How to: Enable HTML5 in XenDesktop 7 to access Virtual Desktops from a HTML5-enabled web browser

Step1: Enable Receiver for HTML5 in Citrix StoreFront

Please follow the steps to enable Receiver for HTML5 in XenDesktop 7 environment. This is achieved by logging (RDP) to your Delivery Controller and using the Citrix StoreFront management console. Either accessing it from Citrix Studio console or from Citrix StoreFront console. Open the Citrix Studio management console. Click on Receiver for Web.

In the middle pane, make sure the appropriate Store is selected.

 

In the right pane, Under Actions > Store Web Receiver: Click Deploy Citrix Receiver

To enable Receiver for HTML5, there are 3 options:
o Install locally
o Use Receiver for HTML5 if local install fails
o Always use Receiver for HTML5

Select Use Receiver for HTML5 if local install fails

Step2: Enable ICA WebSockets connections policy in Citrix Studio (i.e. on your XenDesktop and XenApp servers)

Once the configuration on the Citrix Studio end is complete, follow the below steps to enable WebSockets policies using the Citrix Studio management console. Reference edocs

Modify an existing (default) policy

Under Citrix Studio, go to Policy

 

In the middle pane, under Policies, either modify an existing policy or create a new policy.

In the right pane, under Actions > Edit Policy..

Edit Unfiltered window opens, type websoc and hit enter. It will filter you all the three WebSockets related policy settings. Click Select for all of them.

 

Select Allowed and click OK

 Leave default click OK

Leave default click OK

Click Next

Enter a Policy name or leave default. Make sure Enable Policy is tick marked. Click Finish

NOTE: If you modify an existing default (unfiltered) policy, the option Assign policy to user and machine objects is not available. Therefore, it is recommended to either modify an existing (not default) policy or create a new policy.

Create a new policy to enable WebSockets policy settings

In Citrix Studio > Policy, under Actions > Policy, Click Create Policy

In the search field, type websoc and hit enter. It will filter all the 3 WebSockets related policy settings.

Click Select for all of the three policy settings.

Click Next

Assign permission based on delivery group, , Tags. Select Delivery group. Click Assign.

 Once you click on Assign, a window – Assign Policy opens. Select the appropriate Delivery Group from the drop-down. Click OK

If you Select Delivery Group Type, click Assign. You can select from the following delivery group types:

> Private Desktop

> Shared Desktop

> Private Application

> Shared Application

If you select Organizational Unit (OU), then you have the option to select specific OU from your AD environment.

 

On the Summary window, review your policy settings, click Finish

Step3: Verify HTML5 by access Desktop and Application(s) using web browser

Login via StoreFront URL http://<XDControllerIPaddressorFQDN>/Citrix/StoreWeb using domain credentials based on permission (users/groups) in delivery group. When you see this page, click on Log On. You get this page when you select Use Receiver for HTML5 if local install fails. That means you have two options:
1) Citrix Receiver Plugin
2) Receiver for HTML5

Enter the appropriate Username and Password

The page will enumerate all the Apps and Desktops you have access to. Please note only desktops can be launched using HTML5 browser. For Applications, you need to use Citrix Receiver plugin.

Windows 7 desktop from a HTML5 compatible browser. In this example, Google Chrome.

References
WebSockets policy settings – edocs (XenDesktop 7)
Configure Receiver for Web sites – edocs (StoreFront)