Deploy

You can deploy the Citrix Workspace app in the following methods:

  • Use Active Directory and sample startup scripts to deploy the Citrix Workspace app for Windows. For information about Active Directory, see Using Active Directory and sample scripts.
  • Using Workspace for Web to ensure that the users have installed the Citrix Workspace app for Windows before launching an application from a browser. For more information, see Using workspace for web.
  • Use an Electronic Software Distribution (ESD) tool like the Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2. For more information, see Using System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2.

Using Active Directory and sample scripts

You can use Active Directory Group Policy scripts to deploy Citrix Workspace app for Windows on systems based on your Active Directory organizational structure. Citrix recommends using the scripts rather than extracting the .msi files. For general information about startup scripts, see the Microsoft documentation.

To use the scripts with Active Directory:

  1. Create the Organizational Unit (OU) for each script.
  2. Create a Group Policy Object (GPO) for the newly created OU.

Edit scripts

Edit the scripts with the following parameters in the header section of each file:

  • Current Version of package- The specified version number is validated and if it is not present the deployment proceeds. For example, set DesiredVersion= 3.3.0.XXXX to exactly match the version specified. If you specify a partial version, for example, 3.3.0, it matches any version with that prefix (3.3.0.1111, 3.3.0.7777, and so on).
  • Package Location/Deployment directory- This specifies the network share containing the packages and is not authenticated by the script. The shared folder must have Read permission set to EVERYONE.
  • Script Logging Directory- This specifies the network share where the install logs are copied and is not authenticated by the script. The shared folder must have Read and Write permissions for EVERYONE.
  • Package Installer Command Line Options- These command line options are passed to the installer. For the command line syntax, see Using command-line parameters.

Scripts

Citrix Workspace app installer includes the sample per-computer and per-user scripts to install and uninstall Citrix Workspace app. The scripts are located on the Citrix Workspace app for Windows Download page.

Deployment type To deploy To remove
Per-computer CheckAndDeployWorkspacePerMachineStartupScript.bat CheckAndRemoveWorkspacePerMachineStartupScript.bat
Per-user CheckAndDeployWorkspacePerUserLogonScript.bat CheckAndRemoveWorkspacePerUserLogonScript.bat

To add the startup scripts:

  1. Open the Group Policy Management Console.
  2. Select Computer Configuration OR User Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Scripts.
  3. In the right-hand pane of the Group Policy Management Console, select Logon.
  4. Select Show Files and copy the appropriate script to the folder displayed.
  5. Close the dialog.
  6. In the Properties menu, click Add and Browse to find and add the newly created script.

To deploy Citrix Workspace app for Windows:

  1. Move the user devices designated to receive this deployment to the OU you created.
  2. Reboot the user device and log on.
  3. Verify that the newly installed package is listed in the Program and Features.

To remove Citrix Workspace app for Windows:

  1. Move the user devices designated for the removal to the OU you created.
  2. Reboot the user device and log on.
  3. Verify that the newly installed package is not listed in the Program and Features.

Using workspace for web

You can deploy Citrix Workspace app for Windows from workspace for web to ensure that you have installed the Citrix Workspace app for Windows before connecting to an application from a browser. Workspace for web site enable you to access StoreFront stores through a web page. If workspace for web site detects that a user does not have a compatible version of Citrix Workspace app for Windows, you are prompted to download and install Citrix Workspace app for Windows.

Email-based account discovery is not supported when Citrix Workspace app for Windows is deployed using workspace for web. If email-based account discovery is configured and a first-time user installs Citrix Workspace app for Windows from Citrix.com, Citrix Workspace app for Windows prompts the user for an email or server address. Entering an email address results in the error message “Your email cannot be used to add an account.”

Use the following configuration to prompt for the server address only.

  1. Download CitrixWorkspaceApp.exe to your local computer.
  2. Rename CitrixWorkspaceApp.exeto CitrixWorkspaceAppWeb.exe.
  3. Deploy the renamed executable using your regular deployment method. If you use StoreFront, see Configure Workspace for Web sites using the configuration files in the StoreFront documentation.

Using System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2

You can use Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) to deploy Citrix Workspace app.

Note:

Only Citrix Receiver for Windows Version 4.5 and later supports SCCM deployment.

There are four parts to completing the deployment of Citrix Workspace app for Windows using SCCM:

  1. Adding Citrix Workspace app to the SCCM deployment
  2. Adding distribution points
  3. Deploying the Citrix Workspace app to the software center
  4. Creating Device Collections

Adding Citrix Workspace app to the SCCM deployment

  1. Copy the downloaded Citrix Workspace app installation folder to a folder on the Configuration Manager server and launch the Configuration Manager console.

  2. Select Software Library > Application Management. Right-click Application and click Create Application. The Create Application wizard appears.

  3. In the General pane, select Manually specify the application information and click Next.

  4. In the General Information pane, specify information about the application such as Name, Manufacturer, Software version, and so on.

  5. In the Application Catalog wizard, specify additional information such as Language, Application name, User category and so on and click Next.

    Note:

    Users can see the information you specify here.

  6. In the Deployment Type pane, click Add to configure the deployment type for Citrix Workspace app setup.

    The Create Deployment Type wizard appears.

  7. In the General pane: Set the deployment type to Windows Installer (*.msi file), select Manually specify the deployment type information and click Next.
  8. In the General Information pane: Specify deployment type details (For example: Workspace Deployment) and click Next.
  9. In the Content pane:

    1. Provide the path where the Citrix Workspace app setup file is present. For example: Tools on SCCM server.
    2. Specify Installation program as one of the following:
      • CitrixWorkspaceApp.exe /silent for default silent installation.
      • CitrixWorkspaceApp.exe /silent /includeSSON to enable domain pass-through.
      • CitrixWorkspaceApp.exe /silent SELFSERVICEMODE=false to install Citrix Workspace app in non-Self Service Mode.
    3. Specify Uninstall program as CitrixWorkspaceApp.exe /uninstall (to enable uninstallation through SCCM).
  10. In the Detection Method pane: Select Configure rules to detect the presence of this deployment type and click Add Clause. The Detection Rule dialog appears.

    • Set Setting Type to File System.
    • Under Specify the file or folder to detect the application, set the following:
      • Type – From the drop-down menu, select File.
      • Path%ProgramFiles(x86)%\\Citrix\\ICA Client\\Receiver\
      • File or folder namereceiver.exe
      • Property - From the drop-down menu, select Version
      • Operator - From the drop-down menu, select Greater than or equal to
      • Value - Enter the version number of the Citrix Workspace app that you are about to deploy.

    Note:

    This rule combination applies to Citrix Workspace app for Windows upgrades as well.

  11. In the User Experience pane, set:

    • Installation behavior - Install for system
    • Logon requirement - Whether or not a user is logged on
    • Installation program visibility - Normal Click Next.

    Note:

    Do not specify any requirements and dependencies for this deployment type.

  12. In the Summary pane, verify the settings for this deployment type. Click Next.

    A success message appears.

  13. In the Completion pane, a new deployment type (Workspace Deployment) is listed under the Deployment types.

  14. Click Next and click Close.

Add distribution points

  1. Right-click Citrix Workspace app in the Configuration Manager console and select Distribute Content.

    The Distribute Content wizard appears.

  2. In the Content Distribution pane, click Add > Distribution Points.

    The Add Distribution Points dialog appears.

  3. Browse to the SCCM server where the content is available and click OK.

    In the Completion pane, a success message appears

  4. Click Close.

Deploy Citrix Workspace app to the software center

  1. Right-click Citrix Workspace app in the Configuration Manager console select Deploy.

    The Deploy Software wizard appears.

  2. Select Browse against Collection (can be Device Collection or User Collection) where the application is to be deployed and click Next.

  3. In the Deployment Settings pane, set Action to Install and Purpose to Required (enables unattended installation). Click Next.

  4. In the Scheduling pane, specify the schedule to deploy the software on target devices.

  5. In the User Experience pane, set the User notifications behavior; select Commit changes at deadline or during a maintenance window (requires restart) and click Next to complete the Deploy Software wizard.

In the Completion pane, a success message appears.

Reboot the target endpoint devices (required only to start installation immediately).

On endpoint devices, Citrix Workspace app is visible in the Software Center under Available Software. Installation is triggered automatically based on the schedule you configure. Alternatively, you can also schedule or install on demand. The installation status is displayed in the Software Center after the installation starts.

Creating device collections

  1. Launch the Configuration Manager console, click Assets and Compliance> Overview> Devices.

  2. Right-click Device Collections and select Create Device Collection.

    The Create Device Collection wizard appears.

  3. In the General pane, type the Name for the device and click Browse for Limiting collection.

    This determines the scope of devices, which can be one the default Device Collections created by SCCM. Click Next.

  4. In the Membership Rules pane, click Add Rule for filtering the devices.

    The Create Direct Membership Rule wizard appears.

    • In the Search for Resources pane, select the Attribute name based on the devices you want to filter and provide the Value for Attribute name to select the devices.
  5. Click Next. In the Select Resources pane, select the devices that are required to be part of device collection.

    In the Completion pane a success message appears.

  6. Click Close.

  7. In the Membership rules pane, a new rule is listed under Click Next.

  8. In the Completion pane, a success message appears. Click Close to complete the Create Device Collection wizard.

    The new device collection is listed in Device Collections. The new device collection is a part of Device Collections while browsing in Deploy Software wizard.

Note:

When you set the MSIRESTARTMANAGERCONTROL attribute to False, deploying Citrix Workspace app for Windows using SCCM might not be successful. As per our analysis, Citrix Workspace app for Windows is not the cause of this failure. Also, retrying might yield successful deployment.

Deploy