How to Configure Dazzle for Use with XenDesktop and Provisioning Services
In XenDesktop, a single image desktop is assembled dynamically from a Provisioning Services vDisk in Standard Image mode each time the user logs on. When the user logs off, any changes made to the desktop during the session are discarded. This means that if a user of a single image desktop subscribes to applications using Dazzle, these subscribed applications are not present on the desktop the next time the user logs on. To enable single image desktop users to subscribe to applications using Dazzle, you must configure your XenDesktop environment so that subscribed applications are preserved.
Note: The configuration changes detailed below are only required for desktops generated from vDisks in Standard Image mode. If you are using vDisks in Private Image mode, where each desktop uses a separate vDisk, users’ subscribed applications are saved to the vDisk along with any other changes they make.
If you are using offline applications with XenDesktop, there are various settings that can be configured to improve performance.
Treating Offline Applications as Online
When a user subscribes to an application that is published on XenApp with the Streamed to client setting and configured for offline access, Dazzle downloads the streaming package to the user device. With XenDesktop single image desktops, this approach is undesirable because the (typically large) streamed package is discarded when the user logs off.
When using Dazzle exclusively in a XenDesktop environment, there is no need to configure offline applications for offline access. If you publish offline applications as Streamed to client, but do not configure them for offline access, the user device downloads, on demand, just those parts of the streaming package that are required for the application to run.
Alternatively, if you want to publish offline applications that can be used on both virtual and local desktops, Dazzle can be configured to prevent the entire streaming package being downloaded for applications configured for offline access. To do this, you must set the following registry key on the master target device before you image the vDisk.
Caution! This procedure requires you to edit the registry. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that might 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. Back up the registry before you edit it.
- On the master target device, navigate in the system registry to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Dazzle on 32-bit operating systems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Citrix\Dazzle on 64-bit operating systems - Under the Dazzle node, add a REG_SZ value named TreatOfflineAppsAsOnline and set the value to true.
Note: This setting does not affect offline applications that are not enabled for offline access.
Adding Common Streaming Packages to the vDisk
To decrease start times for offline applications and to minimize the infrastructure load caused by users downloading streaming packages, Citrix recommends that you add streaming packages for common applications to the master target device before you image the vDisk.
When deciding which streaming packages to add to the vDisk, consider factors such as the size of the packages and frequency with which they are updated, plus the number of users likely to be running the applications.
Caution! This procedure requires you to edit the registry. Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that might 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. Back up the registry before you edit it.
- On the master target device, navigate in the system registry to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Rade on 32-bit operating systems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Citrix\Rade on 64-bit operating systems - Under the Rade node, add a REG_SZ value named RadeRunSwitches and set the value to –e.
- Use Dazzle to subscribe to the applications that you want to add to the vDisk.
- Start each offline application to populate the cache, which is typically located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\RadeCache.
- Navigate in the system registry to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Rade on 32-bit operating systems
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Citrix\Rade on 64-bit operating systems - Under the Rade node, delete the RadeRunSwitches value.
- Check that the \Deploy folder (typically located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Citrix\Deploy) is empty. If necessary, use the RadeDeploy utility to remove applications by navigating to the \Streaming Client folder from a command prompt and typing radedeploy /delete:<ApplicationName>.
Users can add new stores if you enable this option when you deploy Dazzle. However, for the optimum user experience, Citrix recommends that you preconfigure at least one store.
Citrix recommends deploying Dazzle using Merchandising Server as this allows desktops to be updated automatically. For more information about deploying Dazzle with Merchandising Server, see the Dazzle documentation.
Merchandising Server dynamically provides Dazzle configuration data to the desktop when a user logs on, which provides maximum flexibility. However, to prevent unnecessary updates, Citrix recommends that you configure Citrix Receiver not to update the plug-ins on single image desktops. For more information about disabling plug-in updates in Citrix Receiver, see the Citrix Receiver documentation.
Configuring Dazzle Using Group Policy and the Registry
If Merchandising Server is not available in your environment, specify a default store when you install Dazzle on the master target device. All users of single image desktops that use this vDisk will be able to access this store. For more information about deploying Dazzle manually, see the Dazzle documentation.
Once Dazzle is installed, you can add additional stores for single image desktop users by using Group Policy to set registry-based policies on the desktops. Dazzle store details are held in the registry under the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Citrix\Sites node. For more information about Group Policy, see https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/windowsserver/bb310732.aspx.