Release Notes for HDX MediaStream for Flash Trial Release

Contents

• Introduction
• Requirements
• Trial Release Installation
• Configuration
• Known Issues and Limitations

Introduction

HDX MediaStream for Flash allows the execution of the Adobe Flash Player to be moved to the user’s endpoint devices. This results in a high-definition user experience when using Windows Internet Explorer to access Flash content, including animations, videos, and applications. By moving the processing to the endpoint device, HDX MediaStream for Flash reduces server and network load, resulting in higher scalability.

Important: The HDX MediaStream for Flash trial release is for evaluation only. Do not use it in a production environment.

The HDX MediaStream for Flash trial release consists of two components that must be downloaded and installed:

• The client component, which is installed on an endpoint device running Citrix Desktop Receiver 11.1 or the Citrix online app plug-in 11.1.1
• The server component, which is installed on a server running 32-bit versions of Citrix XenDesktop 3.0, Citrix XenDesktop 3 Feature Pack 1 Virtual Desktop Agent, Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003, Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008, or Citrix Presentation Server 4.5 for Windows

For assistance with issues not covered in these release notes or for more information about advanced configuration and customization, contact the HDX team at #Support-HDXFlash@citrix.com or visit HDX MediaStream for Flash.

Requirements

• Do not install the server and client components of HDX MediaStream for Flash on the same computer
• Log on as an administrator before launching the server or client installation package

Server Installation Requirements

• Install 32-bit versions of one of the following before installing HDX MediaStream for Flash
  
  • Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2003 or Citrix XenApp 5 for Windows Server 2008 (may include XenApp 5 Feature Pack)
  • Citrix XenDesktop 3.0 or Citrix XenDesktop 3 Feature Pack 1 Virtual Desktop Agent running on a device with Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7
• Install Adobe Flash Player Version 9 or 10 before installing HDX MediaStream for Flash
• Install Windows Internet Explorer 7 or Windows Internet Explorer 8 before installing HDX MediaStream for Flash

Client Installation Requirements

• Install Desktop Receiver 11.1 (https://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=1686492&productId=163057) or the Citrix online app plug-in 11.1.1 (http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId= 1690022) before installing HDX MediaStream for Flash.

  Caution: Uninstall HDX MediaStream for Flash before updating or reinstalling the Citrix online app plug-in. Reinstall the HDX MediaStream for Flash client component after the Citrix online app plug-in is updated or installed.

• Install Adobe Flash Player Version 9 or 10 before installing HDX MediaStream for Flash.
• End any active ICA sessions on the endpoint device on which you are installing HDX MediaStream for Flash. Exit Desktop Receiver or the Citrix online app plug-in before launching the client installation package.

Network Requirements

This trial release of HDX MediaStream for Flash requires a low latency network connection between the client endpoint device and the server. Performance degradation may be observable if network latency exceeds 20 milliseconds. Latency mitigations are planned for a later date.

Trial Release Installation

This trial release involves two standalone installer packages, both downloaded from the HDX MediaStream for Flash Trial Release Web site (http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId= 1690021).

• CitrixHDXMediaStreamForFlash-TrialRelease-ServerInstall.msi
• CitrixHDXMediaStreamForFlash-TrialRelease-ClientInstall.msi

For future releases, HDX MediaStream for Flash installation will be a part of the XenDesktop and XenApp installation processes.

Server Installation

1. From the HDX MediaStream for Flash download page, download CitrixHDXMediaStreamForFlash-TrialRelease-ServerInstall.msi to the server or Virtual Desktop Agent.
2. On the server or Virtual Desktop Agent, navigate to and launch CitrixHDXMediaStreamForFlash-TrialRelease-ServerInstall.msi.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Client Installation

1. From the HDX MediaStream for Flash download page, download CitrixHDXMediaStreamForFlash-TrialRelease-ClientInstall.msi to the client.
2. On the client endpoint device, navigate to and launch CitrixHDXMediaStreamForFlash-TrialRelease-ClientInstall.msi.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.

Configuration

After completing the client and server installations, HDX MediaStream for Flash is enabled by default. No further configuration is needed. However, with Active Directory Group Policy Objects, greater control is available over which Web sites use HDX MediaStream for Flash and how HDX MediaStream for Flash obtains Flash content.

