Lync Server 2013, Citrix, XenApp and Audio/Video

In my previous post, I mentioned that Microsoft and Citrix now support Audio/Video with Lync Server 2013 backend. This blog shows how to configure the backe and and deploy the clients.

Backend

• XenApp

  Make sure you have XenApp 6.x (or higher) deployed.

• Lync

  On the backend, we need to define a clientpolicy (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj205204.aspx) to allow Media redirection. This can be done using the following command:

  Set-CsClientPolicy -EnableMediaRedirection $True
  

Client

• Download and install the Citrix 4.0 receiver (or higher) from http://receiver.citrix.com/
• Download the VDI plugin from one of the following locations:
  • 32bit: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35457
  • 64bit: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35454

  Remark: The 64 plugin is not supported by Citrix, so currently only for Microsoft VDI solutions.

• Install the VDI plugin on a (thin) client, e.g. Wyse Zx0 (now owned by Dell) or laptop.

  

• Optional… Create a registry key (based on http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2833618), as we’ve experienced that the VDI plugin doesn’t prompt for certificate warnings….

  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Lync
  

  Name: TrustModelData
  Type: REG_SZ
  

  Value: ActiveDirectoryDomainFQDN (e.g. internal.local)

• Logon to the XenApp desktop (using weburl or ICA)

  

• Once you are signed in into your Lync client, you will notice the following:

  

• This means that Lync is configured correct and you can benefit the bypass of Audio/Video (Call Admission Control and Location Information Services).
• There are some limitations, described here: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj204982.aspx. This basically comes down to that all peer to peer A/V features are available. Multiparty and more enhanced isn’t (example shown below)

  

If you have any questions or want to have it deployed… feel free to contact me.