Features in Technical Preview

Features in the Technical Preview are available to use in non-production or limited production environments, and to give customers an opportunity to share feedback. Citrix does not accept support cases for features in technical preview but welcomes feedback for improving them. Citrix might act on feedback based on its severity, criticality, and importance.

List of features in Technical Preview

The following table lists the features in the technical preview. To provide feedback for any of these features, fill out the feedback form.

Title	Available from version	Feedback form (click the icon)
Manage settings for user groups using configuration profile	2408
NFC support for FIDO2 Authentication	2408
Enhanced Unified Communications SDK API	2408
Support for WebHID API in UCSDK	2408
Support integrated windows authentication for browser content redirection	2408
Support for H.264 and H.265 hardware decoding	2408
Clipboard Support for HTML-formatted text	2408
PDF Universal Printing	2405
HDX direct	2405
AI-based noise suppression	2405
Sustainability initiative from Citrix Workspace app	2402
Include system audio while screen sharing	2402
Improve audio performance during audio loss	2311
App Protection compatibility with HDX optimization for Microsoft Teams	2311
Hardware acceleration support for optimized Microsoft Teams	2305
Support for Service continuity with Citrix Workspace Web Extension for Google Chrome	2109

Manage settings for user groups using configuration profile

Starting with the 2408 version, you can manage the Citrix Workspace app settings for user groups using the Configuration profile in Global App Configuration service (GACS). With this feature, you can manage settings for specific user groups rather than applying them to all users accessing the store.

For more information on configuring settings for configuration profile, see Manage settings for user group using configuration profile.

NFC support for FIDO2 Authentication

Starting with the 2408 version, Citrix Workspace app for Linux supports Near-field communication (NFC) authentication with FIDO2 authenticators. With this feature, you can use the NFC-supported FIDO2 keys for authenticating into cloud and on-premises stores. This feature also supports authentication within the HDX session. This feature can provide quick and easy wireless authentication when connecting to cloud and on-premises stores and for HDX sessions.

How to use this feature

1. Run NFCscript.sh located at <ICAROOT>/util/Fido2HIDBridge as the logged-in user and add the store URL. Alternatively, open Citrix Workspace app and add the store URL.
2. On the authentication page, enter the user credential and click Face, fingerprint, PIN, or Security key as the sign-in option.
3. Tap the NFC-supported FIDO2 key on the reader.
4. Enter the PIN for your security key, and then click Next.
5. After successful authentication, click Yes on the Stay signed in? window.

Configuration

Prerequisites

Hardware requirements**

• NFC-supported FIDO2 keys. For example, YubiKey5.
• NFC-supported FIDO2 readers that are compatible with Linux clients. For example, ACR1252U-M.

Software requirements

The following software packages are required for this feature:

• swig
• libpcsclite-devel and pcsc-lite for CentOS or RHEL
• libpcsclite-dev and pcscd for Ubuntu.
• python3 and python3-pip
• Python package: pyscard, uhid, and fido2.
• Chromium browser (if default browser is not preferred). The preferred installer for the Chromium browser is the Debian package, which can be downloaded from the Chromium downloads page. It is not recommended to install Chromium as a snap.

Note:

• Administrators can install the above packages by running the setupFIDO2Service.sh script that is located at <ICAROOT>/util/Fido2HIDBridge as a sudo user. This setupFIDO2Service.sh script is an example for Ubuntu and RHEL OS. Admins can modify this script as required for their OS configuration.
• This feature is not supported on the Ubuntu x86-64, RHEL x86-64, and ARM64 architectures.

To enable this feature, do the following steps:

1. Ensure that the fido2-hid-bridge.service is up and running. If you run the setupFIDO2Service.sh script, then this service is started automatically. If not, start this service manually for your client.

   

2. Navigate to $ICAROOT/config/AuthManConfig.xml and add the following entries:

       <key>FIDO2Enabled</key>
       <value>true</value>
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

3. If necessary, modify the default browser by navigating to $ICAROOT/config/AuthManConfig.xml and updating the browser settings as required. The possible values are chromium, firefox, and chromium-browser.

    <FIDO2AuthBrowser>firefox</FIDO2AuthBrowser>
<!--NeedCopy-->

1. To display the App Authenticator in full screen, add the following entry:

    <Fido2FullScreenMode>true</Fido2FullScreenMode>
<!--NeedCopy-->

By default, the App Authenticator is displayed in the window mode.

