This guide explains 2 ways to Install Citrix Receiver and Connect to Desktops from Ubuntu and Other Linux.
Many organizations use commercial Citrix technology to provide their employees with remote connections via virtual machines. Citrix uses its proprietory tech to provide connection services.
To connect to a Citrix Virtual machine, you need Citrix client software to be installed. Citrix provides the client installer for Windows systems which you can just install and it will work.
However, for Linux, the story is different. Because of various package dependencies, compatibility of upstream Kernel version – it is sometimes difficult to install Citrix Workspace App (formerly Citrix XenApp plugin).
Here are two ways that you can install and connect to Citrix desktops. The first method requires the installation of packages and requires admin privileges. The second method is browser-based which requires Google Chome browser only (no admin privilege requires).
Method 1: Install Citrix Receiver in Linux and Connect to Desktops
Install Citrix Workspace App for Fedora, Red Hat, and Other .rpm based distributions
Download the below .rpm package for 64-bit systems. Go to the below link. Click on RPM Packages, then Red Hat Full Package (self service support). Then click on Download file under “Citrix Workspace app for Linux (x86_64)”
Open the .rpm package via Software or any package manager for installation. All the dependencies should already be present in your current system.
Now, go to the Uses section below on how to use it.
Install Citrix Workspace App for Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Other Debian based distributions
Download the below .deb package for 64-bit systems. Go to the below link. Click on Debian Packages, then Full Package (self service support). Then click on Download file under “Citrix Workspace app for Linux (x86_64)”
Open the .deb package via Software or any package manager for installation. All the dependencies should already be present in your current system.
Now, go to the Uses section below on how to use it.
How to Use Citrix Workspace App
After the successful installation, open any browser and visit to your organization’s login page. And try to open the virtual machines.
The virtual machine .ica files should be downloaded. You can click to open it. It will open via Citrix Workspace App by default file associations.
Now, your target desktop should be opening with native Citrix plugin.
Method 2: Install and Connect to Citrix Desktop via Google Chrome Extension
Go to the below page and click on the “Add to Chrome” for the Citrix Workspace App Chrome Extension.
Remember, this extension is the official Citrix provided extension. But it will not work in any other Chromium-based browser e.g. Microsoft Edge, Chromium, Vivaldi, etc.
So, you have to use Google Chrome only to make it work.
How to use Citrix Workspace Chrome Extension
After installation, click on Launch or visit chrome://apps from Google Chrome Browser.
Click on the Citrix Workspace App.
Now, type the URL of your Organization’s Citrix login. And you should be all set.
Troubleshooting
The keyboard binding should work when you logged in to the virtual machine. Sometimes, the ALT+TAB doesn’t work while you are inside the Citrix virtual machines with native windows. Instead, it switches the applications on the host systems.
If this happens, change the ALT+TAB keyboard binding to something else e.e. ALT+~ in your host system temporarily.
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