CloudGateway Enterprise

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Access Gateway, Merchandise, Netscaler, Receiver, Reciever, XenApp, XenDesktop, XenServer

Citrix have released CloudGateway Enterprise for web.

About CloudGateway Enterprise

CloudGateway Enterprise is designed to offer a single point of control for enterprise delivery of Windows, Web and SaaS applications, with a seamless end-user experience across the various Receiver variants. CloudGateway Enterprise comprises of three key components:

  1. StoreFront services- The Windows component allowing the various Citrix Receivers to connect to the enterprise store, and deliver Windows, Web and SaaS applications to users, with a follow-me subscription and launch experience.
  2. AppController- A linux based virtual machine available for both XenServer and vmware based hosts, providing the central administrative point for configuration of all enterprise Web and SaaS applications, to be delivered to end users, with a single sign-on federation and consolidated provisioning capabilities
  3. Gateway services – Delivered through the Access Gateway component, either standalone, or as a feature of the NetScaler MPX, VPX and SDX platforms.

Note that CloudGateway Enterprise provides the license entitlement for the Access Gateway universal licenses, but the actual AG physical or virtual appliances actually needed to deploy this functionality, will need to be procured independently

In addition to the above components CloudGateway Enterprise will also consist of regular AppConnector update packs, which will include new connectors for applications, that will keep increasing the number of applications supported for both federation and user account provisioning support within the AppController.

Source

Download Citrix CloudGateway Enterprise here

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StoreFront Services 1.0 aka CloudGateway Express

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Citrix, CloudGateway, Reciever, StoreFront Services, XenApp, XenDesktop

Citrix CloudGateway Express aka StoreFront Services 1.0 is released to web.

Citrix have again confussed people about naming their products and the StoreFront Services 1.0 is CloudGateway Express. And if you go under Citrix.com and choose to download CloudGateway Express you can download StoreFront Services =O) does it make sense… hope so.

About Receiver Storefront

Receiver Storefront consists of services that provide authentication and resource delivery infrastructure for Citrix Receiver:

  • The Receiver Storefront authentication service authenticates users to XenDesktop sites, XenApp farms, and AppController. Once a user’s credentials have been validated, the authentication service handles all subsequent interactions to ensure that the user only needs to log on once.
  • Receiver Storefront stores enumerate and aggregate the desktops and applications currently available from XenDesktop sites, XenApp farms, and AppController. Users access stores through Citrix Receiver or a Receiver for Web site.
  • Receiver for Web sites enable users to access Receiver Storefront stores through a Web page. To access their desktops and applications, users require a compatible version of Citrix Receiver. For users running Windows or Mac OS X, Receiver for Web sites attempt to determine whether Citrix Receiver is installed and, if a suitable client cannot be detected, users are offered the opportunity to download and install Citrix Receiver.
  • The Receiver Storefront database records details of users’ resource subscriptions, plus associated shortcut names and locations. When a user accesses a store with application synchronization enabled, the subscribed desktops and applications on the user device are automatically reconfigured so that the configuration is the same as that stored in the Receiver Storefront database.

You manage the Receiver Storefront components with the Citrix Receiver Storefront management console. If you want to perform certain advanced administration tasks, you may also need to edit the Receiver Storefront configuration files.

Receiver Storefront Features

High availability. You can group your Receiver Storefront servers for increased scalability and fault tolerance. For more information, see Planning Your Receiver Storefront Deployment.

Receiver for Web sites. In addition to accessing Receiver Storefront stores within Citrix Receiver, users can also access stores through Web pages. For more information, see To create a Receiver for Web site.

Pass-through authentication. Receiver Storefront supports both pass-through of domain credentials from users’ devices and pass-through authentication from Access Gateway. For more information, see Planning Your Receiver Storefront Deployment.

Application synchronization. Subscribed desktops and applications follow users from device to device so that they do not need to subscribe to the same resources each time they use a different device. For more information, see Planning Your Receiver Storefront Deployment.

Automatically provisioned applications. You can automatically subscribe all users to a core set of applications. For more information, see Integrating Receiver Storefront into Your Environment.

