Carl Stalhood Filing gaps in EUC vendor documentation App Layering — App Layers, Image Templates, and Publishing Last Modified: Apr 20, 2022 @ 8:18 am © 124 Comments Navigation * Change Log * Enterprise Layer Manager (separate page) * OS Layer and Platform Layer (separate page) * App Layer * Image/Template * Publish Image + Update Layers Export Layers Change Log * 2021 Dec 25 - added screenshots for the new HTMLS interface * 2021 July 19 - added link to User Layer Management Utility * 2019 Aug 30 - Create App Layer ~ new User Layer Repair feature in ELM 1908 * 2019 Feb 22 — Elastic Layers - added info from CIX246468 How to disable delayed loading of Elastic Layers on an image * 2018 Dec 10 - Update Layers - 1812 supports cloning of App Layers* 2018 Aug 18 - Clone Template ~ new App Layering 4.13 feature © 2018 Aug 4~ Publish Image - added info from CTX237138 Redirect ulayersvc.log to an- other folder or drive * 2018 June 12 - Elastic Layering — added link to CTX225030 How to set the default size of the Elastic Layering writable volume * 2018 May 31 -Image/Template - new Office 365 Layer option for Session Hosts * 2018 Apr 25 - in the Image/Template section, added note about Elastic Layers incompati- ble with UPM Profile Streaming * 2018 Apr 22 ~in the Elastic Layers section, added debug info from CTX222133 Flastic Layering Logs * 2018 Apr 22 - in the Image/Template section, added info from CTX222095 How Big is the 4.x User Layer Disk, and How Can You Change That * 2018 Mar 21 —in the Create App Layer section, added OS Layer Switching configuration instructions * 2018 Feb 3—in the Create App Layer section, updated the App layer recipes link to Citrix Docs Create App Layer Note: Citrix App Layering does not isolate applications. If you need isolation (e.g. multiple ver- sions of Java), consider implementing Microsoft App-V. Citrix App Layering merges the layers without isolation, 1. See Citrix CTX225952 4.x Layering Best Practic: 2. In the ELM Management Console, go to the Layers tab or node. 3. In the App Layers tab, click the Create App Layer button. Or in the Silverlight interface, right-click in the grey, and click Create App Layer.citrix | App Laye 4 Getstarted App Layers ' Layers 8= Tasks @ A200 Reader i Create Ap Laver create Petform| yer Create OS Layer ‘App Layers Help 4, In the Layer Details page, give the layer a name and version. Since the App Layer is tied 's a good idea to include the OS Layer name in the App Layer name. to the OS Layer, 5, Give the layer a Max Size. If Offload Compositing is not enabled then the layer disk cre- ated for the vSphere Packaging Machine is Thick Provisioned. Scroll down or click thedown arrow. Create App Layer Putty Wintt LayerName Putty Wintt Layer Description Choose an Icon 9 Mi Upload a new con: Buow jal Version Name 10 jal Version Description Max Layer Size (GB) 10(Create App Layer Wizard - Layer Details, Layer Det ner cotate aceut tne Layer teeernanes: (Rape) Layer Desxipton Version: 0 Sein eee | 6. In the OS Layer section, select an OS Layer and version. An App Layer created for one OS Layer cannot be used with another OS Layer. Scroll down or click the down arrow. OS Layer Select an OS Layer | Name | Version 08000 © 5 5Create App Layer Wizard - OS Layer Soles ne OS Layorte ue whon astng ne Layo. The Layer at You cBce wl ono ‘tata o mages na ate Lased on We seted OS Lape Peery 7.In the Prerequisite Layers section, you can select additional dependent App Layers to in- clude in your packaging machine. If there are no dependent layers, just scroll down or click the down arrow. Prerequisite Layers If the application you are layering requires other App Layors during initialization, pick the necessary layers. (The finalized App Layer Version does not include these Layers.) Only layers associated with the selected OS Layer can be selected. No App Layers available for OS Lay bsPreveuinite Layers 8. In Silverlight, in the Connector page, select a vSphere connector, and click the down ar- row. Create App Layer Wizard - Prereq tt appasatn you are laynng equtos cer App Layer durng neater, celet nce Plevequlte Layo, ana plete oceseay tayo. (The Malzed App Laye Gov el nude these Layers) Only ayers ssodated with re sled O8 Layer cam be ace Do mente reequste Layers DQ® ae (Create App Layer Wizard - Connector ‘Select ne connect comiguatan on wich ine pckaghg dk wl be cepioyec. Use he butions Set cai or eonigue connec Select a Connector Confourtion 9. In the Platform Layer section, if you are creating the App Layer on a different hypervisor than originally used for the OS Layer, you can select the Platform Layer for the new hy- pervisor. If the hypervisor has not changed, just scroll down or click the down arrow. Thehypervisor can also be changed when publishing the Image Template later. Platform Layer If you are creating this layer ona different hypervisor than the one where you created the OS layer, select the platform layer for your chosen hypervisor. No Platform Layers available for OS Layer (Create App Layer Wizard - Platform Layer you ar creaung ois ayer on 2 atarert perso thar fe one whare you created ina OS {jer eek ne chek bland sect the Plato Layer or your chosen ype [crc Pinta Layervn too cesing te layer ona arent hyperear storm Layer ® Q® 10. In the HTMLS interface, select a Connector, enter a filename for the .vmdk file, and click Confirm and Complete. Connector Configuration VMware vSphare-vCenter02-ESX03... \/ & Packaging Disk Filename Putty Wintt Packaging Disk Format YMDK Sparse enue meRee ul cic)a. In the Silverlight interface, in the Packaging Disk page, give the .vmadk file a name, and click the down arrow. b. In the Icon Assignment page, select an icon, or upload a new one, and click the down arrow. Create App Layer Wizard - Packaging Disk Enterinfmaton abet he packopng st reste forth ayer Packoaig Disk Ftename: umyvintoxst Sd © Gye Create App Layer Wizatd - leon Assignment ‘Select an exis icon or browse to upload 2 ne ion O8eecec.In the Confirm and Complete page, click Create Layer. Greate App Layer Wizard - Confirm and Complete Very he deta forthe Layer and ek Greate Layrto rete ‘ck nese arse sens Gk Gop/ URL) Layer Coser = Verso 10 ‘veroon Doserpaon Preingng Dink ienare inseP Packing Dek Fmt VMK “© “comment umige sare) ye 2 i Sagan com Sngcn nwo 8802 6505 cormeni ome GSE 6 Oe ry 11, Go to the Tasks page. Or in Silverlight, at the bottom of the page, open the Tasks panel. 12, Click View Details for the running task. Or in Silverlight, click the information icon next to the running task. 4 Getstarted active @ Completed [J] Images © ViewDetaits @ Cancel Task B |, ‘Debertations Creating App Layer ‘Putty Wintl Adding Version to Platform Layer: "VDA Wine BCL Cm eT ae ee oo} eens eons Bt L ed Re Te Le ee13, Eventually the task will finish deploying the Packaging Machine and say Action Required. Creating App Layer 'Putty Win11'. @ Action Reauired Start time 12/25/2021, 5:16:20 AM User Name Admin@corp.tocal © Cancot au Statue | Subtaske | Deseription Boot @ done ot Image s already in the cache Image The Packoging Machine Putty Wintl-202112-26 05-20-14 249 Action Putty hasbeen created, Log oa tothe machine and install the software Required Wint1-10 for the layer: Then use the Shutdown for Finalize iconon the Db desktop to validate the layer and begin the finalization process. Windows @ deve ee Create Cached Loyer Windows 11-10° completed successfully eee errr ere) oa a 14, In vSphere Web Client, find the new Packaging Machine (in the PackagingVMs folder in the Layering VM folder), open its console, and install your app normally.5 eoe a ag tacenter nePrepinternalTempl Clo reoParentVir ol ClonePrepRepicavmec! clo Farm-RDS20161C Laverna © Packagingvms Rae Guest OS Pow Gues vMw DNs IPAc15, See App layer recipes at Citrix Docs for some application install instructions. + Adobe Reader « Adobe Reader DC Recipe Prompt Auto-Updates + Apple iTunes + Appsense Environment Manager * Appsense Agent * Bits + Chrome * Chrome Layer Creation Results Restore Tab Message * Dropbox * Firefox + Making a default profile with Firefox 29 + Gimp + IBM SPSS 21 Licensing Server « Internet Explorer 10 * Java * Java performance + Print Server * QuickBooks + SAS Enterprise * Sccm 2012 Client * Solidworks « symantec Encryption Desktop Recipe * VMware Horizon View «VMware Horizon View Agent + USB drivers with View Horizon * VGPU in VMware View + Improve View performance - dragging windows between monitors 16, Citrix CTX226984 App Layering/Unidesk: The list of Windows Updates is usually wrong in app/platform layers and published images/desktops. 17. Antivirus can be installed on an App layer. See Deploy anti-virus software at Citrix Does for instructions for the following: * symantec * McAfee ‘Trend Micro * Sophos * AVG+ Kaspersky 18, User settings are not captured in an Application Layer. 19, Domain Join - CTX224668 How to install applications that require joining the domain with Citrix App Layering - In summary, you can join a layer to the domain while packag- ing, but you must remove it from that domain before finalization. 20, For Office, put all Office apps in one layer. * Print to OneNote does not work in Elastic Layers. 21. For Office 365 Click-to-run activation: a. After Office Click-to-run is installed, for all OSs other than Windows 7, run C:\Windows\Setup\scripts\Office2013Windows81_PREP.cmd as Administrator. Application Tools serpts Home Stare View Manage € 4 [] > ThisPC > LocalDisk (CG) > Windows > Setup > scripts Name “ Date modified a Quick access Poel ani msdir 6 214M Deskto = e regfiies 1/2017 2.14PM Pdowrioads —- iecaler 6/21/2017 214M Documents # (5 Office20T3Windows8i_PRED ain aneadABKA = Pictures * Blofficeactivate oe Gl officeNaRee fait ithisec Slicers optimize Print i Networ [1] Optimize htadere © Runasadministrator optimizes? Tp A rntinine Panee b, In App Layering 4.6, Optimize.hta and Office Activate.cmd can handle Office 365, Click-to-run activation. For 4.5 and older, see Rob Zylowski at Office Activation Scripts for Office 365 at Citrix Discussions, to download these scripts . Also see 0365 Office 2016 click to run online activation at Citrix Discussions. c. Go to C:\Windows\Setup\Scripts, right-click RunOptimizer.cmd, and click Run as administrator.BOs AppliationTook!) scripts « tp [I] Local Diek(C) > Windows > Setup > scripts > Name ° St Ouickaccess “ ns Wl Desktop loticeactvate FlotticeNoneeg $ Downloads hopemize Documents FF) optimizer changes EE Pictures [5 | ProcessOffice365 App Levering Removestorenpes senpts 1 RemoveStoreApes i ResetOfficeDone MEE |) RunBuildScripts OPER iB Network 7) RunOptimizer Edit By RunSystemScript Print SlRunUnatendBuil Run ssadminiator fy ij