{"id":1345,"date":"2015-12-30T19:01:25","date_gmt":"2015-12-30T19:01:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/axendatacentre.com\/blog\/?p=1345"},"modified":"2016-02-27T14:56:17","modified_gmt":"2016-02-27T14:56:17","slug":"hdx-realtime-optimization-pack-2-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/axendatacentre.com\/blog\/2015\/12\/30\/hdx-realtime-optimization-pack-2-0\/","title":{"rendered":"HDX RealTime Optimization Pack 2.0 for Skype for Business with XenApp\/XenDesktop"},"content":{"rendered":"

The following content is a brief and unofficial prerequisites guide to setup, configure and test HDX RealTime Optimization Pack 2.0 with XAD 7.7+ prior to deploying in a PoC, Pilot or Production environment by the author of this entry. The views, opinions and concepts expressed are those by the author of this entry only and do not necessary conform to industry descriptions or best practises.<\/p>\n

Shortened Names<\/strong>
\nXENAPP XENDESKTOP – xad
\nREALTIME MEDIA ENGINE – rtme
\nREALTIME CONNECTOR – rtc
\nUSER INTERFACE – ui
\nUNIFIED COMMUNICATION – uc
\nHIGH DEFEINTION EXPERIENCE – hdx
\nSKYPE FOR BUSINESS – skype4b<\/p>\n

What is HDX RealTime?<\/strong>
\nIt’s a component of the Citrix HDX technology stack aimed at enhancing the UX for UC e.g Lync, Skype for Business. To better understand implementing Unified Communications with XenApp and XenDesktop check out- https:\/\/www.citrix.com\/content\/dam\/citrix\/en_us\/documents\/products-solutions\/unified-communications-with-xendesktop-solutions-overview.pdf<\/a> for an introduction overview. If you aren’t familiar with HDX technologies then perhaps its best to review the HDX introduction whitepaper entitled “HDX technologies for optimizing the virtualization experience” available at – https:\/\/www.citrix.com\/content\/dam\/citrix\/en_us\/documents\/products-solutions\/citrix-hdx-technologies.pdf<\/a> prior to proceeding with the implementing of the HDX RealTime Optimization Pack within your Citrix environment.<\/p>\n

What’s New<\/strong>
\n1: Native Skype for Business 2015 UI supported.
\n2: Authentication and SIP signalling handled exclusively by the Skype for Business client
\n3: Fallback mode is controlled by a registry entry at the following location “Key: HKLM\\Software\\Citrix\\HDXRTConnector or HKCU\\Software\\Citrix\\HDXRTConnector<\/u> Value: DWORD DisableFallback<\/u>” but please ref to – http:\/\/docs.citrix.com\/en-us\/hdx-optimization\/2-0\/about.html<\/a> for what value needs to be inserted and be sure to read the Registry WaRniNg<\/b> notification.
\n3: Improved audio-video quality (resilience to packet loss, echo cancelation)
\n4: Call and video call buttons added to the contact card
\n5: Automatically join meeting audio controls
\n6: Adheres to the Skype for Business Server settings surrounding making audio, video calls from endpoints.
\n7: Web proxy support with limitation as described at – http:\/\/docs.citrix.com\/en-us\/hdx-optimization\/2-0\/hdx-realtime-optimization-pack-about.html#par_richtext_3<\/a>
\n8: ….*<\/p>\n

A full and detailed list* is available at – http:\/\/docs.citrix.com\/en-us\/hdx-optimization\/2-0\/about.html and a technical key features overview is available at – http:\/\/docs.citrix.com\/en-us\/hdx-optimization\/2-0\/hdx-realtime-optimization-pack-about.html#par_richtext_1<\/a> covering support codecs, resolutions, webcams and limitations within this release.<\/p>\n

Example of an Offloaded Skype for Business 2015 Published Citrix Virtual Desktop<\/strong>
\nThe below is an example of the HDX Optimization Pack 2.0 implemented with Skype for Business 2015 client using and the latest Citrix Receiver and HDX RealTime media engine on my end-point which is a Dell Latitude E6420 running Windows 8.1. My initial test results within my IaaS home lab have been very good and I’m currently doing more testing with a few colleagues and will update this blog update as when\/how time permitting with the feedback and results.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

An Introduction & System Requirements (Basic’s)<\/strong>
\nThe Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack consists of client and server component’s and requires the following system requirements between Citrix
\nReceiver for Windows 4.x; Receiver for Mac 12.x; Receiver for Linux 13.x; Skype for Business 2015 Server, Business Online or Lync 2013 Server; XenDesktop 7, 7.5, 7.6 Feature Pack 1, Feature Pack 2, and Feature Pack 3. XenDesktop 7.7; \u25e6XenApp 6.0, 6.5, 6.5 Feature Pack 1, and 6.5 Feature Pack 2 and Feature Pack 3 , XenApp 7.5, 7.6 Feature Pack 1, Feature Pack 2, and Feature Pack 3, XenApp 7.7 with a full detailed list and overview available at – http:\/\/docs.citrix.com\/en-us\/hdx-optimization\/2-0\/hdx-realtime-optimization-pack-system-requirements.html<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Why Use The Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack for Lync Performance Comparison<\/strong>
\n