One-click client configuration. You can configure Citrix Receiver for your users by making provisioning files available. For more information, see Configuring Stores.

Source

Download Citrix StoreFront Services 1.0 here - Require MyCitrix ID

More info about Citrix StoreFront Services 1.0 http://support.citrix.com/proddocs/topic/dws-storefront-10/dws-version-wrapper.html

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How to get receiver with desired screen resolution or multiple screens to work with #Citrix Xendesktop 5.5 #HDX3D Pro

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in HDX3D Pro, Reciever, XenDesktop, XenServer

My knowledge with Citrix XenDesktop 4/5.5 HDX 3D Pro and Multiple screens, desired resolution.

I was about to write an article about how to configure a desired screen resolution or if you have multiple screens and you wanted this to work, when you connect your Citrix Receiver to your Citrix XenDesktop 5.5 HDX 3D Pro Virtual Desktop. Citrix support have been so kind and created this knowledge article on how to configure a desired screen resolution or if you have multiple screens.

I have been aware of this solution since Citrix XenDesktop 5.5 HDX 3D Pro was released but i havent shared this with you, sorry for the delay.

But i will share some thoughts that you should be aware of, my knowledge is based from field experience with HDX 3D Pro.

Hint 1:
I recommend that you export EDID informations from the endpoint device that you use Citrix Receiver to connect to your Citrix XenDesktop 5.5 HDX 3D Pro VDI.
This EDID file is the one you apply on your host machine where Citrix VDA 5.5 is installed with HDX 3D Pro.

If your end device have 2 Monitors where 1 is DVI input and the other is VGA input. I recommend that you take the best input (DVI) export the EDID and import this file on the VGA monitor on the end device and then you import the EDID configuration on the host machine where  Citrix VDA 5.5 is installed with HDX 3D Pro.

Hint 2:
If you experience issues with mouse cursor is not in sync on the session after you have imported the EDID file(s) i recommend that you disconnect the HDX session and reconnect to get the new screen informations that you have applied with EDID configuration.

Hint 3:
You should be aware that when you create virtual screens with EDID and attach multiple screens the user consumes more bandwidth. This is also the behavior with a higher screen resolution.

Hint 4:
You can use EDID fix with Citrix XenDesktop 4 HDX 3D Pro =O) it works with Windows 7 / Windows XP

How to Get the Desired Desktop Resolution and Configure Multi-Monitor in case of HDX 3D Pro Enabled Desktop in XenDesktop 5.5

Summary

This article describes how to get the desired desktop resolution and configure Multi-monitor in case of HDX 3D Pro enabled Desktop in XenDesktop 5.5.

Supported Desktop Resolution with HDX 3D Pro in XenDesktop 5.5

  • While connecting the client requests desktop with certain size (resolution ex. 1920×1200), which should be supported by the GPU on server (VDA) and by the monitor attached to the VDA. If there is no monitor attached on VDA, then it should be present in the set of resolutions supported by the GPU. If the matching resolution is found, then the desktop with that resolution is given, else the desktop with the nearest supported resolution is given.
  • In some cases the use case might require a specific desktop resolution, for example 1440×900, which is not available at the VDA side then it can be added as a custom resolution in the GPU control panel on VDA. If the GPU on the VDA accepts this custom resolution then it is available for the next connection.
  • Changing the desktop resolution within the session is not supported. If the resolution change is required then following procedure should be used:
  • If the desktop is in full screen mode then change the client local screen resolution, disconnect and reconnect.
  • If the desktop is in windowed mode then resize the desktop window to the desired size, disconnect and reconnect to get the desired desktop resolution.

Multi-Monitor Configuration

It is important to note that for HDX 3D Pro in multi-monitor case, the following condition should be satisfied:
  • Number of Monitors on VDA >= No of monitors on client
    So for dual monitor desktop, VDA should have two or more monitors attached.
    These monitors can be physical or virtual. The virtual monitors can be configured in NVIDIA control panel for Quadro and Quadro FX cards using forced Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) option.
  • On first connection, the desktop might be displayed in the single monitor mode only. To get true multi-monitor desktop, move the desktop window across 2 monitors on client and maximize the desktop using desktop viewer toolbar at the top so that it spans across two monitors. Now disconnect and reconnect the desktop. On reconnect, the desktop displays in true multi-monitor mode.