RunUsesScrpts Tip Ey RuntierSenpts | CRCSHA inde inde HTML TetD TetD winde Winde hind Wine Vinde inde ince let d. Scroll down to J, check the box next to Process Office 365, and click Save Settings AK Citric Optimization Script Builder PSST SCOP POSES IONE TTSTCTIME SPESTIOTT to modify VMX settings during the desktop build process. activate MS Office via KMS. Check this box to automatically scripting will only work if Office is installed in it's default loca the same application on the same desktop. activate MS Office via MAK. Note: Using KMS is highly reco JApps when the desktop bulds. This scripting will only work if Of recommended to install more than one version of the seme applic: rocess Office 365. By checking this box the OfficeActivate.c backed up in the Office Layer and it will rebuild the Office WMI MC [Define NoReREG for Office. Check this box only if you are der Desktops. This will disable registration of the checked version of ¢ checked. This is the version that you want to ragister office exta fle and Word 2013 than you would net want to check 2012 below Save Settings. mee. This creates a file called ProcessOffice365.txt. | BU = | scripts a Quick access I Dsstiop $ Downicads B Documents Pictures scripts Ga This PC Network Share View > This PC > Local Disk) > windows » setup > scipts vo Name octied vaisie ovcvi/ 0AM 4 B)shurdowndesktop 17 200 AM pW setup20 { sstup 6a Fl sethiasversion * Sl s0_Desktop_to 004M * [ RunUserScripts [i RanseeScrgts Li Punsysterscrpts {ij FurBuilScrits Tl Reset0ficeDone Li) RemovestoreAppe Tl Removestoredpps Elrecomeae |] Optimizer changes optimize Sl orticenorereg 10/26/2017 $00 AM 2017 :00AM 10/26/2017 S00AM, 10/26/2017 00M 10/26/2017 00M 10/26/2017 00M 0/26/2017 00 AM 11/5/2017 8:19 AM Seo “Type Text Document y Size: 0 bytes Date modified 1/5/2017 2:19. AM hnp £. See Citrix CTX224566 Unidesk Recipe for Office 2016: Using Shared Computer A ivation From Office 365 for more licensing guidance. 22. For Office Volume License activation: (Source = Citrix CTX224900 Windows / Office 2016 KMS not activating in App Layering images (MCS Image Prep OS Rearm Failed) a. Go to C:\Windows\Setup\scripts, right-click RunOptimizer.cmd, and click Run as administrator. qbApplicaton Teale scripts GEM tone shace view Manage || Local Diske(Ci) > Windows » Setuo » scripts > vel [= Date modified officeactivate 2018449 PM Wind BotticeoreReg 557018449 9M Winde hopemize 2018449 PM HTML COpomizer changes 23/20184499M Tex Quickaccess Mivekion + $ downloads x Documents + BPictures 2 ProcessOffice365 192017 819AM Tet ‘App Layering Bi Removestoreapps 3/23/2018449 PM Winde sents [nj RemoveStoreApps 572572018449 PM — Wind —— El ResetOtticeDone, nn _ 2 RunBuildScripts oo Vind i Netwerk =) RunOptimizer Est inde Wind Rurllcescrpte CRC SHA > fea b. Configure item H. ts monty vie sting sug he deep baa procs [BAcivate ns ofce via MS. Check the box automaticaly actata Ma GficaAype whan he sep ula. Tle + ein wy wk icine stots. oma tat aan ne won | [coms emae2nre—] eee c. Seroll down a little bit and click the button labelled Save Settings A-K. Then click the Optimizer.(activate MS Office via MAK. Note: Using KMS is highly recommen 1 |Apps when the desktop builds. This scripting will only work if Office is feconmended to install more than one version of the same application or |; | Ciprocess office 365. By checking this box the OfficeActivate.cmd scr backed up in the Office Layer and it will rebuild the Office WMI MOF. Use C[Define NoREREG for Office. Check this box only if you are deploying __ [Pesktops. This will disable ragistration of the chacked varsion of office bi checked. This is the version that you want to register office extensions | file and Word 2013 then you would not want to check 2013 below. Save Settings AK Microsoft Office preparation script ran successfully La] x Citric Desktop Optimizations Have Been Saved ok d. For all OSs other than Windows 7, run C:\Windows\Setup\scripts|Office2013Windows81_PREP.cmd as Administrator.Application Tools scripts De € 4 [| > ThisPC > LocalDisk(C) > Windows > Setup > septs Name . Date modified 2 Quick access kmsir 7214 i deitop [ ° reafies 24h ¥dawiase locales 7 214M Documents ffice2013Windows2i_ PRED atin abe = Pictures El officenctivate Open Gl officeNaRee tit i thisec = a optimize Print i Networ | Optimize ntadeve © funasadministrator optimizes? Tp A rntinine e. Then rearm Office by running C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\0SPPREAM.exe as administrator. 23, When you are done installing your app, finalize the layer: a. George Spiers Citrix App Layering Preparation Script: runs a number of tasks to clean out temporary folders, clear out Event Log entries, remove ghost devices from Device Manager, etc. ? b. Double-click the Shutdown for Finalize icon on the desktop. If it finds issues, it will tell you what to do (e.g. reboot needed). Otherwise, it will shut down the VM. Sree an before chutting down the 3 24, If Offload Compositing is enabled in your Connector, then upload will happen automatically. a. Otherwise, after the machine is shutdown, in ELM Management Console, go to Layers > App Layers,b. Right-click the Layer that is currently being Edited, and click Finalize. Lela [[Leectae IE) | =. ] 63) Ce Delete Versions Add Version Edit Properties Add Assignments Update assignments Remove Assignments