Service Continuity is designed to remove (or, if that’s not possible, minimize) the dependency on the availability of the components involved in the virtual apps/desktops connection process. It is a re-architecture of the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops service with design-for-failure as a guiding principle.
Authorization and resource enumeration are now decoupled from session launch and can be achieved once when the cloud is available, simplifying session launch during outages. While this required work to be done on multiple areas of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops and Citrix Cloud, the Citrix Workspace app was a big focus so we could avoid any VDA-side changes.
Browsers are the No. 1 tool for users. They’re the gateway to the World Wide Web, they serve as SaaS clients, we play games on them, conduct video conference calls, and much more. There’s not much you can’t do on a browser.
Most users prefer browsers as the access point to Citrix Workspace and Citrix StoreFront portals. “Typing the Citrix URL” is second nature to them. From a technical perspective, authentication and enumeration happen within a tab. We call this the Citrix Workspace app for Web.
But, generally, these users also have a native Citrix Workspace app installed, so after the click on the app icon within the browser window, the native HDX Engine is invoked with the downloaded ICA file thanks to a URI protocol handler registered with the OS. Using a native client gives users the best possible features and performance on their computing platform.
Please note, there are also use cases where no native Citrix Workspace app components are installed on the endpoint. This is a zero-install configuration where both the Citrix Workspace store and the HDX engine reside within the browser. This is known as the Citrix Workspace app for HTML5 (hosted in either Citrix Workspace or Citrix Storefront) and is not in scope for the rest this blog.
It turns out that the combination Citrix Workspace app for Web and the native Citrix Workspace app is the most common way users connect to resources. In HDX, we call this the “hybrid” case.
For Service Continuity to work with the hybrid case, we needed to take Citrix Workspace app for Web to a whole new level. I’m proud to introduce you to the newest member of the Citrix Workspace app family, the Citrix Workspace Web Extension, now available as a preview.
The extension is a new framework that can be extended to Service Continuity and other features. Soon we will start adding new use cases, new integrations, and new services to it.
The extension also works even if you are not using Service Continuity. Citrix Workspace Web Extension for Chrome and Edge can perform accurate native Citrix Workspace app detections, and it will communicate with it, passing along the .ica file directly without protocol URI handlers.
When it comes to Service Continuity, the extension provides all the tools necessary for:
- Detecting outages
- Guaranteeing a good user experience when there is an outage
- Syncing connection leases and secure storage on the user’s device
- Log collection
Get the Preview Today
Service Continuity for browsers is now in preview with Citrix Workspace app for Windows 2106. You can get the extension from the Chrome and Edge stores, and you can start testing the new user experience and benefits of Service Continuity. You can use this companion guide for testing. Please refer to Service Continuity for further details.
If you have any feedback/question, please contact us at servicecontinuity@citrix.com.
Disclaimer: The development, release and timing of any features or functionality described for our products remains at our sole discretion and are subject to change without notice or consultation. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not a commitment, promise or legal obligation to deliver any material, code or functionality and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions or incorporated into any contract.
