Citrix XenApp 6.0 User Guide

Overview

Citrix XenApp is the preferred method for accessing SLAC's Windows environment remotely.  Citrix enables members of the SLAC user community to access a Windows desktop or a variety of common Windows applications through a Web browser from any location with an internet connection.  With Citrix, SLAC users can even access the Windows environment from a Mac, Linux, or Solaris computer.

The purpose of this document is to provide users the basic information they need to connect to and use the Citrix farm successfully, and how to obtain help when needed.  This document is also intended to set user expectations for the Citrix farm by outlining what is and is not supported within the Citrix environment by the Citrix administrators, application maintainers, and Local Desktop Computing Administrators.

Requirements

To access the SLAC Citrix farm, you must meet the following requirements:

• Supported Operating System

Your computer must be running one of the following supported operating systems at a minimum:

• Windows XP
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.0
• Mac OS X (support limited to Citrix client installation only)

Citrix administrators will not support accessing the Citrix farm from any other operating system at this moment.

• Supported Web Browser

Your computer must have one of the following supported Web browsers installed:

• Internet Explorer
• Mozilla Firefox
• Apple Safari

Citrix administrators will not support accessing the Citrix farm from any other Web browser.

• Citrix Client

Your computer must have a supported Citrix client installed to access the Citrix farm.  Once you logon to the Citrix farm via https://citrix.slac.stanford.edu, you'll be prompted to download and install the client if the client has not been detected or you have older version of client.  Alternatively, you can download from the following sites.

• Windows client download:

http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/results.asp?productID=186&c1=sot2755

• Linux client download:

http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/results.asp?productID=186&c1=sot2755

• Mac OS X client download:

  http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/results.asp?productID=186&c1=sot2755

• Accounts

You must have both a SLAC Windows account and Citrix account to access the Citrix farm.

• Windows Account
  If you do not already have a Windows account, you can get one here.
   

• Citrix Account
  If you do not already have a Citrix account, you can get one here.  You must have a Windows account before you can get a Citrix account.
  
   

Accessing the Citrix Farm

The following sections provide an overview of the steps involved in accessing the Citrix farm.

• Installing and Configuring the Citrix Client

The Citrix client must be installed and properly configured to access the Citrix Farm.

• Windows
  Client installation instructions
   
• Linux / Unix
  Client installation and configuration instructions for both Taylored and non-Taylored systems
   
• Mac
  Client installation and configuration instructions

• Logging In to the Web Portal
  The URL for the Citrix Web Portal is https://citrix.slac.stanford.edu.
  
  Accessing Citrix through the Web Portal is the supported method for Windows, Mac, and non-Taylored Linux clients.
  
• The Citrix Web Portal looks like this:
• 
• Enter your Windows user name and password and click Log On to log in to the Citrix Web Portal.
   
   
• Launching a Windows Desktop or Application
  Once you have connected to the Citrix farm through the Web Portal, you can choose to launch a Windows Desktop, or a specific application.
   
• Windows Desktop
  If the application you want is not available as a published applications, you should choose to launch a Windows Desktop.  This is done by clicking on the Windows Desktop icon:
• 
  This will open a new window, where you will be presented with the SLAC logon notice and a Windows logon screen.  You will need to enter your Windows user name and password again to log on to the Windows Desktop.
  
  Once you have logged on to the Windows Desktop, click on the Start button in the lower left corner to open the Start menu.  From there you can launch whatever application(s) you need.
   
• Applications
  Many common Windows applications can be launched individually through Citrix by clicking on their icons.  If you will only be using one or two of these applications, you may find it easier to launch them directly from published applications than launching them from within a Windows Desktop. 

• Logging Off
  When using a Windows Desktop, please log off when you are finished by selecting Log Off from the Start menu.  This will properly end your session and save any user profile data that may have changed.  If you close the Windows Desktop window instead of logging off, your session will be in a disconnected state and tie up farm resources until the session times out and is terminated automatically, which will also cause any unsaved files or profile data to be lost.  See Session Timeouts for more information.
  