Analy Layer ma | ———— Properties ‘App Layers Help c.In the Script Path page, if you embedded any scripts in the layer, specify the path. Otherwise, just click the down arrow. Finalize Layer Wizard - Seript Path {opto You can oro ti pao any ate you ware un20 par oa Ap vee Tha sentra ‘Srp apy iss verso the yer ano al pres vesrs es el ‘ne is pp Layer i piished a pa o Lageted mage the cpl in fe el Seesun oa boud tone mage Yen be app ie dehered om assay the set ‘arn on et ogi Sometad. In the Confirm and Complete page, click Finalize. Finalze Layer Wizard - Confirm and Complete (Cec Fain te compote creston of mo ajo and ako 57238 fer aroun ams: fee 206 Confim ana Complete Saipl Pat Comme (Gale by Ca Slahoad GEDeoe 25, It will eventually finish and say Deployable. App Layers Platform Layers os | @ Edit Properties © Remow Q Seerch @ H00e Reader @deoieyatle © vorepaa++ winto 1903 @ vevievatic © orice 2016 @veoleyatic - Putty Wintt © deoieyabie % oO Putty Wint6 x64 @ devloyatieaS ne _ el Putty Win10 x64 4 Getstarted App Layers Platform Layers OS Lay OD) images o Baas © Remove As B Layers Q Search Tasks e Adobe Reader @ deployable. ‘ © setevodr+ winto 1903 © dexloyetle Odricezo6 © deotoyoblo & Putty Wintt © Doploystie oO Putty Winl6 x64 @ deployableEdit Layer Putty Wint Layer Namo Putty Wintt Layer Description Choose an Icon = v Upleadta n icon: Browse Script Path Windows Updates - From Gunther Anderson: “Generally, the list of updates is unreliable anywhere except the layer where the updates were installed. If your OS layer says the up- dates were installed, then they were. The actual list (the list is not the same as the actual up- dates) tends to get stepped on by your other app layers, since they remember the updates list from when they were originally created. With all of your app layers trying to set their own personal misunderstanding based on when they were initially created, what winds up in the published image is not a good reflection of any reality. However, the information from the OS layer is correct. Likewise, the list of Office updates shown in the Office layer is correct even when the list of Windows updates shown in the Office layer is not.” User Layer Repair — App Layering 1908 and newer create User Layer Repair files for any new or edited App Layer. Uses these files to repair User Layers so that the App Layer you just created or edited overrides the User Layer. Citrix has a User Layer Management Utility that does more than just repair. It can also Reset (rename) user layers, Compress them, or Expand them. This tool also works with FSLogixdisks. fasot can rename use i oF FS.ngn contaghSie a usr wil oot anew ena GHOSLavew | _GlUswilayet Reams SelUve WM | _ Reser Sel eerLayo a) [ostayenp. 7o972034(+960002)] a. ust Last Updated 6/29/2021 1:52:22 PM rs se Sash ee elven rover ee iayor oth (ler tayer vio OWS oH | rayne User OWSR Peat RaO-7008 [ot vrd 1 sons ede ade ner LOGE ro e00m_ Wins aa] eyewsi ve frcows reins \ede2 rndenUoers\EYLOW SKI rows 568008_winse-2004aylowsN vi RE 5-29 2021-19-51-So.whd LOWS. estser | \de2 wraceskUsers\Z¥LOWSHT. tester 958002. wnI0-2008 [testise.vhd ‘To repair user layers without using a utilit 1, Find the repair files in your file share under \Unidesk\Layers\App\Repair and \Unidesk\Layers\App\PackageAppRules. |G Di = | Repair Home share view & > © A [l]> Network » #501 > Layers > Unidesk > Layers > Apo > Repair NetScaler of ® = Name - Date modified ly PoliDefnti* ——F) UrertayeRepai121072001jeon 03072019 1032 AM 35¢ B bin s 2. Copy the UserLayerRepair.json file for the App Layer to the user's User Layer .vhd loca- tion. + | 80002.wint0 1903 € © +t [> Network > GOT > UseLayersGioupt » Uses > CORP useO! > CHOCO WintO 1803 NetScaler of Name ° Date modified Type Relief) ogo tdtt 2)30/201011:09 AM Tet Document df bin * logoffttt 8/20/2019 1016 AM Tect Document one [ tegondst 2/20/2019 1206 PM Tet Document a logontt (3020191159 AM Tet Document = Con logon2.bt 9/30/2019 1104 AM. Text Document Desktop logon2it 8/30/2019 1014 AM Text Document EE Documents Buserdtivhd 8/30/2019 1208 PM vid Archive ¥ Downloads [)GeertayerRepaie 15107208 ton BAO IOIIAM JSON Fle a} Music3. Make sure Domain Computers has Modify access to the user's VHD location. The repair function runs as the computer, not the user. 8 eo share View > Network > fs01 > UsetLayersGroupl > Users > CORPuserd1 > CB0002Wini0 1903 (C80002_Win10 1903 Properties General Secumty Previous Varione Customise Object name Group eruse names 88 Actririsirators (F501\ Administrators) | Te change remissions cick Eat | Pemasons or Donan Compson || Fitconte Nosy Faad beowoite | Lettaldersertrta | | Fes KSAR \We0\UserLjessGroup Muses CORP_usesOM\C Fer special pamssors or advanced seas, clk Aévanced Date modified Type 8/20/2019 11:08AM Ted Document 8/30/2019 10:16AM Ted Document 9/30/2019 1206 PM Ted Document 2019 11:59AM Text Document 9/30/2019 11:04AM Ted Document 8/30/2019 10:744M Text Document 2PM vhd Archive 1G32AM ISONFile 4. After logging into a published machine, C:\Programdata\Unidesk\Logs\ulayersvc.log shows the Repair status. Tp 1 17:06:20,385 INFO 14 UserLayerRepalrService: 20,415 INFO 14 UserLayerRepalrService delete file ciping delete oF specal file c:\prograw 5D EGISTIV\SER\S-A-5-20 Sorgen program orogran es\Undaesk\etc\ven. aunt Programas Microsoft Me Fes\undoest\ete\vep