What’s new in StoreFront 2.6

New release of XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 comes with StoreFront version 2.6. In the new StoreFront we can find some important features which make XenApp and XenDesktop much easier and more secure for use. In this article I will only summarize all new features but in the next articles I will try to describe the most important features in details.

Usability improvments

• Updated Receiver for HTML5 and New Receiver for Chrome – receiver for HTML5 is great for productivity applications like Office. The newest version adds the following features:
  • audio-video playback in XenDesktop and XenApp
  • clipboard across remote applications and between local and remote application
  • direct SSL connections with XenDesktop 7.6
  • multi-session aware printing
  • end user experience monitoring support
  • App Switcher for switching applications launched in the same session.

For more information, see: Receiver for Chrome and Citrix Receiver for HTML5 1.4.

• Receiver for Web Access from Mobile Browser – enables users on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices to verify credentials, remove apps and restart desktops.
• Simplified store configuration in the administration console– the updated StoreFront console simplifies configuration for the following:
  • Mandatory Stores – for more information, see StoreFront 2.6 mandatory store explained
  • HTTP session timeout for Receiver for Web
  • Domains lists on logon forms
• Receiver for Web My Apps Folder View – this new view displays applications in a folder hierarchy and includes a breadcrumb path for unauthenticated and mandatory stores. This view can help your users feel more comfortable moving from Web Interface to Receiver for Web.
• Single Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) Access – previously you might have had to have separate FQDN’s for external access via NetScaler and internal access. In StoreFront 2.6, you can use the same FQDN to access published apps and desktops internally and externally.
• XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 Connection Leasing – XenApp/XenDesktop 7.6 Controllers cache information about recent user connections. If the database becomes unavailable, the Controllers use that cached information to continue supporting connections for applications and desktops that the user launched within the last two weeks. For more information, see: XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 connection leasing explained.
• Session Pre-launch and Session Linger for XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 – currently available for Receiver for Windows only, these feature create a local-like feel for published applications. For more information, see: New and Improved Session Prelaunch and Linger.

Security improvments

• Unauthenticated (Anonymous) Users Access with XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 – unauthenticated users can access applications and desktops without presenting credentials to StoreFront or Receiver. When unauthenticated users are enabled, you must have an unauthenticated StoreFront store. For more information, see: Anonymous User Support for XenApp on FMA.
• Kerberos Constrained Delegation for XenApp 6.5 – enables pass-through authentication to published applications and desktops from non-domain-joined client devices. This is useful to enable ADFS or other forms of federated authentication via Netscaler and to speed smart card authentication.
• Smart Card Authentication Using Receiver for Android, iOS and Linux – newer Receiver versions support local and remote smart cards for accessing apps and desktop.
• Smart Card Authentication Using XenApp Services Site – enable Linux and Windows thin clients to use smart card authentication with the StoreFront’s XenApp Services Site feature for continued use of thin clients you may already be using.
• Extensible Authentication Provides a single customization point for extension of StoreFront’s form based authentication. WorxHome and Receiver for Web use it to authenticate with XenMobile, XenApp and XenDesktop for both direct internal and external via NetScaler Gateway access scenarios.