Citrix preps Feature Pack 1 for XenDesktop 3

The below is from Brian Madden’s blog.

Citrix will be releasing Feature Pack 1 for XenDesktop 3 at Citrix Synergy in two weeks.

Here is a list of new features.

• Multimedia redirection for Flash (or HDX MediaStream or whatever it’s called now). This just means that the remote host will send the raw flash content to the endpoint where it will be rendered locally, similar to the RAVE technology that’s been in place for media streams for the past five years.
• Improvements for general host-based motion, including Silverlight, Quicktime, dragging windows, PowerPoint animations, etc.
• VoIP soft-phone support for LAN users
• Bi-directional audio support in Vista.
• Refined smart card support, including flowing sessions between devices with different brands of readers
• Windows 7 guest support (which will be huge)

http://www.brianmadden.com/blogs/brianmadden/archive/2009/04/20/citrix-preps-feature-pack-1-for-xendesktop-3-catapulting-its-ica-features-past-ica-in-xenapp-behold-the-powers-of-competition.aspx

Advanced Access Control and the Citrix Secure Access Client

When using the Citrix Advanced Access Control (AAC) software with the Citrix Access Gateway the Secure Access Client must be installed with some additional command line arguments. The Secure Access Client must be downloaded and insalled with these command line arguments.

CitrixSAClient.exe -Q -D https://cag.company.com -i

After installing there will be a shortcut on the desktop that will take the user to the CAG login page. After login the user will be prompted to install the net6helper.dll add-on in Internet Explorer.

After this add-on is installed the user will then be connected to the VPN.

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX114917

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX108757

How to automatically upgrade VMware Tools

The following how-to is from this VMware KB  —  http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1010048

Before you begin

Before you perform the steps in this article, ensure that you have applied these prerequisite patches:

Note: Ensure to choose the patch for the product you are running.

• VMware ESX 3.5 Patch ESX350-200811401-SG
• VMware ESXi 3.5 Patch ESXe350-200811401-T-BG

The steps in this article require these components:

• Windows PowerShell 1.0. This version of Windows PowerShell is installed as Microsoft KB926139-v2.

  For more information, see http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/powershell/default.mspx.
  Note: The preceding link was correct as of July 23, 2008. If you find the link is broken, please provide feedback and a VMware employee will update the link.

• VI Toolkit. For more information, see http://vmware.com/download/download.do?downloadGroup=VI-WT-15.

Note: VMware recommends that you install NET 2.0 SP1 to avoid slow operations.

Setting all virtual machines to automatically upgrade VMware Tools

To use VI Toolkit and PowerShell to set all virtual machines to automatically upgrade VMware Tools:

1. Start VI Toolkit from Start > Programs > VMware > VMware VI Toolkit > VMware VI Toolkit.
2. Connect to the VirtualCenter Server with the command:

   connect-viserver -server <VirtualCenter Server IP address> -user <VirtualCenter User> -password <VirtualCenter password>

3. Copy the following command into the Windows VI Toolkit window:

   Foreach ($v in (get-vm)) {
   $vm = $v | Get-View
   $vmConfigSpec = New-Object VMware.Vim.VirtualMachineConfigSpec
   $vmConfigSpec.Tools = New-Object VMware.Vim.ToolsConfigInfo
   $vmConfigSpec.Tools.ToolsUpgradePolicy = “UpgradeAtPowerCycle”
   $vm.ReconfigVM($vmConfigSpec)
   }
   
   The VI Toolkit window does not display any output until the command has completed for each virtual machine. When the command is done running, a reconfigure task displays in VirtualCenter for every virtual machine.

Note: To disable this setting, follow steps 1 and 2, then copy this command into the VI Toolkit window:

Foreach ($v in (get-vm)) {
$vm = $v | Get-View
$vmConfigSpec = New-Object VMware.Vim.VirtualMachineConfigSpec
$vmConfigSpec.Tools = New-Object VMware.Vim.ToolsConfigInfo
$vmConfigSpec.Tools.ToolsUpgradePolicy = “manual”
$vm.ReconfigVM($vmConfigSpec)
}

Citrix XenApp 5 Hotfix Rollup Pack 4

Citrix has released a new hotfix rollup pack for XenApp 5/Presentation Server 4.5 for Windows 2003.

Before you install this latest rollup pack make sure you read through this article http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX119069

One of the most important prerequisites is to update your Citrix Licensing server to 11.6 https://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=1688507&productId=186%20target=

If you have not yet installed hotfix rollup pack 3 then you first need to install the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 SP1 Redistributable Package from here http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=200B2FD9-AE1A-4A14-984D-389C36F85647