noutt\Proprandatenosort Me es\Undeest\Etc\uep mount PropranDateiienoaot te len Undeoct\Eee\sp_ mune Propranbstsenoaot® ME Fler Undaaccee\uop oun ropranosts\rgsa 1051-0 FitenUndaesk\ete\va_nunt\spaten Volum Evormatio ites Undoestete\oap_ mune lagoon appcomat Progr Fes\Undeest\Etc\uep mount Mingoee\Servicerotiles\ file Ci /ndows/oysta2/sporstore/20/0aa, dst Tes\Unaesk\etcuep nouns detcte file": Progran Fi2ee\Uniest\eee\uep soe Wingova\nystend2Toaka Vt delete oir ‘erograe ee ‘reset ‘prorat ‘regret ‘regret e:\Prosrat ‘rogran Fslor\uniest ete any aceite Filee\Unddest te \uop neue inde eyetenD\ cont tas Fites\uniesk etc ues nour \Mindows\spsten2 cons Fites\unaesk etc \iep none Sens Pus esktop Fites\ndeak\ete\uep met \Users\Carl lopDet\ Loca or naesk ete \iny_neut|Progranint= regi 183-08 Files\Uniesk\ete\uen nore \PrograDateLerosoF Vet ie \PrograwataNcrosoFt tet eServices deleting repetn cong file "\\fodl\serlayersgroip\sers\COFP us 20,602 INFO 14 MachineldentityService: BulldLabtx; orteinel on Filenuniaest\Ftc\unp mut 8362.1. anre,I9nL reese, 98316-1202" + cometibl OS Layer Switching - if you enabled the OS Layer Switching Lab Feature, then do the followin;1. Edit Properties on the App Layer. App Layers Platform Layers OS Layers em <7 Edit Properties © RemoveAssignments Clone : : Putty Win11 Deployable @ Adobe Reader © depioyabte ss QOrrotevedr+ Win10 1903 @ Deployable Layer Information f Deployable Ooze oon Pad Putty Wintt © vepioyabie | version © vepioyatte Oo 10 App Layers Gu od Putty Wint6 x64 Delete Versions Add Version Edit Properties Add Assignments 2 In the App Layer Settings section (Layer Details page) is a checkbox to Allow this App Layer to be elastically assigned to all Layered images, regardless of OS layer (Allow OS Layering Switching). You'll need to repeat this for each additional App Layer. Source = Elastic layers to other OS layers not working as expected at Citrix Discussions.App Layer Settings 1D Enable Elastic Layee Compatibility (PP EmicLawrine ela % Allow this Anp Laver tobe elastically assigned toll Layered Images, regardless of OS layer A. eosin th sein ich egernantl App ayers may nlc correct when ued wane OS aye Te elite Edit Layer Wizard - Layer Details [Cnange ne dette tore Laat 26 needs. you spect 2 Sept Pan (optona) ora sept. {altos aye, the Spl app to lensing verons oF aye nen me cpp Layers pubtened 2s par fs Layeaaionage, ne sept un me hte 2 ‘macve bone Wom the mage When We 2p celvted 2s an ase Lajos the Sent ln ontistege, Layertiome: [pty wnt 4 Dessipton: | | semteam: | ‘ow OS Layer Swtthing: 7 Aton this App Layer lobe asicaly assigned eal Layered Images regrdess of OS inven. WARNING. Enabing ti satngis highly experimental pp layers may not ction sarect when sea ith arather OS |ayer Ts cetny recommended ot sevances ures on. Image/Template 1. In the ELM Management Console, go to the Images node/tab, and click Create Template. App § cotstre [J] Images | TemplateName Layers © win0 1903 VDA Tasks © nvincows 2016 vseeres SS [Template Name [Rali|ipd=0._ 19) Create Tapolte Images Help 2. In the Name and Description page, give the Template a Name that indicates the OS Layer, Platform Layer, and App Layers. Then scroll down or click the down arrow. Create Template Name Win1l VDA Standard Appg Description be crip Choose an Icon Q |) Upload anew ican: Browse(Create Template Wizard - Name and Deseription Eniers namo ane desorption fone Tepite Name and Dessntion = a ore: dows 2076 spars VOA) cme = i} 0866060 Delle 3.In the OS Layer section, select an OS Layer, and scroll down or click the down arrow. OS Layer Solect an OS Layer | Name Version Oo eo Windows 2016 [ v)Create Template Wizard - OS Layer ‘Soles ne 0 Layort uso rhs Tom. »® 4.In the App Layers section (Application Assignment page), click Edit Selection and select zero or more applications. Any App Layer you select here will be merged into the ma- chine pre-boot. Elastic Layers are assigned later. Click the down arrow. App Layers Select the App Layers to include in the Template. Press "Edit Selection" to select Layers and their specific versions, The selection is limited to Layers created using the selected OS Layer. @ Edit Selection | Version Prater vin 10Create Template Wizard - Application Assignment ‘Soles ne App L2yoretoinsudoin te Tempo. Excanda Layer to let a apse vette. Tho Seocton trite io Layts ested using Be seected OS Layer oe -Apoloaton Assignment @¢ * Note: if you find that App Layers are conflicting with each other, you can adjust the App Layer priority by using the Citrix App Layering 4: LayerPriority Utility tool. a TT ayers search| seis | Ssaena | feel yer [layernome layer Deserton — [Semeur te WO layer POF ning) 2036-05 6 29 ‘Selected ow (start) ved 5. In HTMLS, in the Platform Layer section, select a Platform Layer and version. If you are pushing to PVS, then make sure the Platform Layer includes the PVS Target DeviceSoftware, Scroll down. Platform Layer Select the correct Platform Layer for the image target. |) Name | version O None © — @ woawindows i ar2d v1 6. In HTMLS, in the Connector section, select an existing Connector. In the HTMLS inter- face, in App Layering 2202 or newer, use the Connectors page in the HTMLS interface to add a Provisioning Services connector. Or use the Internet Explorer Silverlight interface at System > Connectors. See below for some configuration