Citrix Access via Chrome is Broken

Purpose:
This post explains Google Chrome functionality that can negatively impact the access to any Citrix environment.

Symptom:
After clicking on a published application or desktop icon in StoreFront using Chrome--nothing happens.

or

After logging on to StoreFront using Chrome, it never thinks Citrix Receiver is installed and offers it to me to download before I get to see my icons.

or

You have a warning to, "Unblock the Citrix plug-in".

Resolution:
1) Re-enable the plugin using CTX137141.  This workaround will end in November 2015 when Google permanently disables NPAPI.
2) Customize StoreFront to remove the prompt to download Receiver with customized code.
3) Customize StoreFront with a link to download Receiver with customized code.
4) Enable a user setting to always open .ica files using CTX136578.
5) Use another browser not affected by the Chrome changes


Cause:
Back in November 2014, Google announced it will remove NPAPI support from Chrome.  They are making this change to, "improve security, speed, and stability" of the browser.   In April 2105, they will changing Chrome's default settings to disable NPAPI before removing it entirely in September of 2015.

What does this mean for my Citrix users who use Chrome?

Receiver detection.  The NPAPI plugin that Receiver (Windows and Mac) installs allows Receiver for Web (aka StoreFront) to detect if Citrix Receiver is or is not installed. Without this plugin, it assumes you do not have Receiver and will offer it for you to download and install. As an aside, you may have noticed that Internet Explorer has an ActiveX control that does the same thing. If your user does not have Receiver then they can not launch their Citrix application or desktop, so this is a good thing. If your user is already running Receiver but gets offered the Receiver download this will be confusing and could potentially be a bad thing.

Launching applications and desktops.  Let me explain what should happen when you click on the icon for, say, Outlook 2010 in StoreFront (aka Receiver for Web). StoreFront will talk to a delivery controller to figure out what machine is hosting Outlook 2010 and has the lowest load. StoreFront will then offer you a .ica file to download. If you have the plugin, Windows will know that this is a configuration file that should be opened by Receiver. Receiver will then connect you to your application. This all happens quickly and seamless making it seem like Outlook 2010 launches immediately.

Without the plugin, you will download an .ica file but Outlook 2010 will not open until you click it. Chrome does have the option (the arrow on the downloaded file) to “Always open files of this type” as shown in CTX136578.


SageLike Post ID: SL0009

Applies to:
Google Chrome
StoreFront (aka Receiver for Web)
Receiver
XenApp
XenDesktop
Maybe others

References:
http://blogs.citrix.com/2015/03/09/preparing-for-npapi-being-disabled-by-google-chrome/
http://blog.chromium.org/2014/11/the-final-countdown-for-npapi.html
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX141137
http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX136578

Citrix Summit 2015

Citrix Summit 

is an annual conference where partners gather to hear the latest technical and sales information.  This year it was held in exciting Las Vegas at the sprawling Venetian conference center.  Coverage of Summit is always tricky because, while it is a partner only event and mostly covered by NDA, there are aspects that are already public.  This article will strive to keep the balance and leave what happened in Vegas--well, safely behind in Vegas.

This year Lewan sent four engineers to take part in the festivities. We came back with our heads full of announcements, product updates, and experience with what is coming next.  It is going to be an exciting year for Citrix customers.

The Announcements

Mark Templeton is back at the helm as CEO.  This is excellent news as the 20 year veteran of Citrix is beloved by both employees and the industry.

Citrix acquires Sanbolic.  Sanbolic allows customer deployments to be geo-distributed across multiple locations and to scale in a linear and predictable manner.  We will have to wait and see what this means for Citrix's product portfolio.

WorkspacePod Powered by HP is announced.  The solution is integrated Citrix infrastructure software with HP's Moonshot platform.  HP considers this integrated compute, storage, networking, plus GPU to be the next step beyond hyper-converged infrastructure and they have labeled it ultra-converged.  Time will tell if this moniker will be adopted by the industry.  A tech preview is expected to be available Q1 of this year.

Product Updates

Workspace Cloud is announced.  Formerly Workspace Services, Workspace Cloud is a revolutionary new way to deliver Windows and mobile apps, data, and desktops.  I say revolutionary because it is clearly a new way of thinking.  I had several discussions over the week with some people hesitant on how this would incorporate in their environment and others who cannot wait for it to be released.  This is by no means a desktop as a service (DaaS) play.  Citrix is very specific with the choice of the word workspace.  To quote Mark T, "the desktop is to the PC-era as Workspace is to the Cloud-era".

XenMobile 10 is announced.  XenMobile 10 represents a big step forward for the product in areas like security (FIPS 140.2) and flexibility.  Our hands-on experience makes us believe the people most excited about this release should be the administrators as significant steps have been made to make this product easier to deploy and use.  Users get updated Worx apps and a new self service portal for tracking, locking, and wiping lost or stolen devices.

XenServer 6.5 is announced.  Major improvements have been made to the hypervisor in the areas of performance.  The new 64-bit kernel architecture has resulted in dramatic improvements in networking and storage performance.  I do not have the numbers in front of me but I remember my jaw dropping in the keynote because some of them had triple digit percentage improvements.  The timing could not be better with the uptick in XenServer deployments in 2014 due to industry leading support of NVIDIA GRID vGPU technology.

Improvements to XenApp and XenDesktop are coming.  Citrix is hard at work improving their flagship products.  Enhancements are coming to Microsoft Lync optimization and session recording will be added to Director.  If the last one sounds a lot like SmartAuditor, it is because I believe it will be replacing that functionality.

XenApp and XenDesktop technology previews are coming.  DesktopPlayer for Windows will be a welcome addition for offline virtual desktop and BYO Windows users.  Linux fans rejoice, a virtual desktop agent is coming.  The most exciting thing I witnessed (at the conference ;) ) was the integration of Framehawk into Citrix's already amazing HDX protocol.  Framehawk is the special sauce that overcomes very challenging network conditions like high latency (often seen in cellular) or packet loss (often seen in poor Wi-Fi).  Check out the pre-Citrix acquisition video from a few years ago below to see why I am excited.




The demo lab is already being prepared to make room for all of this awesome tech.  All of these updates are bound to set the stage for an exciting week in Orlando at Citrix Synergy in May.  For more information, do not hesitate to contact us.

LoginVSI VSISetup has stopped working

Purpose:
This article explains how to resolve the error, "VSISetup has stopped working" while setting up LoginVSI.

Symptom:
During the install process of the LoginVSI management console the setup program crashes shortly after starting it.

Resolution:
Add the .NET Framework 3.5.1 using the Add Features wizard.  Before continuing on with the LoginVSI install, run Windows Update and patch .NET.  This can be time consuming as there are lots of updates available and may require a reboot or two.

Cause:
While it is documented in the excellent install guide, it is easy to forget that the default install of Windows Server 2008 R2 does not have .NET 3.5.1 installed and it is required.

SageLike Post ID: SL0008

Applies to:
Windows Server 2008 R2

Maybe others

References: