Linux Virtual Delivery Agent

Create Linux VDAs in Citrix DaaS Standard for Azure

May 10, 2024

Contributed by:

B C L

You can create both domain-joined and non-domain-joined Linux VDAs in Citrix DaaS Standard for Azure to deliver virtual apps and desktops to any device from Microsoft Azure. For more information, see Citrix DaaS Standard for Azure.

Supported Linux distributions

The following Linux distributions support this feature:

RHEL 8.8
RHEL 8.6
RHEL 8.3
RHEL 8.2
RHEL 7.8
Rocky Linux 8.8/8.6
Ubuntu 20.04
Ubuntu 18.04

Step 1: Prepare a master image in Azure

Note:

You can also use the Linux VDA self-update feature to schedule automatic software updates. To achieve this goal, add command lines to the etc/xdl/mcs/mcs_local_setting.reg file on the master image. For example, you can add the following command lines:
create -k "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\SelfUpdate" -t "REG_DWORD" -v "fEnabled" -d "0x00000001" –force

create -k "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\SelfUpdate" -t "REG_SZ" -v "ScheduledTime" -d "Immediately" –force

create -k "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\SelfUpdate" -t "REG_SZ" -v "Url" -d "<Your-Azure-Container-Url>" –force

create -k "HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Citrix\SelfUpdate" -t "REG_SZ" -v "CaCertificate" -d "<Local-Certificate-Path-of-PortalAzureCom>" --force

In Azure, create a Linux VM of a supported distribution.
Install a desktop environment on the Linux VM if necessary.
On the VM, install .NET Runtime 6.0 according to the instructions at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/install/linux-package-managers.
(For Ubuntu only) Add the source /etc/network/interfaces.d/* line to the /etc/network/interfaces file.
(For Ubuntu only) Point /etc/resolv.conf to /run/systemd/resolve/resolv.conf instead of pointing it to /run/systemd/resolve/stub-resolv.conf:
```
unlink /etc/resolv.conf

ln -s /run/systemd/resolve/resolv.conf /etc/resolv.conf

```
Install the Linux VDA package.
Change variables in /etc/xdl/mcs/mcs.conf. The mcs.conf configuration file contains variables for setting MCS and the Linux VDA.

Note:

Leave the dns variable unspecified. If you select the Static or Random type when creating a machine catalog, set VDI_MODE=Y.
Run /opt/Citrix/VDA/sbin/deploymcs.sh.
In Azure, stop (or deallocate) the VM. Click Disk Export to generate a SAS URL for the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) file that you can use as a master image to create other VMs.
(Optional) Make group policy settings on the master image. You can use the ctxreg tool to make group policy settings. For example, the following command enables the Auto-create PDF Universal Printer policy for PDF printing.
```
/opt/Citrix/VDA/bin/ctxreg create -k "HKLM\Software\Citrix\GroupPolicy\Defaults\PrintingPolicies" -t "REG_DWORD" -v "AutoCreatePDFPrinter" -d "0x00000001" –force

```

Step 2: Import the master image from Azure

From the Manage dashboard, expand Master Images on the right. The display lists the master images that Citrix provides, and images that you created and imported.

Tip:

Most of the administrator activities for this service are managed through the Manage and Monitor dashboards. After you create your first catalog, the Manage dashboard launches automatically after you sign in to Citrix Cloud and select the Managed Desktops service.
Click Import Image.
Enter the SAS URL for the VHD file that you generated in Azure. Select Linux for the master image type.
Follow the instructions in the wizard to complete importing the master image.

Step 3: Create a Machine Catalog

Access the Manage dashboard and click Create Catalog. When creating the Machine Catalog, choose the master image you created earlier.

Note:

The VM used as a master image is not accessible through SSH or RDP. To access the VM, use the Serial Console in the Azure portal.

The official version of this content is in English. Some of the Cloud Software Group documentation content is machine translated for your convenience only. Cloud Software Group has no control over machine-translated content, which may contain errors, inaccuracies or unsuitable language. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, suitability, or correctness of any translations made from the English original into any other language, or that your Cloud Software Group product or service conforms to any machine translated content, and any warranty provided under the applicable end user license agreement or terms of service, or any other agreement with Cloud Software Group, that the product or service conforms with any documentation shall not apply to the extent that such documentation has been machine translated. Cloud Software Group will not be held responsible for any damage or issues that may arise from using machine-translated content.

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Create Linux VDAs in Citrix DaaS Standard for Azure

May 10, 2024

Contributed by:

B C L

May 10, 2024

Contributed by:

B C L

Create Linux VDAs in Citrix DaaS Standard for Azure

Supported Linux distributions

Step 1: Prepare a master image in Azure

Step 2: Import the master image from Azure

Step 3: Create a Machine Catalog

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