info for this type of Connector. Connector Select the connector configuration on which the Layered Image will be deployed Connector Configuration Citrix Provisioning Services-PvS-RD.... \/ 7. In the Internet Explorer Silverlight interface, in the Connector page, select a Connector for the platform you want to push this image to. If publishing to MCS, select a vSphere Connector, and click the down arrow.a, If you are publishing to PVS, and if you don’t have a PVS Connector, click New. Create Template Wizard - Connector Selene canner onfguraton on whic the Layered mage wi be dpe. Use the bltons ‘ior fond or congue comers Seta Connector Conguratn (twa vSohare-vosnonssozesmt SSS connector b, From Citrix PVS connector configuration at Citrix Docs. c.In the Choose a Connector Type window, select Citrix PVS, and click New. 4. For info on the other connectors, see Connectors for publishing (vSphere environ- ment) at Citrix Docs. Selact the type of connecter te configure! Twe [cewms &eeD GD e. Anew tab opens. WH hspe/uniderlcorp lacs 3509/i/2/conrec O~ @ | £. Give the Connector a name. This Connector points to one PVS server, and one vDisk store, so the name should reflect that.PVS Connector Configuration Name: Pvs01 -RDSH14 x g. The Console field contains the list of registered App Layering Agents running on PVS Servers. h. Enter credentials of a service account that is an administrator in PVS. Click Check Credentials. PVS Connector Configuration Name: Pvsot-RDsHt6) # Select the PVS console and enter your credentials. Click the ‘CHECK CREDENTIALS’ button to vorty your entries, Pysot ics comp'admin (CHECK CREDENTIALS. i. Scroll down. Use the drop-downs to select the vDisk store and other vDisk settings. Click Test.Once you have entered your PVS server configuration, select the location and settings for your vDisks. Click the 'TEST' button ta verify your selections. site CorpSit: Vv RDSH16Common v Cache in Device RAM with Overtiow on Hard Disk @ Enable Active Directory machine account password management © Enable Load Balancing (1 Enable Printer Management TS}, j. On the bottom, click Save. ES RESET CLOSEk.On the left, click Seript Configuration. | RB hetps.//eim corplocal3509/ui/=/connector- > @ C ||MBlGELayenng Na CITRIX® PVS Connector = Cerin olec tet ce su op % Script Configuration be w 1 Ifyou installed a PvS Connector Script, you can specify it here. i. Citrix CTX226060 Citrix App Layering 4.x: PVS Connector Script to Convert VHD to VHDX ~ a script that can convert the published VHD file to VDX, and add it asa Version. ii, Citrix CTX226062 Citrix App Layering 4.x: PVS Connector (BootPrivate) — a script that provides a mechanism to modify the vDisk mode to Private, Boot the vDisk on a pre-defined target so that it can run pre-defined layer scripts, the scripts shut down the target, the script waits for that shutdown then switches the mode back to standard.m. Click Save when done. i Configure the script that will be executad after a layered image is successfully published. You must select a script agent, and optionally enter credentials for the user context that the script will be executed under © Enable script execution CAgemulpys.connector_scriptps| n. Then click Close. co 0. Connectors can also be created and edited in the HTMLS interface in the Connectors page in App Layering 2202 or newer. Or in the Internet Explorer Silverlight interface at System > Connectors. This page also indicates Connector Cache information.§ Getstered D tmeses SB Lovee Connectors system Tesks © vowouts 2 cor oo ‘ eve scentr viva von 008 me p< ——— ef Waa Se “eo ——— p. Back in the Connector page, select the PVS connector, and click the down arrow. Create Template Wizard - Connector oct camo centguraton on heh re Laeroe gs el 6 eepood. Uso te butane ‘ew nd or eomgrecomeciors 1 Canes Conran ‘ite vSphere-vCet02 q. In the Platform Layer page, select one Platform Layer, and click the down arrow. For PVS, make sure the Platform Layer includes both VDA and PVS Target DeviceSoftware. Greate Template Wizard - Platform Layer Sekt he cect ltform Lye for the mage ge ; / 8, In the Layered Image Disk page, give the .vmdk file a name, specify a size, and decide if you want Sysprep to run or not. You typically don’t need to Sysprep the image if you're using MCS, PVS, Composer, or Instant Clone. Layered Image Disk Enter information about the Layered image disk to create from this template. Layered Image Disk File Name Win1i VDA Standard Apps: Layered Image Disk Format VHD Layered Image Partition Size (GB) i *Minimum30GB| Maximum 2040 G5 Sysprep 9. If you wish to enable Flastic Layering, select it here to enable it in the Image Template. Assignment of Elastic Layers to users is described later. Notes:Elastic Layoring Application Layering Vv ty * Disk Free Space - when you enable Elastic Layering, the published image only gets 20 GB of free space due to the addition of a writable partition. To change the size, see CTX225030 How to set the default size of the Elastic Layering writable volume. You edit /usr/local/CAMService/CAMService. exe. config and add the line + Login time delay — From Rob Zylowski at XenApp Image Template Application Assignment vs Elastic Delay at Citrix Discussions: “There is a 5-8 second penalty just for turning on elastic layering. But its not a straight x seconds per app because the