Ncomputing Rx-hdx Operating and maintenance instructions

Citrix Ready Workspace Hub

by NComputing

(NComputing RX-HDX)

Installation and Configuration

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 
Contents 
 
Overview........................................................................................................................................................3 
About Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing..................................................................................3 
System Requirements................................................................................................................................2 
Upgrade RX-HDX........................................................................................................................................2 
Setup with internal centralized management...............................................................................................3 
Configuration with no centralized management...........................................................................................3 
XenApp/XenDesktop configuration...............................................................................................................4 
Skype for Business .....................................................................................................................................4 
Performance policy....................................................................................................................................4 
Dual monitor setup........................................................................................................................................ 6 
Enable the Citrix Ready workspace hub in Citrix Receiver ............................................................................6 
Session roaming with proximity authentication............................................................................................9 
Session roaming with QR code authentication ...........................................................................................10 
Screen casting with QR code authentication............................................................................................... 10 
Long running session ...................................................................................................................................12 
Security connection .....................................................................................................................................13 
Shortcuts......................................................................................................................................................14 
Setup with XenMobile (optional).................................................................................................................14 
Known Limitations .......................................................................................................................................15 
Support Information....................................................................................................................................16 
 
 
 
 
 

Overview

The Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) combines digital and physical environments to

deliver apps and data within a secure smart space. The complete system connects devices (or things),

like mobile apps and sensors, to create an intelligent and responsive environment.

As a component of the Citrix Workspace experience, Citrix Ready workspace hub is built on the

Raspberry Pi 3 platform and becomes a robust service delivered through Citrix Cloud. At the same time,

a secure connection establishes to authorized apps and data. The complete package is an off-the-shelf

IoT edge device that integrates workflows and hardware within the smart space environment.

Citrix Ready workspace hub users must authenticate their mobile device through Citrix

Receiver to run published apps or desktops like Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop, Citrix ShareFile,

and Microsoft Outlook. The mobile device then connects to the Citrix Ready workspace hub

and casts the desktop or app on a larger display.

Note: This release is limited for use with Android mobile devices and Citrix Receiver for Android 3.13.4 or

later.

About Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing

In collaboration with Citrix, Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing enables Citrix Casting, which

offers two use cases that improve user productivity and collaboration. Citrix Casting leverages beacon

detection or a QR code scanner for connecting. With beacon detection, if multiple Citrix Ready

workspace hubs are available, the user must select the appropriate hub. A QR code scanner provides

security to mitigate unintentional casting to the wrong display.

•Session roaming - A Citrix session roams from the mobile device to the workspace hub.

•Screen casting –The user redirects their display from a remote session to an unoccupied hub.

Additionally, the admin can set up a smart space environment with multiple display monitors by using

NComputing’s Secondary Display Adapter. This permits the user to extend the desktop or app when

using either use case.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 2

System Requirements

Network

•The mobile device must be on the same network as the workspace hub.

•Port 55555 must not be blocked between the mobile device and the workspace hub.

•For Citrix Casting, ports 1494 and 8500 must not be blocked.

•Port 55556 is the default port for SSL connections between mobile devices and the Citrix Ready

workspace hub. You can configure a different SSL port on Pi’s settings page. If the SSL port is

blocked, users cannot establish SSL connections to the hub.

Citrix XenDesktop

Citrix Ready workspace hub is supported on Citrix XenDesktop 7.6 and later.

•For session roaming, make sure the Citrix Ready workspace hub can access HDX servers (VDA).

•For session roaming and screen casting, make sure “Use video codec for compression” policy in

Citrix Studio is set to “For the entire screen.” Failure to do so will cause the screen to crash.

Hardware

•Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX)

•Monitor * 2

•Mobile device running Citrix Receiver

•HDMI cable and power supply

•Optional:

oNComputing Secondary Display Adapter (SDA) powered by Raspberry Pi Zero

As of April 2018, only Android devices with Citrix Receiver for Android 3.13.5 and later are supported.

The latest Citrix Receiver for Android can be found in Google Play.

Citrix is planning to port the functionality to other Citrix Receiver platforms in future releases.

Upgrade RX-HDX

Citrix Ready workspace hub functionality has been integrated to NComputing RX-HDX thin client

(firmware version 2.40.3459 or higher). To access the latest firmware which contains the Citrix Ready

workspace hub functionality, refer to the following procedures in RX-HDX Getting Started Guide.

To upgrade an existing RX-HDX firmware, please refer to firmware update instruction.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 3

Setup with internal centralized management

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) comes with integrated enterprise-grade central

device management (NoTouch Center), providing a highly scalable, flexible and easy-to-use single

management point for RX-HDX devices.

Organize deployments in single or multiple sites with one software solution that simplifies management

tasks including firmware updates, configuration changes, device resets and more.

To access the latest NoTouch Center, please refer to the RX-HDX Getting Started Guide.

To install NoTouch Center for the first time, please follow the procedures in NComputing Virtual

Appliance setup guide.

Alternatively, XenMobile (UEM) can be used to configure Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing. Please refer

to the later section for details.

Configuration with no centralized

management

1. Start the Citrix Ready workspace hub device.

2. Go to Start > Configuration.

The default password is “admin”.

