The system requirements in this topic are valid when this product version released. System requirements components not covered in this topic (such as StoreFront, host systems, receivers and plug-ins, and Provisioning Services) are described in their respective documentation.

Important: Review the Prepare to install topic before beginning an installation.

Unless otherwise noted, the component installer deploys software prerequisites automatically (such as .NET and C++ packages) if they are not detected on the machine. The Citrix installation media also contains some of this prerequisite software.

The installation media contains several third-party components. Before using the Citrix software, check for security updates from the third party, and install them.

The disk space values are estimates only, and are in addition to space needed for the product image, operating system, and other software.

If you install all the core components (Controller with SQL Server Express, Studio, Director, StoreFront, and Licensing) on a single server, you need a minimum of 3 GB of RAM to evaluate the product; more is recommended when running an environment for users. Performance will vary depending on your exact configuration, including the number of users, applications, desktops, and other factors.

Topics:

• Delivery Controller
• Database
• Studio
• Director
• Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) for Windows Desktop OS
• Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) for Windows Server OS
• Hosts / virtualization resources
• Active Directory functional level support
• HDX - Desktop Composition Redirection
• HDX - Windows Media delivery
• HDX - Flash Redirection
• HDX 3D Pro
• HDX - Video conferencing requirements for webcam video compression
• HDX - Other
• Other

Important: After you install a component on a Windows Server 2012 R2 system, use the Kerberos Enable Tool (XASsonKerb.exe) to ensure the correct operation of Citrix Kerberos authentication. The tool is located Support > Tools > XASsonKerb folder on the installation media; you must have local administrator privileges to use the tool. To ensure correct Kerberos operation, runxassonkerb.exe –install from a command prompt on the server. If you later apply an update that changes the registry location HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\LSA\OSConfig, run the command again. To see all available tool options, run the command with the –help parameter.

Delivery Controller

Supported operating systems:

• Windows Server 2012 R2, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2012, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions

Requirements:

• Disk space: 100 MB. Connection leasing (which is enabled by default) adds to this requirement; sizing depends on the number of users, applications, and mode (RDS or VDI). For example, 100,000 RDS users with 100 recently-used applications require approximately 3 GB of space for connection leases; deployments with more applications may require more space. For dedicated VDI desktops, 40,000 desktops require at least 400-500 MB. In any instance, providing several GBs of additional space is suggested.
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (Windows Server 2008 R2 only).
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1.
• Windows PowerShell 2.0 (included with Windows Server 2008 R2) or 3.0 (included with Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012).
• Visual C++ 2005, 2008 SP1, and 2010 Redistributable packages.

Database

Supported Microsoft SQL Server versions for the Site Configuration Database (which initially includes the Configuration Logging Database and the Monitoring Database):

• SQL Server 2014, Express, Standard, and Enterprise Editions.
• SQL Server 2012 SP1, Express, Standard, and Enterprise Editions. By default, SQL Server 2012 SP1 Express is installed when installing the Controller, if an existing supported SQL Server installation is not detected.
• SQL Server 2008 R2 SP2, Express, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions.

The following database features are supported (except for SQL Server Express, which supports only standalone mode):

• SQL Server Clustered Instances
• SQL Server Mirroring
• SQL Server 2012 AlwaysOn Availability Groups

Windows authentication is required for connections between the Controller and the SQL Server database.

For information about the latest supported database versions, see CTX114501.

Studio

Supported operating systems:

• Windows 8.1, Professional and Enterprise Editions
• Windows 8, Professional and Enterprise Editions
• Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate Editions
• Windows Server 2012 R2, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2012, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions

Requirements:

• Disk space: 75 MB
• Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 (Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7 only)
• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1
• Microsoft Management Console 3.0 (included with all supported operating systems)
• Windows PowerShell 2.0 (included with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2) or 3.0 (included with Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows Server 2012)

Director

Supported operating systems:

• Windows Server 2012 R2, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2012, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions

Requirements:

• Disk space: 50 MB.

• Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1.

• Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) 7.0 and ASP.NET 2.0. If these are not already installed, you are prompted for the Windows Server installation media, then they are installed for you.

• Supported browsers for viewing Director:

  • Internet Explorer 11 and10.

    Compatibility mode is not supported for Internet Explorer. You must use the recommended browser settings to access Director. When you install Internet Explorer, accept the default to use the recommended security and compatibility settings. If you already installed the browser and chose not to use the recommended settings, go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Reset and follow the instructions.