   

Common and Licensed Applications

• Common Applications
  Several applications are available to any Citrix user.  These include site licensed applications like Microsoft Word and Excel, freeware applications like Adobe Reader and WinSCP, and applications that are part of the Windows OS, like Internet Explorer and Notepad.
  
  Some applications, like those in the Microsoft Office suite and Internet Explorer, can be launched individually.  Others are only available within the Windows Desktop.
  
  A current list of applications available on the Citrix farm can be found at http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/computing/windows/services/citrix/XA6/applications_XA6.htm
   
• Requesting Applications
  If you have an application that you would like to be made available on the Citrix farm, the procedure for doing so is described in New Application Requests for the Citrix Farm.  There are a number of requirements that an application must meet for it to be compatible with Citrix.  Because of this, not all applications can be made available on the Citrix farm.
   
• Application Help
  If you need help with an application in Citrix, please contact your Local Desktop Computing Administrator or the maintainer of the application, as listed on the Windows Software Installation Site (Xweb).  If they are unable to solve the problem or determine that it is a Citrix issue, they will contact the Citrix administrators for further assistance.
  
   

Working with Files in Citrix

• Network Drives
  The standard Windows network drives (Z, V, U, and W) are mapped automatically when you launch an application or Windows Desktop in Citrix.  If you belong to a department that has additional network drives, those will also be mapped automatically.
  
  Citrix users are encouraged to save their files to the network drives, since these are backed up regularly.
  
  If you need to map a drive to some other network share, instructions for doing so can be found here.
   
• Local Drives
  • Windows clients
    Local drives on Windows clients are automatically mapped by Citrix. 
     
  • Mac OS X clients
    Local drives on Windows clients are automatically mapped by Citrix.
     
  • Linux clients (need to verify with UNIX ADMIN)
    Instructions for mapping local drives or AFS space in Citrix can be found here.
     

• Saving Files
  Citrix users are encouraged to save their files to the network drives, since these are backed up regularly.  In Citrix, the My Documents folder and the desktop are mapped to the user's home (Z:) drive, so these are also recommended locations.
  
  In most applications, you save files by selecting Save or Save As from the File menu.  When saving files, the default location to save them may not be the My Documents folder or a network drive, so users should always be mindful of where their files are being saved to.
  
   
• How to Avoid Losing Files or Data
  The following guidelines will help minimize the chances of losing files or other data when using Citrix:
   
  • Always save files to a network drive, the My Documents folder, or the desktop.  These locations are backed up regularly, unlike most local drives.
     
  • Save files you are working on frequently.  This will minimize the amount of work you might lose should your Citrix session be dropped for some reason.
     
  • Save files in all open applications before you end your Citrix session
     
  • Save files before leaving a Citrix session unattended. Your Citrix session could be dropped while you are away or terminated if you leave it idle for too long, resulting in lost data.
     
  • Always log off from a Windows Desktop.  Logging off will give you an opportunity to save any files you are working on that haven't been properly saved, and will also ensure that any changes made to your Citrix profile will be saved.  If your session freezes and you cannot properly log off, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu so that a Citrix administrator can log you off or terminate your session properly.
    
     

Printing in Citrix

• Locally Defined Printers
  Any printers you have defined on your local system are automatically mapped to your Citrix session.  This includes printers directly connected to your local system and network printers you have defined on your local system.  If you do not have any local printers defined, you can add a printer from within your Citrix session by connecting to one of the central printers on the central print server. 
   
• Adding a Printer From Within a Citrix Session
  Please see.
   
• Printing Help
  If your local printers do not appear in your Citrix session, or if you receive an error attempting to connect to a network printer on the print server from within your Citrix session, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu .
  
  For all other printing issues, please contact your Local Desktop Computing Administrator for assistance.
  