Enhanced Unified Communications SDK API

Starting with the 2408 version, Citrix Workspace app for Linux has enhanced support for UCSDK. With this feature, the UCSDK API can obtain more accurate deviceID and groupID for audio and video devices on Linux clients.

The deviceID is designed to identify devices of different models or the same model. With this feature, if you switch devices of the same model, the Optimized Microsoft Teams can now be enhanced to identify the change in the device with the deviceID information.

The groupID is designed to identify the microphone, speaker, and camera from the same physical devices. With this feature, Optimized Microsoft Teams can now be enhanced to group the microphone and camera of the same USB device together with the groupID information.

This enhancement can provide a better multimedia conferencing and P2P call experience when using Optimized Microsoft Teams.

You can request access for this feature using this Enablement Form.

Support for WebHID API in UCSDK

Starting with the 2408 version, Citrix Workspace app for Linux supports the WebHID API to redirect Human Interface Device (HID) devices from endpoint to Unified Communication SDK application on the VDI. It complies with the HID standard for bi-directional communication between the application based on UCSDK and the HID devices connected to the endpoint. With this feature, your UCSDK application can access any HID devices such as keyboards, mice, headsets, and game controllers in the HDX session with an enhanced experience. This feature is disabled by default.

To enable this feature, do the following steps:

1. Navigate to /var/.config/citrix/hdx_rtc_engine/config.json.
2. Add the following entry:

    "EnableHID": 1
<!--NeedCopy-->

You can request access for this feature using this Enablement Form.

Support integrated windows authentication for browser content redirection

Previously, the browser content redirection feature used a basic authentication method that required users to authenticate with their VDA credentials each time they accessed the web server.

Starting with the 2408 version, Citrix Workspace for Linux supports Integrated Windows authentication for browser content redirection that ensures single sign-on access to the web server.

For more information, see Single sign-on with Integrated Windows Authentication.

Support for H.264 and H.265 hardware decoding

Starting with the 2408 version, Citrix Workspace app for Linux supports the GPU that can be used for H.265 decoding wherever it’s available at the client. H.265 video codec must be supported and enabled on both the VDA and Citrix Workspace app. If your device doesn’t support H.265 hardware decoding, then the session falls back to the H.264 video codec.

Prerequisites for H.265

• VDA 7.16 or later
• Use any of the following GPUs:
  • NVIDIA Maxwell generation GPU or later
  • Intel 6th generation GPU or later
  • AMD Raven generation GPU or later
• Enable the Optimize for 3D graphics workload policy on the VDA.
• Enable the Use hardware encoding for video codec policy on the VDA.

This feature is set to be disabled by default.

To enable this feature, complete the following steps:

1. Navigate to the $HOME/.ICAClient/wfclient.ini folder.
2. Go to the [Thinwire3.0] section.
3. Add the following entry:

For H.265 hardware decoding:

    OpenGLEnabled=True
    H265Enabled=True
<!--NeedCopy-->

For H.264 hardware decoding:

OpenGLEnabled=True

Note

If hardware decoding acceleration is enabled, then:

• In the window mode, the maximum window size supported by the client is 4096x4096 (approximately 4K).
• For some Red Hat operating systems with Intel graphics, you might notice that “Initialized h264 software decoding successfully” printed in ICAClient.log after launching a session. In such cases, you need to verify whether the intel-media-driver is installed.

Clipboard Support for HTML-formatted text

Starting with version 2408, Citrix Workspace app for Linux supports copy and paste of the HTML-formatted text between local apps and virtual app or desktop sessions, and also between virtual app or desktop sessions. This feature ensures that the HTML content is accurately retained during the copy-and-paste procedure with no restrictions.

This feature is disabled by default in the clipboard redirection policy.

To enable the HTML format for clipboard, you need to add an entry for CF_HTML (and any other in “Client clipboard write allowed formats” and “Session clipboard write allowed formats”) in the ICA policy settings. For more information, see Client clipboard redirection.