  • Firefox ESR (Extended Support Release).

  • Chrome.

Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) for Windows Desktop OS

Supported operating systems:

• Windows 8.1, Professional and Enterprise Editions
• Windows 8, Professional and Enterprise Editions
• Windows 7 SP1, Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate Editions

To use the Server VDI feature, you can use the command line interface to install a VDA for Windows Desktop OS on a supported server operating system; see Server VDI for guidance.

• Windows Server 2012 R2, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2012, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions

Requirements:

• (For Windows 7 SP1 systems only.) Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 - if using the command-line interface, you must install this manually before installing the VDA
• (For Windows 7 SP1 systems only; other supported operating systems already have at least .NET Framework 4 by default.) Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2005, 2008, and 2010 Runtimes (32-bit and 64-bit)

Remote PC Access uses this VDA, which you install on physical office PCs.

Several multimedia acceleration features (such as HDX MediaStream Windows Media Redirection) require that Microsoft Media Foundation be installed on the machine on which you install the VDA. If the machine does not have Media Foundation installed, the multimedia acceleration features will not be installed and will not work. Do not remove Media Foundation from the machine after installing the Citrix software; otherwise, users will not be able to log on to the machine. On most Windows 8.1, Windows 8, and Windows 7 editions, Media Foundation support is already installed and cannot be removed. However, N editions do not include certain media-related technologies; you can obtain that software from Microsoft or a third party.

During VDA installation, you can choose to install the HDX 3D Pro version of the VDA for Windows Desktop OS. That version is particularly suited for use with DirectX and OpenGL-driven applications and with rich media such as video.

You cannot install a current version of the VDA on a machine running Windows XP or Windows Vista; however, you can install an earlier Virtual Desktop Agent version on those operating systems, if needed. See CTX140941 for details. The Remote PC Access version in this release is not supported on Windows Vista operating systems.

Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) for Windows Server OS

Supported operating systems:

• Windows Server 2012 R2, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2012, Standard and Datacenter Editions
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Standard, Enterprise, and Datacenter Editions

The installer automatically deploys the following requirements, which are also available on the Citrix installation media in the Support folders:

• (For Windows 2008 R2 SP1 systems only.) Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 SP1 - if using the command-line interface, you must install this manually before installing the VDA
• (For Windows 2008 R2 SP1 systems only; other supported operating systems already have at least .NET Framework 4 by default.) Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5.1
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2005, 2008, and 2010 Runtimes (32-bit and 64-bit)

The installer automatically installs and enables Remote Desktop Services role services, if they are not already installed and enabled.

Several multimedia acceleration features (such as HDX MediaStream Windows Media Redirection) require that the Microsoft Media Foundation be installed on the machine on which you install the VDA. If the machine does not have Media Foundation installed, the multimedia acceleration features will not be installed and will not work. Do not remove Media Foundation from the machine after installing the Citrix software; otherwise, users will not be able to log on to the machine. On most Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2008 R2 editions, the Media Foundation feature is installed through the Server Manager (for Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012: ServerMediaFoundation; for Windows Server 2008 R2: DesktopExperience). However, N editions do not include certain media-related technologies; you can obtain that software from Microsoft or a third party.

Hosts / virtualization resources

Supported platforms:

• XenServer.
  • XenServer 6.2 SP1 plus hotfixes (you must apply SP1 to enable application of future hotfixes)
  • XenServer 6.1
• VMware vSphere. No support is provided for vSphere vCenter Linked Mode operation.
  • VMware vSphere 5.5
  • VMware vSphere 5.1 Update 2
  • VMware vSphere 5.0 Update 2
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager - Includes any version of Hyper-V that can register with the supported System Center Virtual Machine Manager versions.
  • System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 R2
  • System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 SP1
  • System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012

You can also deploy this product in the following cloud environments:

• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • You can provision applications and desktops on supported Windows server operating systems.
  • SQL Server 2012 Enterprise is not available on AWS.
  • AWS does not offer desktop operating system instances.
  • The Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) is not supported.
  • See the AWS documentation and CTX140427 for additional information.
• Citrix CloudPlatform
  • The minimum supported version is 4.2.1 with hotfixes 4.2.1-4.
  • Deployments were tested using XenServer 6.2 (with Service Pack 1 and hotfix XS62ESP1003) and vSphere 5.1 hypervisors.
  • CloudPlatform does not support Hyper-V hypervisors.
  • CloudPlatform 4.3.0.1 supports VMware vSphere 5.5.
  • See the CloudPlatform documentation (including the Release Notes for your CloudPlatform version) and CTX140428 for additional support and Linux-based system requirements information.

