostname of the device, and at start up versions of Access Gateway, check for the existence of an appropriate license. If the licenses are found and are verified, the functionality is turned on. This applies to both the ICA Proxy capability of the Access Gateway platform licenses, as well as the advanced Access Gateway features turned on by the universal licenses.

Build 54.6 of 10.x (the first build of release 10.0) was found to have an issue with how the license files were parsed, which leads to all Access Gateway functionality being disabled. This is because the software is checking for the hostname “ns” within the license files, whereas in most production deployments the hostname of the device is always something that is environment specific, and is expected to match the hostname set for the device itself.

Resolution

Citrix is currently working on a new build of Access Gateway 10.0 with a fix to address this issue. Until then, do not upgrade Access Gateway 9.x instances or NetScalers to version 10.0 where the Access Gateway capability is used.

You can read the original post here.

Provisioned XenApp Servers do not Accept Connections

Provisioned XenApp servers do not accept connections when restarted while the license server is unavailable.

Requirements
  • Provisioned XenApp servers
  • XenApp 6.0
  • License Edition 11.9
Background

The license server cache file, MPS-WSXICA_MPS-WSXICA.ini, is saved in the %systemroot%Program FilesCitrix folder, which might be unavailable when the server image shuts down and Provisioned XenApp servers refuse to accept connections when they are restarted while the license server is unavailable.
Procedure
The following are the steps to complete the task:

Save the license server cache file in a shared network location – a location separate from the XenApp server image so that the file is available even when the server image shuts down.
If you save the file in a location away from the server image, you must set the following registry key to point to the cache file location:
Caution! This fix requires you to edit the registry. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Citrix cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Be sure to back up the registry before you edit it.” Continue reading “Provisioned XenApp Servers do not Accept Connections”

New documentation for Citrix Licensing 11.10 and Desktop Director 2.1

Citrix has released new documentation on License Server 11.10 and Desktop Director 2.1.

New documentation for Citrix Licensing version 11.10 can be found here.

New documentation for Citrix Desktop Director version 2.1 can be found here.

What’s new in Citrix Licensing version 11.10:

What’s New

License Server VPX. A self-contained Linux-based virtual appliance that allows you to easily deploy licensing in your Citrix environment. You can bring the appliance online by:

•Importing the appliance to your host or pool of hosts.

Continue reading “New documentation for Citrix Licensing 11.10 and Desktop Director 2.1”

Windows server 2008 Licensing and Virtual Machines

Hi guys,

Here’s some interesting information about licensing and moving virtual machine around in Hyper-V.

Windows Server 2008 Standard

So, say we’ve bought a copy of Windows Server 2008 Standard, and we install it on the Physical box below. Continue reading “Windows server 2008 Licensing and Virtual Machines”