Tech Paper: Deploying the Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS using Google Workspace
Overview
This article focuses on deploying the Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS using Google Workspace to automate the application deployment from the Google Cloud console. The advantage for the end user will be Citrix Workspace app will appear installed in any ChromeOS. After login to Citrix Workspace app, they will be provided access to any Linux and Windows virtual apps and desktops, alongside any internal web applications without a VPN client.
Configuration
-
Sign in to your Google Admin console (https://admin.google.com) using an administrator account.
-
In the Admin console, go to Menu. Select Devices.
-
Select Chrome devices.
-
Select Apps & extension, then select Users & browsers.
-
To apply the setting to all devices, leave the top organizational unit selected. Otherwise, select a child organizational unit.
-
To add Citrix Workspace app.
- Click + Add.
- Select Add the Chrome app or extension by ID.
- Enter the Extension ID for Citrix Workspace app and source for the version that you want to use. Click Save
Citrix provides its stable Citrix Workspace app on the Chrome Web Store. Citrix Workspace has extension ID ‘haiffjcadagjlijoggckpgfnoeiflnem’
- Configure Citrix Workspace app.
-
In the list of apps and extensions, select the Citrix Workspace app
-
Under the Installation policy, select Force Install + pin to ChromeOS taskbar.
-
Click Save.
Configuring Citrix Workspace app Settings
Citrix Workspace app settings can be configured using a Google Admin Policy. Admins can use the Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS Configuration utility tool (https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/citrix-workspace-app-for-chrome/configuration-utility-tool) to create a policy.txt file with the relevant JSON settings.
The ChromeOS Configuration utility tool enables the configuration of the following settings:
- Virtual channels
- Printing, Clipboard, USB, File Transfer.
- Features
- Audio, Codec, Graphics, PDF Printing, Microsoft Teams Optimizations, File Transfer.
- Power Settings
- Keep awake level for display and system.
- Store Settings
- Store Name, Citrix Gateways, Beacons, and StoreFront URL.
- Device Settings
- Device rules for allow/deny, and auto redirect.
Refer to the Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS Product Documentation for details on all Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS policy settings that can be configured.
Example
In this example, we have used the Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS Configuration utility to configure the settings listed below.
- Citrix Workspace URL
- Keep awake level for display
- Fullscreen window state
Once the policy.txt file is created, we can upload or copy it inside the Citrix Workspace app policy for extensions.
{
"settings": {
"Value": {
"settings_version": "1.0",
"engine_settings": {
"ui": {
"sessionsize": {
"windowstate": "fullscreen"
}
}
},
"power_settings": {
"keep_awake_level": "display"
},
"vc_channel": {
"CTXMTOP" : "true"
},
"store_settings": {
"rf_web": {
"url": "https://'<WorkspaceURL>'.cloud.com"
}
}
}
}
}
Auto-launch of ICA sessions
Citrix Workspace app for ChromeOS supports auto-launch of ICA (Independent computing architecture) sessions on Google managed devices or users.
To configure the auto-launch of ICA sessions, log in as an administrator and do these steps:
- Log on to the Google Admin console.
- In the Google Admin console, select Devices, Chrome, Settings.
- Then, under Settings, select Users & Browsers, Device, and Managed Guest Session Settings (as appropriate), set Auto-open downloaded files and add ICA under Auto-open file types for User & Browser Settings, Device Settings, and Managed Guest Session Settings as appropriate (for managed users and managed devices).
- Under Allow pop-ups on these sites add the Citrix Workspace or Citrix StoreFront URL (as appropriate).
