SAP NetWeaver Portal

Added by Vishal Ganeriwala , last edited by Vishal Ganeriwala on Feb 28, 2008  (view change)
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Citrix Integration with SAP NetWeaver Portal Overview



In past versions, Citrix's integration with SAP's Portal has been accomplished via an SAP iView package that connects to Citrix Web Interface.  Citrix is pleased to announce the availability of a new version, Certified for SAP Portal 7.0 and developed with Citrix partner Extentrix, that simplifies user access and integrates with SAP NetWeaver via Service Oriented Architecture.

The Extentrix Toolbar for Citrix is an easy-to-use tool that allows SAP portal users to take the power of Citrix Presentation Server application virtualization with them anywhere in the SAP portal. It allows users to run almost application, even if it isn't already installed on their desktop.

It connects to Extentrix Web Services 2.0 - Application Edition which provides a suite of web services APIs that communicate with Citrix Presentation Server. The toolbar accesses Citrix Presentation Server space by invoking one of Extentrix Web services APIs which then in turn create the connection with Citrix.  There is no need to pre-deploy a Citrix client, or provide users with training on how to reach applications. 

With Extentrix Toolbar for Citrix, user's applications are available on demand from inside the SAP Portal. It acts as a shortcut for published applications, where users can find their needed application with just a click on the toolbar.

In addition, it allows users to save their Citrix Presentation Server credentials after first successful login to the Portal; on subsequent visits, it will get user's saved credentials and pass them to the presentation server For an easy single-sign-on experience.

With the Extentrix Toolbar for Citrix and underlying SOA framework, you can:
• Simplify users' experience
• Reduce technical effort to provide applications to users
• Increase productivity
• Allow your NetWeaver developers to launch virtualized applications to users via SOA at the appropriate times in the end-to-end business process

The Extentrix Toolbar is based upon the iView plug-in concept, so it is easy to integrate with SAP NetWeaver Portal. The Toolbar connects to Extentrix Web Services 2.0, Application Edition, which provides a suite of Web services APIs that communicate with Citrix Presentation Server. The Toolbar connects to the Citrix Presentation Server environment by invoking these Web services APIs.

The Extentrix Toolbar has been certified for use with SAP NetWeaver Portal via the SAP Certified Integration Program.

Extentrix Toolbar for Citrix has the following features:

• Simple to integrate: No special knowledge is required to implement the Extentrix Toolbar. The company offers an administrator's guide to integration of the Toolbar into SAP NetWeaver Portal.

• Always in demand: Any application required for your end-to-end business process can be published on Citrix. All what users need to do when they need an application is to look to the top of their screen and click the icons of that application and it will launch.

• Intuitive navigation: You'll be able to find the application you need quickly and easily with a few clicks.

• Easy on the eyes: The Extentrix Toolbar is easy to see yet requires very little space on portal display area. It's conveniently located near the top of the screen and always available.

• No need to log in:  The Toolbar internally supplies the user's Citrix Presentation Server credentials based on initial set-up. So you don't have to waste time entering your Citrix password each time.

• No need to install Citrix web Interface and host it in the datacenter: Previously, to get the published applications to your SAP portal and launch it, users needed to host a Citrix Web Interface on their IIS server and install an iView that connects to the hosted web interface. Now with Extentrix Toolbar for Citrix, no need to install Citrix web Interface and host it.

To learn more visit:
www.extentrix.com/sap

Or Contact

SAPAlliance@citrix.com

Comments  (Hide Comments)

Is there any chance a version for presentation server 4.5 (or 4.6) will be posted? I'm trying to implement this on 4.6 (and EP7) and having no luck.

Posted by Anonymous at Jan 03, 2008 12:33 | Reply To This

I have emailed SAP account manager in Citrix regarding your question. He or his team will reply soon.

Thanks 

Posted by Vishal Ganeriwala at Jan 04, 2008 09:33 | Reply To This

Yes, we now have a version that is SAP Certified for Portal 7 and with CPS 4.5.  It is available from Citrix partner Extentrix (www.extentrix.com) but if you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at sapalliance@citrix.com.

Regards,

Matt Lull

Citrix Systems

Dir, Global SAP Alliance

Posted by Matt Lull at Feb 28, 2008 16:58 | Reply To This

Hello,

again the user has to add his credentials a second time.  This is no real SSO, but a lame workaround.

 What if the windows password needs to be changed every 60 days due to Sarbanes-Oxley requirements ?

End users will not remember that they gave their user credentials into the Citrix bar. This is pure user mapping, but no "real" Single-Sign on making use of the SAP SSO ticket.

SAP Portal can be configured to offer a "ZERO-sign on".

A single-sign on with Windows Kerberos to get into the portal. Once the user is in the portal it always passes on the SAP Logon ticket. So any called application (liek CITRIX !) should try to implement that the SAP Logon ticket can be accepted.

Big Fuss, no real integration?

Citirx first announced it's partnership with SAP in 2000. Interesting that above topic has not covered in 8 years. Or are they short on money to implement the IAIK library to decipher the SAP Logon ticket ?

 Best regards

Ulf

Posted by Anonymous at Apr 22, 2008 09:28 | Reply To This

Ulf,

Thanks for the feedback, SAP Ticket integration is a feature we have been considering for the next release.  Meanwhile we felt that asking users to enter a password once every couple of months or so is not a terribly burdensome requirement.  The dialog box that prompts users is configurable so that you can choose wording that will be clear to your users.  For example, SAP themselves publish SAP and other apps on Citrix but they refer to us as the "WTS" system.  So a request for password for their users would likely be phrased as "Please enter your WTS user id and password".   Once entered, the system will automatically pass the credentials to Citrix on subsequent logins to the Portal and if the Citrix password changes with time, the first login failure will cause the dialog prompt to reappear.  Users will not need to remember to reset their Citrix credentials in Portal as they will be prompted.

We had a number of discussions about ticketing during the initial functionality scope definition and determined that making core improvements to user interface, convenience and supportability had to come first.  Unlike previously released Portal integrations, users no longer need to navigate to a specific Portal page in order to launch applications, they are visible at all times from a toolbar.  We have also eliminated the dependency on presence of the Citrix Web Interface component, making administration easier.  This had been creating some challenges when the Citrix farm was upgraded and the Web Interface changed. 

We also had situations where the SAP user id and password were not the same as credentials for Citrix.  Previously creating the user mapping between the two had to be done on a user by user basis in a user preferences setup page.  Now, although each user does have to enter credentials at least once but in a very simple, fast and training-free fashion.

A previous release of our Portal integration did support ticketing and if it is a key criteria for you we would like to discuss with you further as it could be added.  Please feel free to contact me at matt.lull@citrix.com.

Regards,

Matt

Dir, Global SAP Alliance 

Posted by Anonymous at Apr 22, 2008 10:44 | Reply To This

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