   

Best Practices

The following recommendations constitute best practices for using Citrix:

• Always save files to a network drive, the My Documents folder, or the desktop
  These locations are backed up regularly, unlike most local drives.
   
• Save files you are working on frequently
  This will minimize the amount of work you might lose should your Citrix session be dropped for some reason.
   
• Save files in all open applications before you end your Citrix session
   
• Save files before leaving a Citrix session unattended
  Your Citrix session could be dropped while you are away or terminated if you leave it idle for too long, resulting in lost data.
   
• Reconnect to disconnected sessions to continue working
  If your session is dropped or you disconnect from your session, you can reconnect within 15 minutes without losing your session or data.
   
• Always log off from a Windows Desktop
  Logging off will give you an opportunity to save any files you are working on that haven�t been properly saved, and will also ensure that any changes made to your Citrix profile will be saved.  If your session freezes and you cannot properly log off, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu so that a Citrix administrator can log you off or terminate your session properly.
   
   
• Add printers on your system instead of from within a Citrix session
  Any printers you have defined on your local system (both directly attached and network printers) are automatically mapped to your Citrix session.  Support for adding a printer from within a Citrix session is limited to the printers on the central print server.
   
• Need help?  Check the FAQ
  Answers to many common Citrix questions and issues can be found on the Citrix FAQ page.  This is a good place to start if you need help with Citrix.
   
• Avoid customizing settings
  Settings in Windows, Microsoft Office, and other applications may not carry over to future Citrix sessions, so avoid customizing settings when possible.
   
• Don't forget about session timeouts
  The timeout for disconnected sessions is 15 minutes.  The timeout for idle sessions is 3 hours (180 minutes).  Sessions that timeout will be terminated and any unsaved data will be lost.
   
  
   

Migrating To/From Another Citrix Farm

• Limited Migration Support
  Citrix administrators provide very limited support for migrating between farms.  It is expected that the majority of migration support will come from the Local Desktop Computing Administrators or application maintainers, as is the case when new versions of applications are deployed to Windows workstations or when users get a new or upgraded Windows workstation.
   
• Supported Features
  
  • Desktop
    This does not include any desktop icons or folders that are common to all Citrix users, such as My Computer or Recycle Bin.
     
  • My Documents
    This includes any subfolders, such as My Pictures, and their contents as well.
     
  • Internet Explorer Favorites
    
     
• Migration Tools
•  Applications
  Migration support for application data and/or settings for all other applications is at the discretion of the user's Local Desktop Computing Administrator or the maintainer of the application, as listed on the Windows Software Installation Site (Xweb).
  
   

Limitations of Citrix

• Session Timeouts
  • Disconnected Sessions
    There is a 15 minute timeout for disconnected sessions.  Disconnected sessions occur when your network connection to Citrix is interrupted or if you are using a Windows Desktop and close the window instead of logging off.
    
    If you reconnect to Citrix before the 15 minute timeout is reached, you will be able to resume your disconnected application or Windows Desktop.
    
    If you do not or cannot reconnect to Citrix before the 15 minute timeout is reached, your session will be terminated and any unsaved data will be lost.
     
  • Idle Sessions
    There is a 180 minute (3 hour) timeout for idle sessions.  Citrix sessions that are left idle for 180 minutes will be terminated and any unsaved data will be lost.
     
• Restricted Access
  • Windows Settings and Features
    In order to maintain the availability and stability of the Citrix farm, certain Windows features and settings are unavailable to users.  Inquiries regarding Windows features or settings that are unavailable to users should be sent to windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu .
     
  • Application Settings and Features
    In order to maintain the availability and stability of the Citrix farm, certain application features and settings may be unavailable to users.
    
    Additionally, applications that require a license are also not available to users who have not purchased a license.
    
    Inquiries regarding application features or setting that are unavailable to users should be sent to the maintainer of the application, as listed on the Windows Software Installation Site (Xweb).
     
