CCitrix has released StoreFront 3.5, which, for me, marks the end of Web Interface. If you haven't already, be sure to upgrade to the new version. Let's take a look at what's new:
New features:
- Centralized Store Console Architecture for Authentication and Web Settings Receiver
- Specifying the optimal NetScaler Gateway for different users
- New or upgraded receivers for web settings:
- Authentication methods
- Links to websites
- Deploying Citrix Receiver
- Session Settings
- Workspace Control
- Client Settings
- Advanced Settings
- Multi-site configuration for multiple XenDesktop sites or XenApp farms
- Delegated Authentication to XenApp and XenDesktop Farms/Sites
- Configuration of features that was previously only possible by modifying the web.config file:
- Workspace Control
- Frontend client settings
- Duration of store timeouts and retry attempts
- Communication timeout duration and Wrepeat attempts
- HTML5 Browser Tab Settings
- Socket pooling
- StoreFront Server „Health Checks“ for each XenDesktop Broker and XenApp Server
A while back, I created a list comparing Web Interface 5.4 with StoreFront.
Here is an update on StoreFront 3.5
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Web Interface 5.4 vs. StoreFront 3.5 |
||
|
Description |
Web Interface |
StoreFront |
|
Account Service for Receivers |
No |
Yes |
|
HTML5 Client Support |
No |
Yes |
|
Windows RT Support |
No |
Yes |
|
Consistent functionality when switching devices |
No |
Yes |
|
Domain Membership Requirements |
No |
No – For installation only |
|
Server groups for load balancing with „push“ configuration |
No |
Yes |
|
Receiver UI Deployment |
No |
Yes |
|
Highlighting application groups |
No |
Yes |
|
Launching Applications |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Desktop Autostart |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Pre-Launch Session |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Prevent Applications from Launching Multiple Times |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Filter or hide applications |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Configuring ICA Parameters |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Messages, notifications, pre- and post-login messages, etc. |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Web UI changes via the console |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Advanced customizations |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Code Extensions |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Software Development Kit (SDK) |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Default domain |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Domain List |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Explicit authentication |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Smart card, token Authentication |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Anonymous login |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Access Gateway Integration |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Change Password |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Adjusting the web session timeout |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Settings by Location (IP Subnet) |
Yes |
No |
|
Client Proxy Settings |
Yes |
No (File Fix) |
|
Client Distribution |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Search for applications |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Favorite Apps |
No |
Yes |
|
Stateless web session |
No |
Yes |
|
Theme Support |
No |
No |
|
Error logging in the Event Log |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Documentation |
Yes |
Yes |
As you go through the list, you'll notice that "Web Interface" has more "No"s than "Yes"es!
These days, I try to avoid Web Interface at all costs! Just recently, during a customer migration, I switched the customer from Web Interface to StoreFront using legacy 11.x and 12.x Citrix clients. These clients now need to be updated to XenDesktop 7.6 for compatibility reasons, but since StoreFront is already in use, this isn’t a problem.
Vote{extravote 85}
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