mounts run in parallel. However more apps do take longer. What can have more of an effect is if the app has a service. We have to mount the disk, read it and then start the service before we allow the logon to ensure that the service is available if your logon actually needs it. There is a log at c:\programdata\unideskilogs that will tell you the time associated with mounting and starting elastic layers so you will know how much of the logon impact is due to elastic layering.” * Elastic Layers Path Override - The path to Elastic Layers can be overridden by set- ting HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wnidesk\ULayer:RepositoryPath on the published machine. See CTX222107 You can change the Elastic Layer repository in the registry without reimaging (4... * Citrix Profile Streaming Compatibility - App Layering 4.12 and newer support Citrix Profile Management Profile Streaming with Elastic Layers. Also see Elasti Layers and Profile issues at Citrix Discussions. * Delayed loading - By default, Elastically Assigned Layers are loaded at the end of the login process so that the user can get to a desktop quickly and not have to wait for their Elastic Layers to surface first. However, especially with Session Hosts, you may find that the Elastic Layers are not available quickly enough. It is possible to make Elastically Assigned Layers attach at the beginning of the login process. by set- ting HKLM\SOFTWARE\Unidesk\ULayer\MaxCompositingPhase = 0. More info at CTX246468 How to disable delayed loading of Elastic Layers on an image.10, User Layers is another option. Notes: User Layer Full Vv Writable Partition Size (GB) 20 ‘Minimum 2068 a. User Layers have the same application compatibility limitations as Elastic Layers . Storage Locations for User Layers are configured at System > Storage Locations. ‘* In App Layering 2005 and newer, you can set a custom path by creating a REG_SzZ value called CustonUserLayerPath in the HKLM\Sof tware\Unidesk\ULayer key. See How to specify a custom user layer path at Citrix Docs. c. The default size for User Layers is 10 GB. You can change this size by setting HKLM\Software\Unidesk\Ulayer\DefaultUserLayerSizeInGb on the man- aged machines. Source = Understanding Elastic Layering > Scaling (tab) > User Layer Size. + If quotas are defined on the file share, then User Layer is sized to consume the entire quota. Source = CTX222095 How Big is the 4.x User Layer Disk, and How Can You Change That? d, Multiple access to the User Layer VHD is not allowed. e. After logging into a published, layered machine and mounting a user layer, you must revert the machine, Non-persistent Catalogs automatically revert the machine after logoff. Or take a snapshot before logging in and revert to snapshot after logging out. £. David Wilkinson describes layers, sr Layers in detail at Citrix Application Layering - User+ Hot Add Layers —Applications First, User layer on top nd Te en eo * Layered Images ve) —0S layer is always bottom of the stack a Apps added in priority order (lowest to Al highest) iad Platform layer top priority eae Tete 11, Office 365 User Layers is a fully supported feature. For details (including limitations), see: User Layer Office 365 20 “Minimum 20 6B * David Wilkinson Citrix Application Layering - Office 365 User layer * George Spiers Office 365 User Layers — Citrix App Layering * Christiaan Brinkhoff How to configure Citrix Cloud - App Layering 4.8 to deliver vir- tualized apps and Office 365 caching - User Layers for XenApp and XenDesktop Service Cloud Workspaces in Microsoft Azure « 4 (1) ThisPC > Uretayedotame ) > Uses > Chisisan > AppDste > Local > Microrft > Outlook » vo Quick access _ I Deon * sting EF dewnlonss —% Rosmcacne BB Documents csraneeoosedD ADSI -Aat- x48 Document se EiPiduwes + Benoni mmm ochre T6ALERE wiz cian kt Ouch Defic TEE ference 04 HEH RAO 2 Document, v8 Network InfrencesCSDOAAFHOHEGASSAERLOSS... 1/19/2018 119M XML Document 112, Session Office 365 User Layers can roam Outlook OST files on RDSH VDAs. User Layer Session Office 365 hy Vv Writable Partition Size (GB) 20 “Minimum 20 63 * You can find some information at Enable User layers at Citrix Docs. 13, Scroll down or click the down arrow and then click the Confirm and Complete button or Create Template button. Create Template Wizard - Confirm and Complete (ek reste Tera erate the Template, Template tame: Vin 10 1905 VDA Deserin OStayer inte 1603-10 _9 Connector Conguain: aware uSpnete-Cente02-€5x03:5505, Piatt Layer Wnt 1902 VDA. 1508 Layered nage Disc Faename-in10 1903 VDA ‘jroa mage Ok Format WIDK Layeresinage Ds Sz6(CB) 50 Sysurep Nol Ganetazea Eine Let Appleton Layering sar Layer Fut pop Layer comment Contin and Complete a=) Tenwiato and Pubisn) (2) (14. The Image is then displayed as Publishable. © Viow Details (S PublishLayeredimage QO 2 Cc Template Name © winto 20s v0 © woornv0. ssondors apne Gy Windows 2016 vSchoro vA Clone Template Lay Us CConneetor Contiguration statue \VaMware vSphore-vContor02-ESx03- sso4 Citnx Provisioning Services-PvS- © puwistabia mosrne o VMware vSphere-uCenter02-SSD2- F ESXOT © Pubtishavle There’s a Clone Template feature to more easily create multiple templates with similar configurations. 