See CTX131239 for updated hypervisor support information.

The following virtualization resource and storage technology combinations are supported for Machine Creation Services and runtime Active Directory account injection into VMs. Combinations marked with an asterisk (*) are recommended.

The Remote PC Access Wake on LAN feature requires Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2012. See Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager and Remote PC Access Wake on LAN for details.

Active Directory functional level support

The following functional levels for the Active Directory forest and domain are supported:

• Windows 2000 native
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server 2008
• Windows Server 2008 R2
• Windows Server 2012
• Windows Server 2012 R2

HDX - Desktop Composition Redirection

The Windows user device or thin client must support or contain:

• DirectX 9

• Pixel Shader 2.0 (supported in hardware)

• 32 bits per pixel

• 1.5 GHz 32-bit or 64-bit processor

• 1 GB RAM

• 128 MB video memory on the graphic card or an integrated graphics processor

  HDX queries the Windows device to verify that it has the required GPU capabilities and automatically reverts to server-side desktop composition if it does not. List the devices with the required GPU capabilities that do not meet the processor speed or RAM specifications in the GPO group for devices excluded from Desktop Composition Redirection.

The minimum available bandwidth is 1.5 Mbps; recommended bandwidth is 5 Mbps. Those values incorporate end-to-end latency.

HDX - Windows Media delivery

The following clients are supported for Windows Media client-side content fetching, Windows Media redirection, and real-time Windows Media multimedia transcoding: Receiver for Windows, Receiver for iOS, and Receiver for Linux.

To use Windows Media client-side content fetching on Windows 8 devices, set the Citrix Multimedia Redirector as a default program: inControl Panel > Programs > Default Programs > Set your default programs, select Citrix Multimedia Redirector and click either Set this program as default or Choose defaults for this program.

GPU transcoding requires an NVIDIA CUDA-enabled GPU with Compute Capability 1.1 or higher; seehttp://developer.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-gpus.

HDX - Flash Redirection

The following clients and Adobe Flash Players are supported:

• Receiver for Windows (for second generation Flash Redirection features) - Second generation Flash Redirection features require Adobe Flash Player for Other Browsers, sometimes referred to as an NPAPI (Netscape Plugin Application Programming Interface) Flash Player
• Receiver for Linux (for second generation Flash Redirection features) - Second generation Flash Redirection features require Adobe Flash Player for other Linux or Adobe Flash Player for Ubuntu.
• Citrix Online plug-in 12.1 (for legacy Flash Redirection features) - Legacy Flash Redirection features require Adobe Flash Player for Windows Internet Explorer (sometimes referred to as an ActiveX player).

The major version number of the Flash Player on the user device must be greater than or equal to the major version number of the Flash Player on the server. If an earlier version of the Flash Player is installed on the user device, or if the Flash Player cannot be installed on the user device, Flash content is rendered on the server.

The machines running VDAs require:

• Adobe Flash Player for Windows Internet Explorer (the ActiveX player)
• Internet Explorer versions 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (in non-Modern UI mode). Flash redirection requires Internet Explorer on the server; with other browsers, Flash content is rendered on the server.
• Protected mode disabled in Internet Explorer (Tools > Internet Options > Security tab > Enable Protected Mode check box cleared). Restart Internet Explorer to effect the change.

HDX 3D Pro

When installing a VDA for Windows Desktop OS, you can choose to install the HDX 3D Pro version.

The physical or virtual machine hosting the application can use GPU Passthrough or Virtual GPU (vGPU):

• GPU Passthrough is available with Citrix XenServer. GPU Passthrough is also available with VMware vSphere and VMware ESX, where it is referred to as virtual Direct Graphics Acceleration (vDGA).
• vGPU is available with Citrix XenServer; see www.citrix.com/go/vGPU (Citrix My Account credentials required).

Citrix recommends that the host computer have at least 4 GB of RAM and four virtual CPUs with a clock speed of 2.3 GHz or higher.