Configuring Virtual Monitors

Virtual monitors can be configured for VDA on physical machine with NVIDIA GPU and for Virtual Machine on XenServer 6 with NVIDIA GPU assigned to it. Following procedure explains how to add multiple virtual monitors:

Step 1: Getting Monitor EDID Files

Complete the following procedure to get Monitor EDID file:

  • Exporting EDID from NVIDIA control panel:
  • Attach the desired monitor to the GPU for which the EDID file is required.
  • Install the latest NVIDIA driver and restart.
  • Right-click on the desktop and select NVIDIA Control Panel, as displayed in the following screen shot:

  • Under Display, select Run multiple display wizard.
    Note    : Select this option only when View system topology is not seen.
  • Select View system topology from Workstation, , as displayed in the following screen shot:

  • Select active Monitor, as displayed in the following screen shot:

  • Clicking on the active Monitor displays the following screen:

  • Click Export EDID.
  • Save the Monitor EDID information in the text format, as displayed in the following screen shot:

Note: In some cases, the EDID file exported from monitor connected using DVI connector can be used only for DVI ports to create virtual monitors. Same applies for other ports, for example the Display port. So it is recommended to use the matching EDID file only.

  • Creating custom Monitor EDID file
Some EDID tools available can be used to create the custom EDID files, which can be imported in the GPU control panel on VDA to create virtual monitors.
  • Download EDID files

These EDID files are created for the following specifications:

Monitor: HP LP2475w

GPU: NVIDIA Quadro 5000

Maximum Resolution: 1920×1200

Refresh rate: 60 Hz

If the requirement is similar to the preceding requirement then the following EDID files can be directly used:

 

Step 2: Importing EDID File to Create Virtual Monitor

Once the EDID file is available, it can be used to create the virtual monitors.

Complete the following procedure to import the EDID file in the NVIDIA control panel:

  • Right-click on the desktop and open NVIDIA Control Panel.
  • Select View system topology from Workstation
  • Now click on the monitor that is in Not Connected state, as displayed in the following screen shot:

  • Ensure to choose the appropriate Connector type, as displayed in the following screen shot:

  • Click Load EDID and select the appropriate EDID file, as displayed in the following screen shot:

  • Once the EDID loading is successful, the following message is displayed:
Monitor_EDID.txt EDID successfully loaded.

7. Click OK
8. After the virtual monitors are configured using the Forced EDID, the final status is as displayed in the following screen shot:

Note: This way by creating virtual monitors on VDA (Physical Machine or Virtual Machine), HDX 3D Pro desktop can be used in multi-monitor mode.

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Citrix Merchandising Server 2.2

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Merchandise, Offline plug-in, Online-plugin, Receiver, Reciever, VMware, XenServer

Citrix have released a new version of Merchandising Server to XenServer and VmWare

What’s New

Merchandising Server 2.2 provides the following enhancements:

  • Support for 2048-bit or greater key size SSL certificates.
  • Support for Citrix Receiver on Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.
  • Support for LDAPS.
  • Increased security. Merchandising Server now uses Apache Tomcat 6.0.32, Apache HTTP Server 2.2.17, and OpenSSL 1.0.0d.

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Citrix Offline Plug-in 6.5

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in App Streaming, Offline plug-in

Citrix have released Offline Plug-in 6.5 for web

New Features in This Release

In addition to improved application compatibility on Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 and Windows 7 SP1, the 6.5 release provides the following enhancements for application streaming:

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Online Plug-in 12.1.44 for Windows with Internet Explorer 9 Support

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Online-plugin, Reciever

Citrix have released a new version of Online Plug-in for windows that support IE9.

This plug-in is supported on Windows 7, XP, Vista, 2003, & 2008.

