Microsoft Teams 2.1 supported for VDI/DaaS

Microsoft Teams 2.1 supported for VDI/DaaS

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Article ID: CTX585013

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Description

Information

Overview

Microsoft has released new Teams for VDI in early December 2023.  The new version of Teams has been re-implemented and promises improvements in performance, memory consumption, usability, and security.  Here is a link to some information about the new Teams - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/new-teams-vdi-requirements-deploy

Two important limitations exist for new Teams in your Citrix environment:

  • New Teams Client will not install or run on Windows Server 2016.
    • Microsoft recommends you upgrade to Server 2019 or 2022.
  • New Teams does not support running as a Published (seamless) Application.
    • This is fixed in CVAD 2402 LTSR and CVAD 2203 LTSR CU5 and above

Understanding the Microsoft Teams Transition

Here’s an explainer on everything related to Microsoft Teams transition. There are two transitions happening right now. For detailed documentation refer Microsoft Teams Optimization documentation

  1. Microsoft Teams Client transition from Classic Teams to New Teams for both native clients and VDI clients

  1. Transition from Citrix HDX Optimization (VDI 1.0) to Microsoft SlimCore Optimization (VDI 2.0). These terms are introduced to differentiate between existing optimization with Citrix HDX and the new VDI solution from Microsoft. 

    • Citrix HDX / WebRTC Optimization

      • Microsoft Teams (new or Classic) is optimized with Citrix HDX (WebRTC Optimization). The media engine (HdxRtcEngine) on the endpoint responsible for handling offloaded media is embedded in Citrix Workspace app and installing Citrix Workspace App automatically installs the engine as well. This was the solution that has existed since the beginning of Teams optimization support.

    • Microsoft SlimCore Optimization (new VDI solution for Teams)

      • Here Microsoft Teams is optimized with SlimCore Optimization, a Microsoft solution built leveraging Citrix Virtual Channel SDK and is based on the existing Media Engine (SlimCore) which powers Microsoft Teams (native client) today. However, as this optimization needs a new media engine (SlimCore) on the endpoint which will be responsible for handling offloaded media, Citrix is providing an easy way to deploy the Teams Plugin (check CWA 2402 LTSR enhancements section below).

      • For a detailed article on how to enable SlimCore Optimization, see CTX691425. Microsoft has started rolling out General availability for SlimCore optimization starting December 09, 2024

      • The new VDI solution for Teams (SlimCore Optimization) is only available for Windows clients and only for Teams running in a published desktop. The Teams version needed for GA is 24295.605.3225.8804 and Client version 24110115722 as seen in Settings -> About Teams

      • Microsoft has also published documentation detailing all that is necessary to deploy SlimCore optimization. Please see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/vdi-2 

      • SlimCore related documentation is also available on Citrix documentation - https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/citrix-virtual-apps-desktops/multimedia/opt-ms-teams-new/ms-slimcore-optimization to support our customers
    • VDI 1.0 and VDI 2.0 are colloquial terms. Hence, moving forward they'll be referred to as "Citrix HDX / WebRTC Optimization" and "Microsoft SlimCore Optimization" respectively
    • Note: Microsoft does not support Published (seamless) Teams for SlimCore Optimization. See - https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/vdi-2#known-issues
      • Seamless applications can be optimized with Citrix HDX Optimization.

Important Note

Minimum VDA Version Recommendation (SlimCore Optimization)

Please note that the minimum version recommendation to use New Teams with SlimCore Optimization solution is CVAD 2203 LTSR CU3 (or) 2305 CR. The versions mentioned above have a fix for a fatal exception related to third party virtual channels. See CTX682593 for more information.

Action Needed: Customers who are on 2203 LTSR CU2 and below (or) CVAD 2303 CR and below are recommended to upgrade to latest versions to avoid the critical fatal exception. 

Fixes backported to 2203 LTSR

Citrix understands the importance of using New Teams as a published (seamless) application for our customers in addition to some fixes we’ve done for CVAD 2402 LTSR. Hence, we’ve backported some fixes to 2203 LTSR CU5

Following are the fixes that are available in 2203 LTSR CU5 and automatically be a part of future CU releases for 2203 LTSR

  • Published (seamless) application support

  • Default allowing of registry entry “msedgewebview2.exe” so you don’t have to manually whitelist it

  • Some bug fixes related to application sharing

Action Needed: Customers who are on 2203 LTSR and looking for published application support and other enhancements done in 2402 LTSR, please upgrade to 2203 LTSR CU5.

Installation

New Teams Installation is documented by Microsoft here: 

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/new-teams-vdi-requirements-deploy. This installation is much different that the previous version of Microsoft Teams Classic as the New Teams installer uses MSIX technology.  All installation, configuration and all product documentation for new Teams will be provided by Microsoft.

