This article describes how to deploy and configure HDX MediaStream for Flash.

Requirements

The following components must be installed or running on the client workstations and the XenApp server:

Server Side

• Adobe Flash Player ActiveX
• Internet Explorer version 8 or Later

Workstation

• Adobe Flash Player Plugin
• Citrix Receiver for Windows 3.x and later or Citrix Receiver for Linux 12.0

Adobe Flash Player Plugin to Adobe Flash Player Plugin NPAPI, due to changes recently with PPAPI and NPAPI it will make it easier for the customer to download the correct flash player for flash redirection.

Important! The Adobe Flash Player version on the workstation must be identical to or higher than the version on the XenApp server/ XenDesktop VDA.

Note: There is no current support for Adobe Flash Player on 64-bit Internet Explorer; 32-bit Internet Explorer running on a 64-bit operating system is supported. Users who would like to use Flash on a 64-bit operating system must start 32-bit Internet Explorer.

Background

Users have the ability to stream HDX Flash based website content over ICA. This allows you to use the processing power of the workstation of the user to run flash based streaming video experience through Microsoft Internet Explorer, even with high definition video content; reducing the need to use server side resources.

Note: Review version specific Product Documentation in Citrix eDocs. HDX Media Stream for Flash is installed by default with the install of XenApp 6.5 for Windows 2008/R2 or later and XenDesktop 5.6 or later.  Install the latest publicly available hotfix to ensure the best experience.

Instructions

Use the XenApp AppCenter Policies node > User policy or Citrix Desktop Studio HDX Policy node > Users policy to enable and configure the server/VDA side.
The Citrix XenApp Group Policy for HDX settings are located under both Computer Configuration and User Configuration > Administrative Templates > HDX MediaStream for Flash-Client (or Server).
Note: Install Citrix Receiver for Windows 3.x or later. The HdxFlash-Client.adm file can be located at C:\Program Files\Citrix\ICA Client\Configuration\en or C:\Program Files (X86)\Citrix\ICA Client\Configuration\en.

After installing Feature Pack 3 for Windows 2008, the HdxFlash-Server.adm file can be located at C:\Program Files\Citrix\Configuration\en.
The HdxFlash-Server.adm file does not exist on XenApp 6.0 for Windows 2008 R2. Configure Server-side HDX Flash through the Citrix Policy Engine.

Client Side HDX Configuration Policy Settings

Enable HDX MediaStream for Flash on the user device

The client side GPO is used to manage and control whether Flash content is rendered on the XenApp server where the ICA connection is being made to, or if it is to be rendered on the client workstation. Following is a list of settings when the policy is set to Enabled:

Always = all Flash content is rendered on the client workstation.
Never = all Flash content is rendered on the XenApp server (HDX MediaStream for Flash is not active).
Ask = Flash content is attempted to be rendered on client workstation, but user is always prompted first.

Server Side HDX Configuration Policy Settings

Set Network Latency Thresholds

During initialization of the ICA session, the HDX components measure and evaluate the network latency between the client workstation and the XenApp server. If this policy is enabled, and the network latency threshold is greater than that set in the GPO, for example, 30 milliseconds, as displayed in the following screen shot.

Adobe Flash Player content is then rendered on the server. If it is lower than the threshold set, then the content is streamed to the client workstation.

Enable HDX MediaStream for Flash for connections to the server

When this GPO is disabled, then all flash based content is rendered on the XenApp server. If this policy is enabled, then the Per-URL blacklist is first consulted to determine if the Web sites you are accessing are entered on the policy list. If they are, then server side rendering of flash takes place for those sites, otherwise, website flash content is sent to the workstation of the user for rendering.

Enable server-side event logging

If this GPO is enabled, then HDX MediaStream for Flash writes events to the Application Log.

When the desired settings for this group policy are completed, run the gpupdate /force command, to ensure that the policy is correctly applied.