Webcam Redirection
Overview
Users of video conferencing etc. applications running in VDA for macOS sessions can now use their webcams with HDX webcam video compression capability. The feature is enabled by configure through “VDA Configuration” app installed with VDA installer.
HDX webcam video compression is also called Optimized webcam mode. This type of webcam video compression sends the H.264 video directly to the video conferencing application running in the virtual session. HDX webcam video compression uses the multimedia framework technology that is part of the client operating system to intercept video from capture devices, transcode, and compress it.
When a session is launched, the CWA client handles the webcam requests from VDA. The client then sends the video only to the server that can display it properly. The server leverages the camera extension of macOS system to process webcam streams, and its integration gives you the same experience on your desktop. Workspace app compresses the video to save bandwidth and provide better resiliency on WAN scenarios.
Configuration
This feature is enabled by default. To use it, complete the following configuration.
Activate camera extension to make webcam available. Open “VDA Configuration” and navigate to the tab “Webcam”. Click the toggle below to activate camera extension, as shown in below screenshots sequence. (Click the toggle in active mode will deactivate the camera extension)
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Click Open System Settings to navigate to system setting page:
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Click Allow so Citrix VDA for macOS can load system extension for webcam redirection
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Now the configuration is shall be successful as shown below.
Optimally: check camera extension state in terminal using command
systemextensionsctl list. State of “com.citrix.mvda.vdacfg.cameraextension” should be “activated enabled”.
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Also enable webcam from your CWA (Citrix Workspace app) side when connect to Citrix VDA for macOS session:
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Allow webcam access when you launch a session. Then the device “Citrix HDX Camera” can be used, by either configured it one time for all:
Or allow each time depends on your needs
Note:
- Confirm the extension state is “activated enabled” with command systemextensionsctl list if webcam does not work, as mentioned above.
- If one application cannot locate the “Citrix HDX Camera” or if it becomes unresponsive after selection, as a limitation of macOS, a restart of your Mac is required. This ensures the camera extension is fully activated following its initial installation.
- If no video input from device “Citrix HDX Camera”, please disconnect and reconnect your session.
- To uninstall the camera extension, please restart your Mac after deactivating Webcam through “VDA Configuration”.
Limitation
- Plug and play of webcam is not supported at the moment.
- Only one camera from the CWA client can be redirected.
- Webcam shall in general support H.264 codec to be used, please check related CWA documents for requirements.
- This feature currently only supports resolution 640x480, adaptive resolution will be supported along with PnP capability in future release.