Overview

FlexApp is an application layering solution developed by Liquidware that attaches any application to a Windows session without modifying the underlying base image via the traditional application installation process.

FlexApp One applications are encapsulated in a single, shareable file, allowing them to operate without requiring an additional application player on Windows sessions. Users can initiate the application by clicking on the container file, which quickly integrates the application(s) into their Windows workspace. This solution is compatible with all Windows session types and supports various Windows application formats, including EXE, MSI, and MSIX.

Citrix DaaS can deliver FlexApp applications to end users through the Citrix Personalization component and FlexApp delivery agent from single or multi-session Citrix Virtual Delivery Agents (VDA).

This proof of concept guide provides the steps to deliver FlexApp applications via Citrix DaaS. The following is covered in this guide:

• Installation of the Citrix Personalization component
• Installation of the FlexApp service
• Citrix DaaS FlexApp package discovery
• Add FlexApp applications to a Delivery Group
• Connect via Citrix Gateway Service to launch a FlexApp application

Prerequisites

• An existing Citrix DaaS subscription
• Windows Server 2022 Image
  • Windows Server 2019 and Windows 10/11 single session are also supported.
• Citrix VDA 2402 ISO downloaded
• SMB network or Azure File Share
  • The Citrix VDA must have read permission to the storage path. For more information on the permissions required for Azure File Share, visit our product documentation.
• FlexApp One application(s)
  • Pre-packaged FlexApp applications can be downloaded from Liquidware for testing purposes.
• Citrix Delivery Group
  • The Citrix Delivery Group must have Citrix VDAs with VDA version 2311 or later installed.
  • The Citrix Personalization component must be installed on the VDAs within the Delivery Group.

Prepare Citrix Virtual Delivery Agent

The Citrix Personalization component and the FlexApp agent must be installed on the Citrix VDA to support the delivery of FlexApp applications.

Install Citrix Personalization component

The Citrix Personalization component manages the publishing process for the FlexApp application package and is not installed by default during the VDA installation process. We will use an existing VDA for our deployment and add the component. The component can be installed during the initial VDA install as well.

1. Connect to your Windows Server VDA.
2. Mount your Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO

3. Open Apps & Features, select Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 7 2402 LTSR - Virtual Delivery Agent, and click Modify.

4. Click Yes to allow the app to make changes if prompted.

5. Select Add components and prerequisites.

6. Click Next on the Core Components window.

7. Select Citrix Personalization for App-V - VDA and click Next.

8. Click Next on the Delivery Controller Window.

9. Click Next on the Features window.

10. Click Next on the Firewall windows.

11. Review the Summary page and click Install.

12. The Citrix App Personalization component installs.

13. The install completes. Click Next.

14. Click Finish.

You have successfully installed the Citrix App Personalization component.

Install FlexApp Service

The FlexApp One service is required on the Citrix VDA to deliver FlexApp One applications. If you have a FlexApp environment, install the agent and FlexApp applications on your VDA.

For our POC deployment, we will use the FlexApp One pre-packaged test applications. To activate the FlexApp service (LwlContainerService), we must open one of the FlexApp test applications to install and start the service on your Citrix VDA automatically.

1. Download and extract 2 or 3 of the pre-packaged FlexApp One applications to your file share.

2. Open your file share and run the executable for one of FlexApp applications.

3. When prompted, click Yes to install FlexApp onto the Citrix VDA.

4. Click OK once FlexApp is installed to activate your FlexApp application.

5. The application launches. Close the application and open Services to validate that the LwlContainerService is running and that the Startup Type is set to Automatic.

6. Once confirmed, you can exit out of your Citrix VDA.

Upload Applications to Citrix DaaS

1. Connect to Citrix DaaS web console and select App Packages.

2. Click Add Source or Package.

There are two ways to add FlexApp packages to Citrix DaaS: add the file share where all FlexApp One applications are stored or add a single package. For our deployment, we are adding our file share source.

3. Select Add Source.

4. Provide a name for the App Package source and select the Delivery Group you have created to deliver FlexApp One packages.

5. Choose Network share under Location type. Provide the UNC path, select FlexApp for package type, and select Yes for subfolder search. Click Add Source.

6. The Add Source process runs.

7. Once complete, the Source added will display in the Sources tab within App Packages with Import successful status.

8. Click Packages.

9. The FlexApp One packages stored within your file share will be displayed.

Add FlexApp apps to Delivery Group

1. Select the first FlexApp package to be added to your Delivery Group and click Assign to delivery groups.

2. Select the applications to assign and click Next.

3. Select your Delivery Group and click Next.

4. Review the summary page and click Finish.

5. Repeat the process for any further FlexApp applications assigned to the Delivery Group.

Validate and Launch FlexApp Application

1. Open your Citrix Workspace app or browse your Citrix Workspace.
2. Validate that the FlexApp applications added to your Delivery Group are present.

3. Launch the FlexApp application.

4. Your FlexApp application launches successfully.

5. Validate the application launch within Citrix DaaS web console.

Summary

This guide walked you through the configuration of deploying FlexApp One application packages to Citrix DaaS.  This consisted of installing the Citrix Personalization components, installing the FlexApp service, Citrix DaaS FlexApp package discovery, adding FlexApp applications to a Delivery Group, and launching a FlexApp application via Citrix Workspace. For more information on deploying FlexApp applications, visit the Citrix App Packages product documentation.