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* Go directly into one published resource, e.g. a fullscreen desktop
* Present a choice to users for multiple available resources, e.g. published applications
* Use [[Mozilla_Firefox | Firefox ]] or Chromium web browsers and log in via browser
* Use the "selfservice" GUI to provide a browser-like experience
== Browser-based login ==
If you want to log in via browser, create a [[Connection | connection]], use either [[Mozilla_Firefox | Firefox ]] or Chromium, and point it to your Citrix URL. You will notice that you have the "Citrix Workspace App"
On most modern PCs a browser is a good choice, and NoTouch cleans out the environment after the browser is closed. On older systems or the Raspberry Pi you may find a browser solely for the purpose of logging in uses too many resources, though.
== Citrix Workspace App ==
In most cases a [[Connection | connection ]] of type '''Citrix/StoreFrontWorkspace App''' and a Citrix URL as connection target are enough to successfully run a Citrix client.
"Citrix/StoreFrontWorkspace App", the mode of choice for using NoTouch with both StoreFronton- premise and PNAcloud-based sitesCitrix deployments, including Citrix Workspace. It can be used to either run one resource (absolutely seamless to the end user) or show a menu where users can choose from - at your option!
If you want to connect to sites using the older PNA protocol or any earlier Citrix products, please visit [[Legacy_Citrix_configuration | Legacy Citrix configuration]]. Note: Before version 2.40.4680 (i.e. end of 2018), the '''Citrix Workspace App''' connection mode was called '''Citrix/StoreFront'''
=== Creating a StoreFront connection ===
Setting up a connection to a Citrix StoreFront portal is really easy. Follow these simple steps:
# Create a connection
# Set its <code>Connection Mode</code> parameter to "Citrix Workspace App" (older versions call this "Citrix/StoreFront")
# Set the Citrix StoreFront URL into the <code>Connection Target</code> parameter
#* Use the real StoreFront API URL, typically like /Citrix/Store (as opposed to the user/web browser URL that ends in /StoreWeb)
#* You can also use the <code>Citrix URL</code> parameter of the Citrix options instead of <code>Connection Target</code> - both parameters work equally well
# Make sure the client has access to all necessary [[Certificates]]. StoreFront is SSL-only, it is mandatory to install proper root certificates!
NoTouch will display a chooser if more than one published resources are available (otherwise, if it is only one, it will launch that without further questioning). If you want to go directly into one resource, please read below.
Note: The Citrix Workspace App will display a choice between different stores. That is especially common if going through a NetScaler that bundles multiple stores. To avoid that, you must set up your URLs that it goes to one store. It is really all depending on the URL and the server configuration.
=== Starting directly into a specific application or desktop ===
There are two parameters, both need to be enabled for USB forwarding to work (yes, the default is that both are on):
* "'''Citrix USB forwarder'''" in the "Services" section* "'''Generic USB forwarding'''" in the ICA parameters section of the actual connection.
The Citrix USB forwarder is a system service, thus it can be configured from the "Services" parameters, not the Citrix ICA connection parameters. The startup behavior is controlled by the parameter named "'''Citrix USB forwarder'''" parameter. It has these options:
* "with Citrix connection". This is the default. Start the Citrix USB forwarder only if there is a Citrix connection configured.
* "on". Start the Citrix USB forwarder after system boot.
Futhermore, you can allow or deny specific devices by using the "'''Allow devices'''" and "'''Deny devices'''" parameters in the "Services"/"Citrix USB" parameters. These parameters directly modify Citrix' usb.conf file and thus accept the original Citrix syntax only [1]. Multiple stanzas, each one describing one device, stanzas separated by commas, can be added to either of these parameters. A stanza consists of tags that in turn have the form TAG=VALUE. Acceptable tags are:
* '''VID''' Vendor ID from the device descriptor
Please see the original Citrix documentation for more information [2]. Changes to these parameters need a reboot to become active.
