Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 2103

About this release

This Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops release includes new versions of the Windows Virtual Delivery Agents (VDAs) and new versions of several core components. You can:

  • Install or upgrade a site

    Use the ISO for this release to install or upgrade core components and VDAs. Installing or upgrading to the latest version allows you to use the latest features.

  • Install or upgrade VDAs in an existing site

    If you already have a deployment, and aren’t ready to upgrade your core components, you can still use several of the latest HDX features by installing (or upgrading to) a new VDA. Upgrading only the VDAs can be helpful when you want to test enhancements in a non-production environment.

    After upgrading your VDAs to this version (from version 7.9 or later), you do not need to update the machine catalog’s functional level. The 7.9 (or later) value remains the default functional level, and is valid for this release. For more information, see VDA versions and functional levels.

For installation and upgrade instructions:

Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 2103

Machine restart schedules: Begin restart after drain completes

Another restart duration option is available when using PowerShell to create a machine restart schedule. The UseNaturalReboot option restarts all machines after draining all sessions. When the restart time is reached, machines are put into the drain state and are restarted when all sessions are logged off. See Restart after drain.

Virtual Delivery Agents (VDAs) 2103

Version 2103 of the Windows single-session OS and multi-session OS VDAs includes the following enhancements. These items are in addition to any VDA installation and upgrade items listed earlier in this article.

Enhancement to browser content redirection

The enhancement to browser content redirection provides an option to enable the user-agent request header string. With the user-agent header, you can identify requests sent from browser content redirection. For example, if the server blocks the requests received from browser content redirection, you can create a rule that contains the user-agent header to bypass certain requirements. Only Windows devices support this enhancement. For more information, see User-agent request header.

SOCKS5 proxy support for Rendezvous connections

The VDA now supports SOCKS5 proxies to establish a Rendezvous connection. When you use a non-transparent proxy in your network, you can specify either the address of the proxy or the path to the PAC file. For more information, see Rendezvous proxy configuration.

New browser content redirection policy setting

The new Browser content redirection server fetch web proxy authentication setting lets you route HTTP traffic originating at an overlay through a downstream web proxy. The downstream web proxy authorizes and authenticates HTTP traffic using the VDA user’s domain credentials through the Negotiate authentication scheme. For more information, see Browser content redirection server fetch web proxy authentication setting.

Optimization of webcam video streaming

HDX webcam compression no longer requires the VDA to encode, transcode, and decode H.264 video resources. By default, the server streams video directly to the video conferencing applications running in the virtual session. To disable this feature, see HDX webcam video compression.

Graphics status indicator update

New functionality has been added to the graphics status indicator, including a quality slider.

Windows Image Acquisition scanner redirection update

An allow list has been added to give administrators control over which applications on the VDA are allowed access to Windows Image Acquisition scanner redirection. The allow list is input using the registry on each VDA where Windows Image Acquisition is used. By default, no applications have access to Windows Image Acquisition.

To adjust Windows Image Acquisition for applications on the VDA:

  1. In Registry Editor, go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix.
  2. Right-click and select New > Key.
  3. Rename the new key to WIAAllowedProcesses.
  4. Select WIAAllowedProcesses.
  5. Right-click and select New > Multi-String Value.
  6. Rename the new value to AllowProcesses.
  7. Double-click AllowProcesses.
  8. Enter the full path and process name for each application that is allowed to access Windows Image Acquisition. Each application must be on a new line.

Any changes are available next time a session is launched on the VDA.

Keyboard enhancements for Russian language

This release addresses keyboard issues for Russian language. The improvements focus on the overall robustness of keyboard interactions in virtual sessions running through Citrix Workspace app. The enhanced Windows VDA keyboard now supports most combinations for Russian input and provides a better user experience for customers in different locales.

Citrix Licensing 11.16.6

Citrix Licensing 11.16.6 contains new features and fixed and known issues.

For documentation about related components, see:

More information

  • For deprecation and removal announcements, see Deprecation.
  • For information about product name and version number changes that were introduced in the year 2018, see New names and numbers.
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 2103