• No User Installs
  • No User-Installed Applications or Drivers
    In order to maintain the availability and stability of the Citrix farm, users cannot install applications or drivers on the Citrix farm.  Only Citrix Administrators can install or update drivers and applications on the Citrix farm.
     
  • Requesting Applications
    If you have an application that you would like to be made available on the Citrix farm, the procedure for doing so is described in New Application Requests for the Citrix Farm.  There are a number of requirements that an application must meet for it to be compatible with Citrix.  Because of this, not all applications can be made available on the Citrix farm.
     
• Unsupported Features
  The following features are not supported by the Citrix administrators:
   
  • ActiveX controls and Browser Plugins
    Users cannot install applications on the Citrix farm, including ActiveX controls or web browser plugins.
     
  • Outlook .pst and .ost files
    The use of Outlook Personal Folders files (.pst) and Offline Folders files (.ost) in Citrix is not supported.  If you choose to use these features anyway, .pst and .ost files should be saved to your Z: drive or other network drive.
     
  • Adding printers from within a Citrix session other than the ones on the Central windows print server
    Support for adding printers from within a Citrix session is limited to the printers on the Central print server.   
  • Quick Launch Icons
    Quick Launch icons in one session may not be carried over in future Citrix sessions and are therefore unsupported.
     
  • Microsoft Office AutoRecover Data
    Office AutoRecover data is lost when idle or disconnected sessions are terminated.  Users should save their work frequently instead of relying on AutoRecover.
     
  • Microsoft Office Settings
• Persistence of Office Settings Across Sessions
  Microsoft Office settings in one Citrix session may not be carried over in future Citrix sessions.  Because of this, users are discouraged from customizing Microsoft Office settings in Citrix.
   
• Other Application Settings
  • Migration of Application Settings
    Migration support for application data and/or settings for applications other than Microsoft Office is at the discretion of the user's Local Desktop Computing Administrator or the maintainer of the application, as listed on the Windows Software Installation Site (Xweb).
     
  • Persistence of Application Settings Across Sessions
    Application settings in one Citrix session may not carried over in future Citrix sessions.  Because of this, users are discouraged from customizing application settings in Citrix.
     
• Files and Data Not Saved to Network Drives
  Files and data that are not saved to a network drive cannot be recovered if lost or accidentally deleted.
  
   

Getting Help

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  Answers to many common Citrix questions and issues can be found on the Citrix FAQ page.  This is a good place to start if you need help with Citrix.
   
• Client Installation
  If you need help installing the Citrix client on your computer, please contact your Local Desktop Computing Administrator or refer to the following installation instructions for your platform:
  • Windows client installation instructions
  • Mac OS X client installation instructions
  • Linux/Solaris client installation instructions
     
• Accessing the Citrix Farm
  To access the Citrix farm use the Citrix Web Portal, https://citrix.slac.stanford.edu/.
• Frozen Sessions / Unable to Log Off
  If your session freezes and you cannot properly log off, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu so that a Citrix administrator can log you off or terminate your session properly.
   
• Application Support
  If you need help with an application in Citrix, please contact your Local Desktop Computing Administrator or the maintainer of the application, as listed on the Windows Software Installation Site (Xweb).  If they are unable to solve the problem or determine that it is a Citrix issue, they will contact the Citrix administrators for further assistance.
   
• Printing Support
  If your local printers do not appear in your Citrix session, or if you receive an error attempting to add a printer from the Central windows print server from within your Citrix session, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu .
  
  If there is a printer you would like to have added to the print server, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu .
  
  For all other printing issues, please contact your Local Desktop Computing Administrator for assistance.
   
• Migration Support
  If you need help with migration support, please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu .
  
  If you need help with an application other than Microsoft Office, please contact your Local Desktop Computing Administrator or the maintainer of the application, as listed on the Windows Software Installation Site (Xweb).
   
• Still Need Help?
  Please e-mail windows-admin@slac.stanford.edu for help if you cannot find the answer to your Citrix questions or problems in the sections above.