=Browser Content Redirection (BCR)=
Browser Content Redirection (BCR) is a Citrix feature to use the local, client CPU to render certain webpages instead of the VDA side. In other words, instead of the VDA side rendering the whole page, a Workspace-App-side rendering engine will be started and instructed to fetch the web content from the URL, render it locally and draw it into the browser window "over" the rest of the Citrix session.
On the NoTouch side, BCR needs to be switched on with the "Browser Content Redirection" parameter under the Citrix options - set it to "on". On the Citrix side, you'll have to deal with
*certain Citrix policies,
*browser plugin installation,
*URL whitelisting (only whitelisted URLs will be redirected).
More information can be found here: [https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/citrix-virtual-apps-desktops/multimedia/browser-content-redirection.html Browser Content Redirection] and [https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX230052 Troubleshoot Browser Content Redirection].
Needless to say, all required components for BCR are part of NComputing NoTouch OS. You do not need to worry about installing GStreamer, WebKitGtk+, CEF etc.
To use BCR with multimedia content on the EX400 (x64) thin client, you will need the Fluendo codec pack. As of WSA 19.06, Citrix can not simply work with "only free codecs". See below for a more detailed explanation on the codec question.
==Codes==
A codec in this context is a program to playback a certain kind of video or audio stream. NComputing NoTouch OS only includes codecs that are free from any patent license fees. We understand many people don't care but we do. If you download any kind of desktop Linux and then additionally install these patented codecs such as AAC or H.264, you are at risk of being sued, at least in a commercial environment. That said, please don't report bugs to NComputing that sound like "It works on Ubuntu, I just installed all these codecs...". The proper way is to purchase the Fluendo codecs, which are high-performing and properly licensed codecs on Linux. This codec is relatively inexpensive and gives you legal safety as well as the highest performance. Note: This only applies to software. If your system has hardware decoders and the drivers can make use of them, the royalties are already being paid for by the HW manufacturer.
Typical free codecs are VP8, VP9, AV1, Theora (video), and Opus, FLAC, MP3 (audio). Yes, MP3 is now patent-free since the last patent expired in mid-2017. Typical codecs that require licensing are AAC (audio), MPEG-2, H.264, and HEVC/H.265, again, unless your hardware has such codecs built-in.
==RX-HDX (based on Raspberry Pi platform)==
Browser Content Redirection on the Raspberry Pi 3 does work in principle but is unsupported by NComputing as there are a few caveats. The Pi implementation, as of mid-2019, uses CEF (Chrome Extension Framework) as opposed to WebkitGtk+ which is actually the more modern approach. However,
The software is still very early and may not work in all circumstances (please direct support questions to Citrix)
It does not work conceptually with a full-screen H.264 encoded session, obviously
It will degrade performance because the Pi 3's CPU is not made for rendering complete web pages
The Raspberry Pi 4 with its improved CPU power changes the game - As the Raspberry Pi 4 emerges, both Citrix and NComputing are working together on next-generation BCR capabilities.
= HDX and Multimedia support =
=== HDX RealTime Media Engine (RTME) ===
The Citrix HDX RealTime Media Engine (RTME) is the client-side component of the Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Skype for Business. To enable Skype for Business experience, both client side and server side need to be properly configured.
On the client side, the both [https://www.ncomputing.com/products/RX-series/RX-HDX RX-HDX ] and [https://www.ncomputing.com/products/EX-series/EX400 EX400] thin client comes clients come with RTME integration (firmware version 2.40.2670 and above). By default, the HDX RealTime Media Engine is disabled and must be enabled for the Citrix connection to optimize the Skype for Business experience. This can be done in Connection -> Citrix -> HDX/Multimedia settings by setting the “HDX Realtime Media Engine (Skype for Business)” parameter to “on” (see screenshot below).
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Once the HDX RealTime Optimization Pack is setup, the audio and video devices connected to the RX-HDX thin client are enumerated locally by RTME (i.e. not redirected from the client to the VDA). The Audio and video settings can be modified directly from Skype for Business setting menu.
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==Printing==
Printing works fine with Citrix in NoTouch. Please consult our [[Printer_configuration|Printer configuration ]] page.
=Smartcard support=