Important: To enable optimized new Teams with Citrix HDX Optimization, you must configure the following registry key on releases in which this fix is not present. This registry key is not needed if you're on CVAD 2402 LTSR or above

Location:  HKLM\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Citrix\WebSocketService
Key (REG_Multi_SZ): ProcessWhitelist
Value: msedgewebview2.exe

Feature Updates

  • Published App support - Added in CVAD 2402 LTSR. Published Teams applications can be optimized with Citrix HDX Optimization but not with Microsoft SlimCore optimization

  • Registry entry for New Teams - Starting with CVAD 2402 LTSR, you don’t need to manually configure the msedgewebview2.exe registry entry as it is whitelisted by default

  • Share System Audio  - You can now share the audio playing on your VDA with participants in a meeting. Select the Include computer sound option to make your meetings more engaging. This feature is currently rolling out from Microsoft end. You should see the Share system Audio option soon

    • Generally available from CWA Windows 2405

    • CWA Mac [Public tech preview from 2405]

    • CWA Linux [Public tech preview from 2402]

    • Limitations

      • Audio cannot be shared using this feature when sharing the screen with RAVE and BCR redirected apps or tabs

      • This feature is supported only on published desktops

  • MSTeams Plugin Install - Needed for SlimCore Optimization (CTX691425)

    • Option 1 - Install through Citrix Workspace App
    • Option 2 - Install through Global App configuration service
    • Option 3 - Install with Virtual channel plugin manager
    • Option 4 - Install manually
    • For details about how to install the plugin through above options, refer Microsoft Teams Optimization documentation

CPM Support

Please refer to CTX692709 for a concise guide on how to get Microsoft Teams Roaming with Citrix Profile management. In addition, also refer to Profile management documentation focused on Microsoft Teams

  • Recommended version of Citrix profile management is 2402 CU1 and above

  • Recommended version of VDA is 2402 CU1 and above

Note: If you’re facing further issues after following the recommended guidelines in the article above, please raise a support ticket.

App Layering Support

Microsoft Teams 2.x has changed its installation method and now installs under C:\Program Files\WindowsApps. Based on those changes we've created a new article that provides the specific steps for the deployment of the Teams 2.x in an App Layering(AL) or User Personalization Layer(UPL) environment. 

For detailed instructions of Teams deployment guidance with App Layering - refer to CTX692020

Latest Issues and Resolution

Microsoft Teams Crash and Restart Loop

We have identified an issue where Microsoft Teams crashes and restarts in a loop when used in specific RemotePC scenarios. This problem occurs under the following conditions:

  • When Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) version 2411 is installed on the machine and launching teams on the same machine.
  • When Microsoft Teams is launched in a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) session on a machine with CVAD 2411 installed.
  • Please note that this issue does not occur when using an ICA session with CVAD 2411.

Mitigation: Please raise a case with Citrix support to receive a hotfix to mitigate this issue. Future versions of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops will have this fix included

Change Log

  • 02/21/2025

    • Updated content for CPM support

    • Provided link to a new guide focused on getting New Microsoft Teams roaming with Citrix Profile management

  • 07/08/2024

    • Updated information on Teams VDI 2.0 fatal exception and version recommendation

    • Updated CVAD 2203 LTSR CU5 published app support details

    • Updated new information & links to Microsoft documentation for VDI 2.0

    • Updated minimum version recommendation for VDI 2.0 

    • Modified the CWA 2402 LTSR Enhancements heading to features to better describe the latest features available

  • 07/15/2024

    • Updated information on terms VDI 1.0 and VDI 2.0

    • Correct an error in the VDA versions & Teams version for SlimCore Optimization. Fixed the support article link for Fatal exception

    • Updated information on terms VDI 1.0 and VDI 2.0

    • Updated the link for app layering Teams page

  • 07/25/2024

    • Updated more contextual information on Citrix HDX to Microsoft SlimCore transition
    • Updated Citrix side documentation for SlimCore and updated link to public preview

  • 07/31/2024

    • Called out that published apps is not supported with SlimCore Optimization

  • 08/12/2024

    • Updated link to CTX691425, an article detailing the steps for SlimCore Optimization

  • 11/05/2024

    • Updated information about methods of installing Teams plugin needed for SlimCore optimization

  • 12/09/2024
    • Updated information on general availability for SlimCore optimization
  • 12/17/2024
    • Updated the App Layering section and referenced a new article for detailed instructions of New Teams deployment with App Layering
  • 01/29/2024
    • Added a new section which details the latest issues going on and the mitigation needed for those issues
    • Added Teams crashing and restarting in a loop issue and mitigation

Environment

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Issue/Introduction

This article will detail things that customers need to know about new Microsoft Teams as well as the details on transition from VDI 1.0 to VDI 2.0
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