XenApp and XenDesktop

IPv4/IPv6 support

This release supports pure IPv4, pure IPv6, and dual-stack deployments that use overlapping IPv4 and IPv6 networks.

IPv6 communications are controlled with two Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) connection-related Citrix policy settings:

  • A primary setting that enforces the use of IPv6: Only use IPv6 Controller registration.
  • A dependent setting that defines an IPv6 netmask: Controller registration IPv6 netmask.

When the Only use IPv6 Controller registration policy setting is enabled, VDAs register with a Delivery Controller for incoming connections using an IPv6 address.

Dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 deployment

The following figure illustrates a dual-stack IPv4/IPv6 deployment. In this scenario, a worker is a VDA installed on a hypervisor or on a physical system, and is used primarily to enable connections for applications and desktops. Components that support dual IPv6 and IPv4 are running on operating systems that use tunneling or dual protocol software.

ipv6

These Citrix products, components, and features support only IPv4:

  • Provisioning Services
  • XenServer Version 6.x
  • VDAs not controlled by the Only use IPv6 Controller registration policy setting
  • XenApp versions earlier than 7.5, XenDesktop versions earlier than 7, and Director

In this deployment:

  • If a team frequently uses an IPv6 network and the administrator wants them to use IPv6 traffic, the administrator will publish IPv6 desktops and applications for those users based on a worker image or Organizational Unit (OU) that has the primary IPv6 policy setting turned on (that is, Only use IPv6 Controller registration is enabled).
  • If a team frequently uses an IPv4 network, the administrator will publish IPv4 desktops and applications for those users based on a worker image or OU that has the primary IPv6 policy setting turned off (that is, Only use IPv6 Controller registration is disabled), which is the default.

Pure IPv6 deployment

The following figure illustrates a pure IPv6 deployment. In this scenario:

  • The components are running on operating systems configured to support an IPv6 network.
  • The primary Citrix policy setting (Only use IPv6 Controller registration) is enabled for all VDAs; they must register with the Controller using an IPv6 address.

ipv6 pure

Policy settings for IPv6

Two Citrix policy settings affect support for a pure IPv6 or dual stack IPv4/IPv6 implementation. Configure the following connection-related policy settings:

  • Only use IPv6 Controller registration: Controls which form of address the Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) uses to register with the Delivery Controller. Default = Disabled
    • When the VDA communicates with the Controller, it uses a single IPv6 address chosen in the following precedence: global IP address, Unique Local Address (ULA), link-local address (only if no other IPv6 addresses are available).
    • When disabled, the VDA registers and communicates with the Controller using the machine’s IPv4 address.
  • Controller registration IPv6 netmask: A machine can have multiple IPv6 addresses; this policy setting allows administrators to restrict the VDA to only a preferred subnet (rather than a global IP, if one is registered). This setting specifies the network where the VDA will register: the VDA registers only on the first address that matches the specified netmask. This setting is valid only if the Only use IPv6 Controller registration policy setting is enabled. Default = Empty string

Important: Use of IPv4 or IPv6 by a VDA is determined solely by these policy settings. In other words, to use IPv6 addressing, the VDA must be controlled by a Citrix policy with the Only use IPv6 Controller registration setting enabled.

Deployment considerations

If your environment contains both IPv4 and IPv6 networks, you will need separate Delivery Group configurations for the IPv4-only clients and for the clients who can access the IPv6 network. Consider using naming, manual Active Directory group assignment, or Smart Access filters to differentiate users.

Reconnection to a session may fail if the connection is initiated on an IPv6 network, and then attempts are made to connect again from an internal client that has only IPv4 access.

IPv4/IPv6 support