Graphical Processing Unit (GPU):

• For CPU-based compression (including lossless compression), HDX 3D Pro supports any display adapter on the host computer that is compatible with the application being delivered.
• For optimized GPU frame buffer access using the NVIDIA GRID API, HDX 3D Pro requires NVIDIA Quadro cards with the latest NVIDIA drivers. The NVIDIA GRID delivers a high frame rate, resulting in a highly interactive user experience.
• For vGPU using XenServer, HDX 3D Pro requirements include NVIDIA GRID K1 and K2 cards.

User device:

• HDX 3D Pro supports all monitor resolutions that are supported by the GPU on the host computer. However, for optimum performance with the minimum recommended user device and GPU specifications, Citrix recommends a maximum monitor resolution for user devices of 1920 x 1200 pixels for LAN connections, and 1280 x 1024 pixels for WAN connections.
• Citrix recommends that user devices have at least 1 GB of RAM and a CPU with a clock speed of 1.6 GHz or higher. Use of the default deep compression codec, which is required on low-bandwidth connections, requires a more powerful CPU unless the decoding is done in hardware. For optimum performance, Citrix recommends that user devices have at least 2 GB of RAM and a dual-core CPU with a clock speed of 3 GHz or higher.
• For multi-monitor access, Citrix recommends user devices with quad-core CPUs.
• User devices do not need a dedicated GPU to access desktops or applications delivered with HDX 3D Pro.
• Citrix Receiver must be installed.

HDX - Video conferencing requirements for webcam video compression

Supported clients: Citrix Receiver for Windows, Receiver for Mac, and Receiver for Linux.

Supported video conferencing applications:

• Citrix GoToMeeting HDFaces

• Adobe Connect

• Cisco WebEx

• IBM Sametime

• Microsoft Lync 2010 and 2013

• Microsoft Office Communicator

• Google+ Hangouts

• Media Foundation-based video applications on Windows 8.x, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2

• Skype 6.7. To use Skype on a Windows client, edit the registry on the client and the server:

  • Client registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Citrix\HdxRealTime

    Name: DefaultHeight , Type: REG_DWORD, Data: 240

    Name: DefaultWidth, Type: REG_DWORD, Data: 320

  • Server registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\Vd3d\Compatibility

    Name: skype.exe, Type: REG_DWORD, Data: Set to 0

Other user device requirements:

• Appropriate hardware to produce sound.
• DirectShow-compatible webcam (use the webcam default settings). Webcams that are hardware encoding-capable reduces client-side CPU usage.
• Webcam drivers, obtained from the camera manufacturer if possible.

HDX - Other

UDP audio for Multi-Stream ICA is supported on Receiver for Windows and Receiver for Linux 13.

Echo cancellation is supported on Citrix Receiver for Windows.

Other

• Citrix recommends installing or upgrading to the component software versions provided on the installation media for this release.

  • StoreFront requires 2 GB of memory. See the StoreFront documentation for system requirements. StoreFront 2.0 is the minimum supported version with this release.
  • When using Provisioning Services with this release, the minimum supported Provisioning Services version is 7.0.
  • The Citrix License Server requires 40 MB of disk space. See the licensing documentation for system requirements. The minimum supported Citrix License Server version is 11.12.1.

• Universal Print Server - The Universal Print Server comprises client and server components. The UPClient component is included in the VDA installation. The UPServer component (which you install on each print server where the shared printers reside that you want to provision with the Citrix Universal Print Driver in user sessions) is supported on:

  • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1
  • Windows Server 2008 32-bit

• The Microsoft Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) is required if you store Citrix policy information in Active Directory rather than the Site Configuration database. For more information, see the Microsoft documentation.

• By default, the Receiver for Windows is installed when you install a VDA. For system requirements information on other platforms, see the Receiver for Windows documentation.

• The Receiver for Linux and the Receiver for Mac are provided on the product installation media. See their documentation for system requirements.

• When using Access Gateway versions earlier than 10.0 with this release, Windows 8.1 and Windows 8 clients are not supported.

• Desktop Lock - Supported operating systems:

  • Windows 7, including Embedded Edition

  • Windows XP Embedded

  • Windows Vista

    User devices must be connected to a local area network (LAN).

    Supported Receiver: Citrix Receiver for Windows Enterprise 3.4 package (minimum)..

• Client folder redirection - Supported operating systems:

  • Server: Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1, Windows Server 2012, and Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Client (with latest Citrix Receiver for Windows): Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1

Posted in Citrix Support