HDX MediaStream for Flash features are configured with Active Directory Group Policy Objects. Create a Group Policy Object, then import and add either or both of the two administrative templates (FlashPolicyComputer.adm and FlashPolicyUser.adm), available for download at the HDX MediaStream for Flash Trial Release Web site (http://www.citrix.com/English/ss/downloads/details.asp?downloadId= 1690021), into Computer Configuration or User Configuration.

Enabling or Disabling HDX MediaStream for Flash

HDX MediaStream for Flash is disabled when either the Computer Configuration or User Configuration settings are configured as disabled.

1. In the Group Policy Editor, expand the Computer Configuration node or the User Configuration node and then the Administrative Templates node, selecting HDX MediaStream - Flash.
2. From the Settings list, select Enable HDX MediaStream for Flash and open the Properties dialog box.
3. Select Enable or Disable.

For the policy to take effect:

• Computer Configuration: Restart all computers in the organizational unit.
• User Configuration: Users in the organizational unit must log off and back on to the network.

Preventing Identified Web Sites From Working with HDX MediaStream for Flash

1. In the Group Policy Editor, expand the Computer Configuration node or the User Configuration node and then the Administrative Templates node, selecting HDX MediaStream - Flash.
2. From the Settings list, select Per-URL blacklist and open the Properties dialog box.
3. Select Enable, click Show and then Add.
4. Type the URLs of the Web sites to be blocked from using HDX MediaStream for Flash.

   Note: Use an asterisk character at the beginning or end of the URL as a wildcard to expand your list. You do not have to include http:// or https://.

For the policy to take effect:

• Computer Configuration: Restart all computers in the organizational unit
• User Configuration: Users in the organizational unit must log off and back on to the network

Allowing Server-side Content Fetching

1. In the Group Policy Editor, expand the Computer Configuration node or the User Configuration node and then the Administrative Templates node, selecting HDX MediaStream - Flash.
2. From the Settings list, select Server-side content fetching list and open the Properties dialog box.
3. Type the Flash content paths of Web sites for which server-side content fetching is to be used. Either URL or UNC path formats is acceptable.

   Note: Use an asterisk character at the beginning or end of the URL as a wildcard to expand your list. You do not have to include http:// or https://.

For the policy to take effect:

• Computer Configuration: Restart all computers in the organizational unit
• User Configuration: Users in the organizational unit must log off and back on to the network

Known Issues and Limitations

The following limitations apply to this trial release.

• While this HDX MediaStream for Flash trial release supports most Web sites and Flash applications, it does not yet support all of them. Please report problems to #Support-HDXFlash@citrix.com.
• The HDX MediaStream for Flash trial release currently supports low latency networks only. As such, limit use of this trial release to low latency networks such as LANs.
• While dragging the Internet browser window around the screen, the Flash Player may lag behind the browser window, temporarily leaving trailing images.
• If the Desktop Receiver session is disconnected, existing Internet Explorer sessions will not be able to use HDX MediaStream for Flash upon reconnecting. Launch a new Internet Explorer browser window after reconnecting to regain access to HDX MediaStream for Flash.
• HDX MediaStream for Flash is currently limited to use in one Internet Explorer window or tab. If the endpoint device attempts to run HDX MediaStream for Flash in a second window or tab, the error message "HDX MediaStream for Flash is already running in another window or tab opened by this instance of Internet Explorer" appears. The Web site or Flash application is processed on the server.
• Although Internet Explorer 8 is supported on the client and server, a maximum of two instances of HDX MediaStream for Flash are possible if Internet Explorer 8 is used.
• HDX MediaStream for Flash does not support some instances of HTML layering with Flash. In these cases, hidden layers may appear or layers may appear out of order.
• When using a multi-monitor configuration, Flash Windows may not appear in the designed location in Internet Explorer. Empty placeholders for the Flash Windows also appear.
• The per-URL blacklist and server-side content fetching list policies do not work when using a Virtual Desktop Agent running on Windows Vista where User Account Control is enabled.
• If the HDX MediaStream for Flash server component is installed and enabled, but the client component is not deployed, an error message appears on users' screens each time Internet Explorer browses to a Web site with Flash. The Flash application processes on the server, but the message may annoy users. To suppress this error message, set the registry subkey HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Toro\PseudoServer\SuppressStartupFailureError to 1. Set the subkey to 0 to restore the error message.

  Caution: Editing the Registry incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Citrix cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk. Be sure to back up the registry before you edit it.

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