NOTE

• Client clipboard write allowed formats do not apply if the Client clipboard redirection policy is set to Prohibited or Restrict client clipboard write policy is disabled.
• Session clipboard write allowed formats do not apply if the Client clipboard redirection policy is set to Prohibited or Restrict session clipboard write policy is disabled.

PDF Universal Printing

Starting with the 2405 version, Citrix Workspace app for Linux supprots the PDF universal printing. You can print as PDF once you configure either or both of the following options:

1. Provide a single PDF Universal Printer created in each session.
2. Use the Universal Print Driver (UPD) for regular auto-created printers.

Prerequisites

• Citrix Workspace app for Linux version 2405 or later - Enables consumption of PDF print streams for Citrix Workspace app for Linux.
• Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops version 2112 or later - Enables PDF universal printing for auto-created client printers.

• Enable the Client printer redirection policy (highlighted in the following image) in the Citrix Studio or web console.

  

Provide a single PDF Universal Printer created in each session

To enable creation of the PDF Universal Printer in sessions from a Linux client or any other PDF enabled client endpoint, do the following:

1. Navigate to Citrix Studio or the web console and enable the Auto-Create PDF universal printer policy.
2. Set CitrixPDFPrinterAllowed=On in the [WFClient] section in the wfclient.ini file.

Once the preceding steps are completed, the PDF universal printer is created in the session. The printer is called Citrix PDF Printer.

Use this printer in a session to generate a PDF output that delivers to the client. Also, send the PDF output to the default PDF handling application on the endpoint. For the Linux client, this PDF handling application is typically the built-in Preview application, but it could be any registered PDF handling application such as Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Use the UPD for regular auto-created printers

To enable PDF universal printing for all redirected client printers in a session, visit Citrix Studio or a web console from a Linux client. Then, configure the {}Universal driver preferences{} policy to place the PDF metafile format within the priority list.

After this configuration, the Citrix PDF Universal Driver replaces the HP Color LaserJet 2800 Series PS driver on the host for automatically created printers. The automatically created printers use a universal driver with a Linux client that can print PDFs. When using one of the auto-created printers in a session, PDF is used as the intermediate format of the print job. But the print output flows directly to the selected client-attached printer.

HDX direct

When accessing Citrix-delivered resources, HDX Direct allows both internal and external client devices to establish a secure direct connection with the session host if direct communication is possible.

This feature is disabled by default. To enable this feature, do the following:

1. Navigate to the $HOME/.ICAClient/wfclient.ini file.

2. Go to the [WFClient] section and add the following entry:

   DirectConnectEnabled=True
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

For more information, see HDX direct.

AI-based noise suppression

With this release, Citrix Workspace app helps to improve the clarity of the spoken voice in audio redirection by reducing background noise.

This feature is disabled by default. To enable this feature, do the following:

1. Navigate to the Preferences > Audio section. The Noise Suppression screen appears:

x64 Linux distribution:

ARM64 Linux distribution:

1. Select one of the following levels:

   • Low - WebRTC Noise Suppression is used.
   • High - Artificial Intelligence (AI) based noise suppression is used. This option is available only for x64 Linux distributions and when enabled, it might increase CPU utilization.
   • Off- Noise suppression isn’t used.

2. Click OK. The selected configuration is applied to the audio device.

Note:

• The changes made to the noise suppression level apply only to the current session. The noise suppression level settings reset once you restart the session.
• This feature is supported only on the x64 and ARM64 Linux distributions. However, in the x64 Linux distribution, you can use High and Low options. But, in the ARM64 Linux distribution, you can use only the Low option.

Sustainability initiative from Citrix Workspace app

From the Citrix Workspace app 2402 version onwards, when you click disconnect, sign out, or close a virtual desktop, the following prompt is displayed.

This feature might help conserve energy if you sign out from VMs when not required.

You can either Sign Out or Disconnect from the session.

Include system audio while screen sharing

Previously, the Include computer sound button wasn’t enabled during screen sharing or app sharing. Starting with Citrix Workspace app version 2402, the Include computer sound button is enabled and you can use the system audio while sharing the screen. This feature allows you to share the audio playing on the VDA with users in a meeting or call.

Note:

This feature is available only after the roll-out of an update from Microsoft Teams. For information on ETA, go to the Microsoft site and search for Microsoft 365 roadmap. When the update is rolled-out by Microsoft, you can check CTX253754 for the documentation update and the announcement.