Use the Citrix Online plug-in to access your hosted applications or virtual desktop.

This hotfix adds support for launching applications from the Web Interface using Windows Internet Explorer 9. With earlier versions of the plug-in,
attempts to launch applications from the Web Interface using Windows Internet Explorer 9 fail with a sharing violation. If you are not affected by this issue
in your organization, there is no benefit to installing this hotfix.

Download here

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Communication Ports Used by Citrix Technologies *updated

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Access Gateway, App Streaming, Branch Repeater, Citrix, Dazzle, Delivery Services, Edgesight, HDX, HDX3D Pro, Merchandise, Netscaler, Provisioning, Receiver, Reciever, Synchronizer, Webinterface, Whitepapers, Workflow Studio, XenApp, XenClient, XenConvert, XenDesktop, XenServer, XenVault

Fred Donovan from Citrix have updated the whitepaper - Communication Ports Used by Citrix Technologies to version 1.5 (April 2011)

Overview

This document provides an overview of ports that are used by Citrix components and must be considered as part of Virtual Computing architecture, especially if communication traffic traverses network components such as firewalls or proxy servers, where ports must be opened to ensure communication flow.

References

The assignments are listed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), updated regularly, and revised when new information is available and new assignments are made. The specific location of the port numbers list is available at the following Web site: http://www.iana.org/assignments/port-numbers.

Microsoft Article “Network Ports Used by Key Microsoft Server Products”.

Microsoft Article ID 832017 “Service overview and network port requirements for the Windows Server system”.

Download WhitePaper - Communication Ports Used by Citrix Technologies here

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Simplicity is Power

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Access Gateway, App Streaming, Branch Repeater, Citrix, HDX, HDX3D Pro, Merchandise, Netscaler, Provisioning, XenApp, XenClient, XenDesktop, XenServer

I have noticed today that Citrix have updated their webpage, and i noticed a cool new Citrix Advertise “Work on anywhere, On any device, thats the power of virtual computing” yes this is the topics we se over and over at the Citrix Synergy events ;o).

I recommend you look at this cool webpage, where Citrix explains what Virtual Computing, Virtual Desktop, High-Definition Desktop, Virtual Servers and Networking means to them and how Citrix can solve these things.

look more at http://simplicityispower.citrix.com/

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SMS PASSCODE supports CSG, CAG5, CAGE with receiver 4.2.x on iOS devices(Iphone,Ipad)

Written by Thomas Poppelgaard. Posted in Access Gateway, Netscaler, Reciever, SMS Passcode, XenApp, XenDesktop

Citrix released Citrix Receiver 4.2.x for Apple iOS devices (Iphone,Ipad) in December 2010. The big news in version 4.2.x was that it supports Webinterface, so you could make access your Citrix XenApp,XenDesktop by authenticating  on the Webinterface. In earlier version 4.0.1 it didnt support Webinterface, so the only way to provide a secure two factor authentication solution with SMS PASSCODE access to your Citrix infrastructure from your Apple Iphone,Ipad device well you had to buy a Citrix Netscaler (CAGE). SMS PASSCODE supports authentication with Citrix CSG, CAG5 (Access Gateway 5), CAGE (Netscaler) with Citrix Receiver 4.2.x for Apple iOS devices.

See the belowed chart to get an overview of support

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Thomas Poppelgaard

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Hi Youngtech

Citrix have created this knowledge article http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX131993

So i would say yes there is support from Citrix now, i still have people telling me that if you turn on “Interrupt safe mode” then the issue is still there and vSphere 5 doesn’t work with Citrix Provisioning Server 6

Dane Young

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Thomas,

Did Citrix actually make a statement that this is supported now? Send me a DM on Twitter @youngtech if you don’t mind. I’m very curious if Citrix is now supporting PVS w/vSphere 5.

Thanks!
–youngtech

Ro

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Sorry, not to nag, but it’s called Apple iOS, or just iOS. Not Mac iOS. OS X is often called Mac OS X.

Thanks for a great blog. It’s a great resource to keep up with the virtualization world.

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