Helient Systems : What’s New With Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912 LTSR to 2203 LTSR

by Daniel Ruiz
Practice Lead, Citrix Technologies

There have been a lot of innovations and changes since the release of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912, and even more, since XenApp and XenDesktop 7.15, which is targeted to reach the end of life in August 15th of this year. There are many features and improvements to catch up on and take full advantage of with the latest release of 2203 LTSR.

The following are significant updates made and resources with more information.

For customers still running 7.15 LTSR in production, they will have options to:

• Pay for Extended Support
• TTU to Citrix Cloud
• Upgrade to a newer CR release
• Upgrade to 1912 LTSR
• Upgrade to 2203 LTSR

What are the Long Term Service Release Benefits?

• Improved predictability with an extended 5 + 5 year lifecycle and support policy
• Simplified management and maintenance with Cumulative Updates (CUs)
• Over two years of new features and innovations
• Cloud provisioning capabilities
• Heightened compliance standards
• Accompanying Citrix Workspace app LTSR for predictable client maintenance

What does Citrix 2203 LTSR Support?

• In the upcoming Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 2203 LTSR, Citrix will support Windows 10/11, Windows Server 2016, 2019, and 2022 for the Citrix VDA server role.
• For Linux VDAs, Citrix will be offering support for RHEL 8.1-.4, CentOS 7.8-7.9, Ubuntu 18.04 and 20.04, SLES 12.5 and 15.3, and Debian 10.

What are the main benefits of Citrix 2203 LTSR?

• The Graphics Protocol

Citrix is constantly innovating and improving on the ICA graphics protocol, which has given us a leg up in delivering superior remote work experiences. Adaptive audio (with UDP support) dynamically adjusts audio quality, so you no longer have to choose Low, Medium, or High qualities for your call center workers. The HDX graphics stack has been overhauled, and 3D graphics have also been kicked into high gear to provide up to 120 FPS and improved scalability. Enhanced build to lossless tweaks how moving images are compressed during periods of high network activity to give a smoother UX.

• Linux: 

The Linux VDA made strides to the bridge-the-feature gap in this LTSR and should make you seriously consider deploying Linux workloads.

Some highlights are additional distro support (including Amazon Linux 2); adaptive audio; non-domain joined support; additional Citrix Director monitoring metrics; more support scenarios for FAS single sign-on; webcams, Citrix Provisioning Service; and more.

• Microsoft Teams Optimization: 

The Microsoft Teams Optimization feature offloads some multimedia to the local workstation to provide a more native experience.

While Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912 LTSR had a lot of features in this department, Citrix has continued to add support.

Citrix added support for a multi-monitor screen picker, selective app sharing, give/request control, multi-windows for meetings vs. chat, and expanded support for Citrix Workspace app platforms. The result is a better user experience for Microsoft Teams through a virtual desktop. 

• Built-in Tools: 

Workspace Environment Management (WEM) is now integrated into the VDA installer to make it even easier to optimize and manage workloads. The VDA Restore feature reduces the impact of failed upgrades by automatically creating a restore point to revert to a known exemplary configuration. MTU discovery is a minor but significant enhancement that facilitates proper negotiation for EDT.

• Public Cloud Enhancements:

Compatibility improvements made in Citrix Cloud since 1912 LTSR, including faster boot times in Azure, basic GCP MCS support, PVS in Azure, and removal of Azure resource group limitations.

Key Enhancements From 1912 LTSR to 2203 LTSR:

Experience:

• HDX Adaptive Audio Redirection
• EDT MTU discovery on Mac and Android
• HDX Session Screen Sharing (Linux)
• Microsoft Teams enhancements

• 1. App Sharing
  2. Multimonitor Screen Sharing
  3. optimization on Chrome OS
  4. DTMF support

• Drag & Drop Files Between Outlook and Local
• Updated support for WIA scanners
• ITSM Adapter Updates
• Virtual Display Layout for Linux
• Connection Quality Indicator (Linux)
• Support for Media apps (Zoom)

Choice:

• VDA Upgrade Service
• VDA Restore
• Windows 11 Support
• Windows Server 2022 Support
• Session Recording Event Trigger
• License Server Updates
• License Usage insights
• RHEL 8.4 and CentOS 8 (2015) support
• Smart Card Support for Debian (Linux)
• Connection Quality Indicator (CQI) for Linux
• WEM Enhancements
• App Layering UPL
• Remote PC Access
• Wake on LAN
• Disconnect timer
• Pooled Remote PC Access
• Provisioning Enhancements

Security:

• App Protection Policies enhanced integrations
• Session Recording dynamic recording
• Workspace Browser
• Fast Identity Online (FIDO2) / Biometric Support
• Session Watermarking enhancements

LTSR Component Types:

• Core components that are required and must remain at the LTSR version to be eligible for the benefits of LTSR. Example : Controller, VDA, StoreFront, Provisioning Services
• These components can be used in conjunction with an LTSR environment, but don’t qualify for the extended lifecycle and cumulative update packs. Citrix might ask customer to upgrade to a newer version. Example : App Layering, License Server
• Components that are not recommend for integration within an LTSR environment. Typically capabilities we were deprecating as they were being replaced with new technology

2203 LTSR Components:

Baseline:

• Multi Session VDA
• Single Session VDA
• Linux VDA
• Delivery Controller
• Citrix Studio
• Citrix Director
• Policies
• StoreFront
• PVS
• UPS
• Session Recording
• Session Recording web player
• UPM
• BCR

Compatible:

• App Layering
• App protection policies
• HDX RealTime Optimization Pack
• License Server
• User personalization layer
• Teams optimization
• Self-Service Password Reset
• Workspace Environment Management
• XenApp & XenDesktop 7.15 LTSR VDA Latest Cumulative Update
• CVAD 7 1912 LTSR VDA Latest Cumulative Update

Excluded:

• AppDNA
• Framehawk Gen1
• Citrix Online Integration with StoreFront

VDA Support

XA/XD 7.6

• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• 2008 R2
• 2012 R2

XA/XD 7.15

• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• 2008 R2
• 2012 R2
• Windows 10
• 2016

CVAD 1912

• 2012 R2
• Windows 10
• 2016
• 2019

CVAD 2203

• Windows 10
• 2016
• 2019
• Windows 11
• 2022

If you would like more information or assistance from our industry leading team of Citrix experts to plan and execute the upgrade, please contact us at service@helient.com.