This feature is disabled by default. To enable this feature, do the following on the client:

1. Navigate the /var/.config/citrix/hdx_rtc_engine/config.json file.

2. Add the following:

   {
   
   "ms_teams_share_system_audio": "true"
   
   }
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

3. Navigate to config/module.ini under the directory where Citrix Workspace app is installed. The default directory is: /opt/Citrix/ICAClient/.

4. Append the following key to the “[ClientAudio]” section:

   EnableAudioListener=TRUE
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

To disable this feature, set the preceding parameters as follows:

ms_teams_share_system_audio": "false"
EnableAudioListener=FALSE"
<!--NeedCopy-->

Known limitation:

When you share with RAVE and BCR redirected apps or tabs, the audio from these apps or tabs might not be shared.

Known issue:

When you share a screen including computer sound, if multiple audio output devices are playing sound, one or more receivers might notice sound artifacts. [HDX-58342]

Improve audio performance during audio loss

With this release, the audio quality during poor network conditions is improved. For this improvement, the Adaptive Audio and Medium Quality Audio codecs detect the data loss and the out-of-order data transmissions. And then, reorder and reconstruct the lost audio while using the loss tolerant mode (EDT lossy) or UDP audio. By default, this enhancement is disabled.

To enable this enhancement, do the following:

1. Navigate to the /opt/Citrix/ICAClient/config/module.ini configuration file and edit it.

2. Enable jitter buffer as follows:

   JitterBufferEnabled=TRUE
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

3. Enable PLC as follows:

   PacketLossConcealmentEnabled=TRUE
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

4. Enable Loss tolerant mode for audio or UDP audio feature.

App Protection compatibility with HDX optimization for Microsoft Teams

Optimized Microsoft Teams supports screen sharing when Citrix Workspace app is enabled with App Protection in the Desktop Viewer mode only. When you click Share content in Microsoft Teams, the screen picker provides the following options:

• Window option to share any open app - This option is displayed only if the VDA version is 2109 or later.
• Desktop option to share the contents on your VDA desktop.

Note:

For Citrix Workspace app for Linux, the Desktop share option is disabled by default.

To enable the Desktop share option, add the UseGbufferScreenSharing parameter in your config.json file as follows:

mkdir -p /var/.config/citrix/hdx_rtc_engine

vim /var/.config/citrix/hdx_rtc_engine/config.json

{

      "UseGbufferScreenSharing":1

}
<!--NeedCopy-->

Optimized Microsoft Teams enabled with App Protection also supports the Citrix virtual monitor layout which allows you to share each virtual monitor individually.

Limitations:

• Optimized Microsoft Teams enabled with App Protection doesn’t support screen sharing on Published Desktops enabled with Local App Access (LAA).
• Client-rendered content such as Browser content using BCR can’t be captured or shared. If you try to screen capture, it’s displayed as a black screen.

Hardware acceleration support for optimized Microsoft Teams

Citrix Workspace app for Linux provides an improved performance experience for Microsoft Teams video calls.

Earlier only the CPU was used for encoding purposes. With this release, the GPU can also be used to encode the outgoing video frames and thus reduce CPU usage. This feature is of benefit when you use a thin client with limited CPU resources and a spare GPU.

Prerequisite:

Ensure you have the latest GPU driver. If not, install the latest GPU driver using the following command:

```
sudo apt install va-driver-all
<!--NeedCopy--> ```

This feature is disabled by default. To enable this feature, do the following:

1. Navigate to /var/.config/citrix/hdx_rtc_engine/config.json file.

2. Set the following configuration:

   { "VideoHwEncode": 1, }
   <!--NeedCopy-->
   

Support for Service continuity with Citrix Workspace Web Extension for Google Chrome

Support for service continuity with the Citrix Workspace Web Extension for Google Chrome is in a public technical preview. You can use the Workspace Web Extension for Google Chrome with Citrix Workspace app for Linux 2109. This extension is available at the Google Chrome web store. The Workspace app communicates with the Citrix Workspace Web extension using the native messaging host protocol for the browser extension. Together, the Workspace app and the Workspace Web extension use Workspace connection leases to give browser users access to their apps and desktops during outages. For more information, see Service continuity.

Technical Preview to General Availability (GA)