Overview

MacStadium is the industry-leading Mac cloud provider that provides access to genuine Apple Mac mini and Studio hardware in their Cloud Compute environment. MacStadium has partnered with Citrix to certify the Citrix VDA for macOS with MacStadium Cloud Compute. Examples of mini and studio models are available at https://www.macstadium.com/bare-metal-mac.

This deployment guide provides the steps to procure and configure your MacStadium solution with the Citrix VDA for macOS. The following steps are covered in the guide:

• Talk to the MacStadium team to assist with your needs.
• Prepare your Citrix DaaS environment by creating a Machine Catalog and capturing the Enrollment Token.
• Procure your MacStadium Cloud Compute from MacStadium and share the Enrollment Token with the MacStadium Support team, who will automate the installation and registration of the Citrix VDA on your chosen MacStadium models.
• Create a Delivery Group with user assignments.
• (Optional) Enable Rendezvous
• Launch macOS VDA via the Citrix Workspace app that is installed on your user’s desktops.

Talk to the MacStadium team

Learn more about how MacStadium can be a part of your Citrix DaaS solution. Review the web page and contact us via the form at https://www.macstadium.com/citrix. We’ll reach out to discuss options for your deployment.

MacStadium will provide the Cloud Compute, and customers will bring their own Citrix license/subscription directly from Citrix or through a partner. Whether or not your organization uses an MDM tool (e.g., JAMF or Kandji), MacStadium can deploy Cloud Compute resources.

Prepare your Citrix DaaS environment

1. Log in to Citrix DaaS, open Web Studio, and select Machine Catalogs.

2. Click Create Machine Catalog.

3. Select Remote PC Access and click Next. (The Single-session OS option is also supported.)

4. Select "I want users to connect to the same (static) desktop each time they log on" and click Next.

5. Select the minimum functional level for this catalog and click Next on the Machine Accounts page.

6. Click Next on the Scopes page.

7. Click Next on the Workspace Environment Management (Optional) page.

8. Leave the "Enable VDA upgrade" unchecked and click Next.

9. Name your Machine Catalog and click Finish.

10. The Machine Catalog is now created.

11. Right-click on the Citrix VDA for macOS Machine Catalog and select Manage Enrollment Tokens.

12. Click Generate.

13. Enter your Token name, select Use current date and time for start, enter 100 into the Specify how many times the token can register VDAs, choose an appropriate end date for the token to allow VDA registrations, and click Generate.

14. Click Copy.

15. Optionally, click Download to download this token for later usage.

16. You will now see your active Enrollment token. Click Close.

Procure your MacStadium Cloud Compute

MacStadium offers various models of dedicated Bare Metal Mac minis and Studios, especially compared to competitors. Standard models that are available immediately in the Cloud Compute environment are listed by MacStadium here. Custom configurations can be made available in large quantities. Contact MacStadium via the form at https://www.macstadium.com/citrix.

• Purchase your Cloud Compute directly from the MacStadium self-service portal or by speaking with their sales team via the form at https://www.macstadium.com/citrix. 
• Choose your version of macOS Ventura 13, Sonoma 14, or Sequoia 15. You do not need to prepare your macOS base image for deployment, as MacStadium provides multiple options.
• Share the enrollment token and VDA agent version with the MacStadium Support team through the support ticket system.

The MacStadium team will ensure the VDA for macOS is installed and registered with your enrollment tokens. The team will respond to the support ticket with confirmation that the machines have enrolled successfully.

Your organization’s network environment may need configuring to support the Citrix VDA, Delivery Controller, and/or Director. For specific guidance, see the documentation here.

Create a Delivery Group with user assignments.

1. Within Citrix DaaS Web Studio, select Delivery Groups, then click Create Delivery Group.

2. Select your Citrix VDA for macOS Machine Catalog and click Next.

3. Select which users can access the Delivery Group and click Next.

4. Add the required Desktop Assignment Rule and click Next.

5. Select Next on the App Protection screen.

6. Click Next on the Scopes window.

7. Select the appropriate License Assignment for your Citrix DaaS deployment and click Next.

8. Click Next on the Policy Set window.

9. Provide a name for your Delivery Group and click Finish.

10. Your Delivery Group is now created and ready for user access.

(Optional) Enable Rendezvous

If your deployment contains non-domain-joined macOS devices, enable the Rendezvous Citrix policy to allow access.

1. Within Citrix Web Studio, select Policies and then click Create Policy.

2. Select ICA within View by Category, then scroll to and select Rendezvous Protocol. Click Allow.

3. Click Next.

4. Select Filtered users and computers and expand the Delivery Group.

5. Select Allow in the Mode drop-down menu, and then choose your Citrix VDA for macOS Delivery Group, select Enable, and click Save.

6. review your filters, then click Next.

7. Select Enable policy, provide a Policy name, then click Finish.

8. The Rendezvous policy is now active and enabled.

Launch macOS VDA via Citrix Workspace app

Your users can now launch the macOS VDA via the Citrix Workspace app.