3. Go to Connections > Add.

4. Edit the new Connection and select Citrix/WorkspaceHub from Connection mode. Click Save.

5. At the top of the screen, click the Workspace Hub button.

6. Enter the desired URL for Workspace Hub Launcher (add http:// or https:// to the URL).

Note:

•Enter any http URL you wish to be the default workspace hub display page. After the

comma you can add addition URL such as:

▪https://source.unsplash.com/1920x1080/?nature

This will give your workspace hub a random, yet attractive photo as the default

wallpaper.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 4

•<YOUR STOREFRONT URL>

This will make it so the workspace hub loads your companies StoreFront webpage as the

default wallpaper. One advantage to this is you can use the Workspace Hub as a simple

thin client by logging in and launching your apps as normal.

7. Click Save.

8. Reboot the Citrix Ready workspace hub.

XenApp/XenDesktop configuration

You will need to make a few changes to your XenApp and XenDesktop configuration to make sure you

have the best experience with Citrix Ready workspace hub.

Skype for Business

In order to use Skype for Business RTME version 2.4 must be installed on the VDA. Earlier versions will

not work. Currently version 2.4 does not support dual display and this will be addressed in the next

version of RTME. The user needs to keep “Use Hardware Rendering = Off” if RTME is being used (see the

Performance policy section for more details).

Performance policy

To get the best experience on your Citrix Ready workspace hub (and SDA) you’ll need to enable H.264 for

the full screen. To do this you will need to configure the following policy:

Create a new policy and enable video codec for compression (H.264) for the full screen.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 5

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 6

Dual monitor setup

In order to support dual monitors the NComputing Secondary Display Adapter (SDA) is required.

Please refer to the NComputing SDA setup page for instructions.

Enable the Citrix Ready workspace hub in

Citrix Receiver

The Citrix Ready workspace hub is disabled by default in Citrix Receiver for Android. To use the hub with

an Android device, use the following steps.

Device prerequisites:

•Citrix Receiver for Android 3.13.5 or later installed

•Bluetooth enabled (for proximity authentication)

•Mobile device and workspace hub using the same wifi network

Proximity authentication provides a way to

authenticate users and launch a session

automatically.

To use proximity authentication enable Bluetooth

on the mobile device ensure that the “Add

account type as Web Interface” check box is not

selected when setting up the Citrix Receiver

account.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 7

In Citrix Receiver, go to Settings and select Use

Workspace Hub.

Click Configuration to bring up the Configuration

page.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 8

Touch-Free mode is a switch that lets you enable or disable proximity authentication. When touch-free

mode is off, proximity authentication is not available but the other functions of the Citrix Ready

workspace hub are. To use touch-free mode, Bluetooth should be enabled on the device.

RSSI represents the Bluetooth signal strength relative to the distance between the mobile device and the

hub. Entry RSSI is the range in which the workspace hub beacons are detected. Exit RSSI is the beginning

of the range outside of which of the mobile device no longer communicates with the workspace hub.

Exit RSSI must be equal to or less than Entry RSSI and values must be negative. The default values are -40

(Entry RSSI) and -70 (Exit RSSI), respectively. You can adjust these values depending on your environment

and your range from the workspace hub.

As shown below, when you move your mobile device into Range 1, proximity authentication is triggered

and your default desktop or app launches automatically on the workspace hub. As long as the mobile

device remains within Range 1 or 2, the default desktop or app keeps running on the workspace hub.

When you move the device out of Range 1 and 2, the desktop or app closes automatically.

Preferred Resource is the default desktop or app that launches when the mobile device enters the

proximity authentication range. This setting is specific to the account used to log into Citrix Receiver. If

you have more than one account, you must set a preferred resource for each. This setting is persistent,

which means you need to set your preferred resource only once per account. After you set in, your

preferred resource launches every time you enter proximity authentication range until you change the

setting.

For additional information on Citrix Receiver for Android, see

https://docs.citrix.com/enus/receiver/android/current-release.html

Hub

Entry RSSI

Exit RSSI

Range

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 9

Session roaming with proximity

authentication

After the configuration is complete and Citrix Receiver is launched, the session will roam to the Citrix

Ready workspace hub when the device enters the proximity authentication range of the hub.

If multiple hubs are within range, the following

dialog appears to let you select your hub of

choice to roam your session.

If multiple Citrix Ready workspace hubs are within

range and Citrix Receiver is running in the

background, a notification appears on your

mobile device.

Click the notification.

With proximity authentication, there are four ways to exit a session:

•Move your mobile device out of Range 1 and 2.

•Use two fingers to swipe down on the Citrix Receiver main interface.

•Close Citrix Receiver.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 10

•Exit the Windows session on the Citrix Ready workspace hub.

Session roaming with QR code authentication

To use session roaming with a QR code:

Launch a session on the mobile device.

Click the QR code scan button on the Citrix

Receiver toolbar to scan the QR code on the

Citrix Ready workspace hub.

The session starts roaming to the Citrix Ready

workspace hub.

Close the session using one of the following methods:

•Use two fingers to swipe down on the Citrix Receiver main interface.

