StoreFront v3.0 and new Unified Receiver Experience – First Impressions (Part 3)
If you want the logon page for Citrix Gateway to look more like StoreFront 3.0 and newer, enable the built-in RfWebUI or X1 theme. RfWebUI is optimized for Unified Gateway (Clientless VPN) since it provides the exact same appearance and user experience as StoreFront 3.x. To see the NetScaler Gateway Plug-in Settings, you right-click Receiver, open Advanced Preferences and then click NetScaler Gateway Settings. You can configure the Session Policy/Profile to prevent NetScaler Gateway Plug-in from merging with Receiver. On the Client Experience tab, scroll down and check the box next to Advanced Settings. I'm using the Citrix Netscaler Gateway for Mac (Version 3.1.8 which is the newest for mac) and macOS High Sierra. When I use the Gateway Plugin to connect to our gateway, it seems to work, because the the NetScaler starts and shows the popup 'Connected to xyz'. But when I try to open a website of the connected vpn, it is not possible.
I was mostly interested in the new customization options and how to switch from the previous Green Bubble UI (a.k.a. the Classic Receiver Experience) to the new Unified Receiver Experience. So I’d like to start a little blog series about my first steps with StoreFront v3.0, covering:
. Citrix StoreFront 2.x or 3.0. NetScaler 10.5 and higher. Citrix Receiver for Windows 4.x. Citrix Receiver for Mac 11.8. We ready to roll out MAC IS 10.15 Catalina. Is there a Citrix Access Gateway plugin for 10.15? We are using an onsite Netscaler 12.1.
- Evaluating the Google Chrome Support
With Receiver for HTML5 you get the full Citrix experience with Chrome devices. The following features have been added in the latest version v1.7:
- Pure Socket Connection
- Session Reliability
- File Transfer
- Access to Google Drive
- Single App Kiosk Mode
- New Receiver UI
Note: when connecting with Receiver for HTML5 v1.7 you still need a NetScaler Gateway. Without a NetScaler Gateway you cannot utilize Receiver for HTML5. Requirements can be found here. For a PoC of Receiver for HTML5 without NetScaler Gateway by directly connecting to StoreFront v3.0 read this blog article (coming soon).
Enable HTML5 Support for Receiver for Web for the corresponding site by clicking Deploy Citrix Receiver:
You can verify the installed Receiver for HTML5 version in the center pane for the selected Receiver for Web site:
Enable Use Receiver for HTML5 if local install fails:
Note: in case your MMC crashes as soon as you click Deploy Citrix Receiver and you receive the following error:
Read the following blog article to solve the issue: Citrix StoreFront v3.0 MMC crashes with error – MMC has detected an error in a snap-in and will unload it
After having enabled Receiver for HTML5 login to your NetScaler Gateway and do not install the Citrix Receiver plugin during logon. Simply click Log On and bypass the Citrix Receiver installation through StoreFront:
Netscaler Gateway Plugin For Mac
Then launch any Published Application available and verify whether the session will be launched in a separate browser tab using Receiver for HTML5:
When using Receiver for HTML5 for the first time you’ll be greeted by the Getting Started wizard:
You can Start the Tour optionally as it explains the Receiver for HTML5’s tab functions when clicking the Tools icon:
- Tools
- Copy and Paste
- Upload Files
- Download Files
- Ctrl+Alt+Del
You can launch multiple Published Applications as they’re all being executed within the same session and browser tab (thanks to Session Sharing):
Citrix Studio confirms that we’re connected using Receiver for HTML5:
Citrix Netscaler Gateway Plugin Download
Further reading: