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ICA Proxy for XenApp using CAG
Citrix Access Gateway™, a member of the Citrix Delivery Center, is an SSL VPN to securely deliver any application with policy-based SmartAccess control.
Citrix XenApp™, also a member of the Citrix Delivery Center™ product family, is the industry's de facto standard for delivering Windows-based applications with the best performance, security and cost savings.
By centralizing applications and data in secure datacenters, IT can reduce the costs of management and support, increase data security and facilitate business continuity.
We at Citrix are often asked how to deploy a CAG in front of a XenApp server farm, to proxy application delivery over the ICA protocol, securely. The CAG secures XenApp delivered applications by serving as a proxy for those applications. CAG proxies the ICA connections delivered from XenApp, and then wraps those applications with HTTPS or SSL to secure the traffic before it leaves your organization.
This is possible by following the steps in the deployment guide. This guide is specific to the Citrix Access Gateway Standard Edition (AGSE), which is different hardware & software from the Citrix NetScaler Access Gateway Enterprise Edition (AGEE).
Download the deployment guide.
Its Powerful Citrix Developer Network!
In my last post, I discussed the importance of user experience -> It's All About The User Experience (IAATHUX)
Our Access Gateway team has come up with a new look and
feel that is nice and clean. I think this is much more intuitive and consistent with the experience across Citrix Delivery Center. Notice that they are using plugin terminology in anticipation of App Receiver.
The desktop icon has changed from the "two rubic's cubes connected by a red pipe" to the simple and easy to understand lock symbol. The rationale here is that secure access is not just about remote access but should secure connections onsite and offsite.
The thing I like the most with Access Gateway is that with auto-reconnect, I can just live in secure connected mode all the time. At Citrix, we run open wireless networks at most locations, so I can just put my laptop to sleep and start-up in any location (including at home) and be assured a secure connection without having to do anything. I just see the secure lock icon in my systray and the auto reconnect happen as I transit networks. 
With the advantages of de-perimeterization,
I think more and more users will appreciate this model. Check out the Jericho Forum, for more on this model.
Cheers,
Gordon
For quite a few years, I've developed a set of Visio stencils that I've used, along with many of my coworkers, to create detailed design architectures for a Citrix solution. The stencils have morphed over the years and I have now consolidated them into a single package. This one stencil has just about everything you will need to create detailed Citrix solution diagrams. Included are items for the following products:
- XenApp
- XenDesktop
- XenServer
- NetScaler (includes rack-mountable stencils and NetScaler MPX)
- WANScaler (including the new Branch Repeater)
- Access Gateway
- Application Firewall
- Provisioning Server
- EdgeSight
- Password Manager
- Workflow Studio
I'm always looking for ideas on what's missing so there can be one comprehensive stencil set for Citrix solutions. Drop a comment and let me know what else is needed.
Provisioning Server and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have Workflow Tasks for Provisioning Server included in the Customer Tech Preview.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
The soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview might have Workflow Tasks for VMware included in the Customer Tech Preview.
What The? Yes you read that right, Citrix might be going to include support for VMware in Citrix Workflow Studio. I am not saying they are or are not going to, but it is a very real possibility!
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
Virtual Machine Manager and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have Workflow Tasks for Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager included in the Customer Tech Preview.
No Way! Yes you read that right, Citrix is going to include support for Microsoft Virtual Machine Manager in Citrix Workflow Studio.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
WanScaler and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will not have Workflow Tasks for WanScaler included in the Customer Tech Preview.
A future release of Citrix Workflow Studio after the release of the Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have support for WanScaler.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
NetScaler and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have Workflow Tasks for NetScaler included in the Customer Tech Preview.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
XenDesktop and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will not have Workflow Tasks for XenDesktop included in the Customer Tech Preview.
A future release of Citrix Workflow Studio after the release of the Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have support for XenDesktop.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
XenServer and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have Workflow Tasks for XenServer included in the Customer Tech Preview.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
XenApp and the soon to be released Citrix Workflow Studio Customer Tech Preview will have Workflow Tasks for XenApp included in the Customer Tech Preview.
Stay Tuned Here: Citrix Developer Network - Citrix Workflow Studio
Get Updates Here: Citrix Updated - Citrix Workflow Studio
Rich Crusco of Frameworkx.com has just posted a great three four part review series of the Tech Preview of the Citrix WorkFlow Studio. Here is just a small portion of some of Rich's thoughts and screen shots from three very detailed and thorouugh posts on the Tech Preview.
In his introduction to Part 1 of his series Rich writes "This is part 1 in a series of articles to be released that will give you a preview of Citrix Workflow Studio, a powerful orchestration tool for a dynamic delivery center. This preview article, the first in many, will go into the overview of Citrix Workflow Studio and its role in Dynamic Delivery and Process Automation."
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Here are some quotes from Rich's post :
Business Points Addressed:
- Complete Solution - Provides automated end-to-end creation, provisioning, and deployment of datacenter servers.
- Ensures Compliance - Tracks and controls via workflow, common administration tasks.
- Maintains Standards - Enforces consistent, streamlined automation of business rules and practices.
- Improves Efficiency - Significantly reduces server administration workload using scripting, workflow, graphical administrative console, and reporting capabilities.
- Promotes Rapid ROI - Automates the management of datacenter servers for potentially millions of users.
Technical Points Addressed:
- Simplifies Server Configuration Creation - Pre-configured tasks provide step-by-step guide for configuring complex or standard server settings and then outputs them into a PowerShell script.
- Automates Server Configuration Approval and Audit - Allows administrators to create workflows for administrative tasks with built-in audit and approval steps.
- Automates Server Deployment - The PowerShell extensions allow IT administrators to script server settings using Cmdlets.
- Adapts Server Configuration to Organization - The workflow UI and wizards are completely customizable and editable for custom workflow configurations.
- Enables Workload Delegation - Once a workflow is created, it can be delegated to other administrators for editing and execution.
Rich pulled in screen shots from Citrix WorkFlow Studio as well -
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In Part 2 Rich states "Previously I have outlined what is Citrix Workflow Studio, and so in this article we are going to outline some of the Citrix Workflow Studio concepts, interfaces, and configurations. In this article I will give you a better working knowledge of the components that are needed to be able to create and compose workflows."
Rich does a great job of dissecting WorkFlow Studio and getting down into the guts of this Tech Preview.
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In Part3, Rich dives down into workflow creation.
In this article I will give you a better working knowledge of workflow control tasks, creating workflows, using templates, and running workflows.
This is part 3 in a series of articles that will preview the new Citrix Workflow Studio, a powerful orchestration tool for a dynamic delivery center. In previous articles in this series on Citrix Workflow Studio;
Citrix Workflow Studio - Preview Part 1
Citrix Workflow Studio - Preview Part 2
Previously I have outlined Citrix Workflow Studio, Concepts, Interfaces, and Configurations. In this article I will give you a better working knowledge of workflow control tasks, creating workflows, using templates, and running workflows.
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UPDATE: Rich has added a Part 4 specifically on Variable with WorkFlow Studio.
Rich really digs down deep into the Tech Preview of Citrix Workflow Studio in this series, and includes a lot of visuals to help you get a better feel for what makes WorkFlow Studio tick and how this new program can be a valuable part in your tool kit. The little I have posted hear is just enough to whet your appetite, follow the links to get the three course meal.
Rich and Gus Pinto have a lot of interesting content and some very popular utilities for download (over 2.8 million downloads so far). Check it out at Frameworkx.com.