•Close Citrix Receiver.

•Exit the Windows session on the Citrix Ready workspace hub.

Screen casting with QR code authentication

To enable screen casting with QR code authentication, you must change the configuration on Citrix

Ready workspace hub’s settings page.

1. Open System configuration.

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 11

2. Edit Connections named “Citrix Ready workspace hub”.

Screen casting with QR code authentication

3. Under Connections > Citrix Ready workspace hub, change Work mode to Casting.

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After screen casting the session to the Citrix

Ready workspace hub, Citrix Receiver on the

mobile device acts as soft keyboard and mouse to

control the session on the workspace hub.

To close the session:

•Use two fingers to swipe down on the Citrix Receiver main interface to return the session to your

mobile device.

•Close the session in Citrix Receiver.

•Exit the Windows session on then Citrix Ready workspace hub to close the session both on your

mobile device and on the hub. Note that it might take about 20 seconds for the session on the

hub to exit. (See Know Limitations)

Long running session

During a long running session, you can put the device down with the screen locked. To ensure the

session runs uninterrupted, consider the following tips:

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•Battery optimization can interfere with your session. To avoid the effects of battery

optimization, add Citrix Receiver to the Android battery optimization ignore list. To do

this:

•On a Google Pixel, go to Settings > Battery > Battery optimization > All apps > Citrix

Receiver > Don’t optimize.

•On most Samsung devices, go to Settings > Battery > Battery usage > Optimize battery

usage > All apps > Citrix Receiver > Don’t optimize.

•If you’re using a third-party battery optimization app, remove Citrix Receiver from its

optimization list.

•To lock the screen and put the device down for a longer time after the Citrix Ready

workspace hub session starts, Citrix recommends that you bring the Citrix Receiver’s

main interface to the foreground before locking your screen. This ensures that the

Android operating system will not end the Citrix Receiver session.

Security connection

SSL/TLS connections between mobile devices and the Citrix Ready workspace hub are supported

but disabled by default. You can enable them on the workspace hub’s settings page. The SSL/TLS

port is configurable. If you enable SSL/TLS, make sure that the SSL/TLS certificate is loaded and

its path configured correctly on the hub. Self-signed certificates must be installed on Android

devices before users start working with the hub.

To configure SSL/TLS:

1. For information about adding certificates and private keys to the Citrix Ready workspace

hub, see:

https://www.stratodesk.com/kb/Certificates#Method_2:_Distribute_certificate s_automatically

2. Change the “Require SSL” option to “on,” and update the certificate file (cert.pem) and

private key file (key.pem) names and then click Save. Both options are under

“Connections > Citrix Workspace Hub > Workspace Hub.”

Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 14

Shortcuts

•Control-Alt-S, gives a read out of some relevant information when troubleshooting.

•Control-Alt-C, brings up the configuration menu.

•When Citrix Casting, swiping down on the phone with two fingers disconnects the session,

regardless of the session state or how you casted to the workspace hub.

Setup with XenMobile (optional)

In order to use XenMobile as the management solution for workspace hub, you will need to configure

workspace hub to point the central management URL to:

https://manageiot.xm.cloud.com:443/easyadmin/servlet/XmlRPC

 
Citrix Ready workspace hub by NComputing (RX-HDX) 15 
 
Note: If you’ve previously pointed your device at a NoTouch Management console you may need to 
reset the device to factory defaults. 
 
Once pointed to that specific XenMobile instance, the workspace hub sits in a queue waiting for an 
admin to take ownership of the device. To do this you need to log into your instance of XenMobile and 
follow the instructions on how to add and manage a workspace hub: 
 
https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/xenmobile/xenmobile-service/whatsnew.html#par_anchortitle_1886380862 
 
Note: During the Citrix Ready workspace hub preview, it is not possible to update the firmware or set up 
the Citrix Casting features while the workspace hub is managed by XenMobile Service. XenMobile UEM 
management is limited to creating a StoreFront connection today. There are updates planned to address 
this. 
 
Known Limitations 
 
•In this release, Web Interface stores do not support session roaming. As a result, do not select 
the Add account type as Web Interface check box. 
 
•While screen casting, if you exit your Windows session on the Citrix Ready workspace hub by 
clicking Sign out or Disconnect in Windows, it may take around 20 seconds for the session to exit 
on the hub. 
 
•Dual-monitor display currently supports Citrix Deep Compression Encoder and Selective H.264 
Encoder. 
•To use RTME, Use Hardware Rendering must be set to “Off.” Note that the feature works only 
on the primary screen, the window on the secondary screen is gray. 
 
•Wireless Mice - You may notice a lag when dragging the mouse if you are on a wireless mouse. 
Please report this error in the Citrix workspace hub Discussions forum and the make/model of 
the mouse if you get it. 
 
•Citrix Casting does not work when the mobile device is not connected to the same network as 
the workspace hub. 
 
•The root CA certificate must be signed with SHA256. Citrix Receiver for Linux does not accept 
SHA1-signed certificates. https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX200114 
 
•Enlightened Data Transport (EDT) protocol is not supported with Citrix Ready workspace hub. 