1. On the Images tab, select an existing Image Template and click the Clone button. ® a+ Get started Images Layers Tasks © WewDeraiis Gf Prblishtaveredingss OQ 2 O HB | rere one | emecrcntiaaon 090 9 0°90 Win ‘VMware vSphere-vCenterd2-ESX03 Wint0 1908 DA vers Citrix Provisioning Services-PyS- Wint! VDA Standard apps Sit Windows 2016 vSphere VMware vSahere-vCenter02-SSD2- vo ESxoIWindows 2016 .. Cone Template Edit Ter Delete Template Publish Layered Image: Properties Images Help 2. Right-click the newly created template and click Edit. © View Details (J Publish Layeredimage OD & uw FB remoiate Name Q wn 20004 o Win11 VDA Standard Apps Win11 VDA Standard Apps- Copy Connector Configuration VMware vSphere-vCenter02-ESK03- sso4 Citrix Provisioning Services-PvS- RDSHIG Citrix Provisioning Services -PvS- RDSHIGees) nS [B-o. |) Windows 2016... Clone Template Edit Template Delete Templalee Publish Layered Image Properties images Help 3. Notice the name has - Copy on the end. Feel free to change the name and edit the new template as desired.Edit Template Name Win VDA Standard Apos-Copy Description Choose an Icon [eo | Upload a new icen: Browse Name and Description Edit Template Wizard - Name and Eniers rams an destin for i Tomplt Description jeeneee ‘hoes Hew Publish Image1. Select a publishable image template, and click Publish Layered Image. citr yey Get started © View Details cf PublishLayeredimage OQ 2 O 4 9 QD) mages Bh tempistename | Connecter Contiguration 8 = VMware vSphere-vCenter Layers Qpwiniois03, VDA ssp4 ; A Cite Provisioning Service a8 Qpwintvosstendard anes RACs 4 Windows 2016 vSphere ware vSohere-vCenter Ova est i aS 3: | Windows 2016 (©) Edit Template Delete Template Publish Layered Image Properties Images Help2. In the Confirm and Complete page, click Publish Layered Image. Publish Layered Image 1 Layered Image will be published © winti vor standard Apps OS Leyer © Windows 11-10 Application Layers af Putty Wintl 10 Platform Layer © VDA Windows 11— 2112.1 Connector Contiguration Citrix Provisioning Services — PvS-RDSH16 Layered Image Disk Filename Winll VDA Standard Apps Layered image Disk Format Comment PoPublish Layered Image Wizard - Confirm and Complete ‘tac Pub Layareé image to pubsen io Laysres imager. Pubtstng Layered inzae ‘eon loom Laver Layered nage Disk Fiera ajeed inge Dik Fama Layeredimage Dee Ste (SE ‘spre: lst Laveine: connecos Confgirtor os tajer Appteation Lae Windons 2016 vSphere WDA VDA-712 Winton 2016 vSphece WOK o Not Coneafzes ‘Appleaon Layers Orty ‘idwate sphere -vCenteo2 one 2018-10 3. Open the Tasks pane, and click View Details (the information icon) to view details of the running task. Cc NEY Get started Images Layers Tasks @ Active @ © View Details Completed ® Cancel Task Description | Status | User Name Publishing Layered Image "wintt Running Admin@ VoA Standardcr eR Mc yates cB ons eo ed Gs a SST coo Cems eg rons 4. If publishing to MCS (vSphere): a. In the vSphere Web Client, you'll find the Template VM under the TemplateVMs folder under the Virtual Machine folder you selected for the Connector. . Citrix MCS creates VMs in the same Folder as the Master Image. You might want to move the Template VM to a different virtual machine folder. 18] nePrepinternal empiat > £9 CloneprepparentvmFo! B Layering 5 PacksgingvMs 6 Templatevs c. Ifyou are not using Offload Compositing, if you edit the VM’s hardware, you'll see that the disk is Thick Provisioned.(Ginifiiara] vis Optons [ s0RS Rules | wany Onions | > facpu -|@ > enor [2 [Jims |= + tard ask 1 [e0.0166015625 [2] ( strony (Caesivebeeor © Sharing No sharing be Shares ((Normar [i000 Virtual fash read cache Disk Moge Virtual Device Nede centoliero | + 4. For MCS, in Citrix Studio, create a Machine Catalog using the Template VM as the ‘Master Image.88 Citrix Studio (Corp) O Search 1 Machine Cataloas || Machine Catalog ES AppDisks aie Catalog & Delivery Groups Bl Applications ee i Policies Ts (@ Legging vB Configuration Help Wactne Cog Se Seni aster mage Masterimage Computer acount Scopes Summon The sected mutes image wl be the fete for ll Vira machines nie ag (A acter images aco enown 35 one golden, o base mge) Urethe VDL fr HOD Pra hen slecting » CPU-erable saps ot vtul machine Select» snopshot or tal machine: Tso © piserce @ > imi saict @ > Um Unicesctm @ > im tops @ » (a wnnouocsveR @ » ( wneuouseR @ Octteecnminndedts aleeneneseraata 7] e, Notice that MCS creates VMs in the same Virtual Machine folder as the Master Image.ivmware: vSphere Web Client f= (& xosHupot | Summary | Monito a a a 2 5S } + Giveentert2.corpiocal | + [fy Datacenter Compatiility ~~ EQunidesk ia = pies ‘pvimceescotey. A (SEESRSEE ML | HADOT xdConfg. GpAD03 5. If publishing to Provisioning Services (PVS): a. The image is uploaded to the vDisk Store as a.VHD file (not .VHDX). |B = | mosttsCommen = © + D> Wisks ©] > ROSHTECommon ]O) Search ROSHIEComn I Desktop £8 tame ° Datemadined Type - D rosttéCommon2.lok V28/2017 4PM LOK File | Fy Window 2016 P5,2017-01-28 132-40-191ok 1/28/2017 58 PR_ LOK ile He Picwes | _D] Windowe 2016015 2017-01-28 13-89-19pvp 1/26/2017 12539M_ PUP Fie 2 (BWindowe 2018 8 2017-0128 1310 ‘V28/2017 1809 PAM va chive 2 b b, And it’s automatically added to the vDisk Store in the PVS Console. You can now as- sign it to your Target Devices.§ Provisioning Services Censele $2 File Action View Window Help eo) fn oe FH Provisioning Services Console ¥ BY CorgFain (localhost) v G Sites © [E] Compsite Servers [© wisk Poot > [Bh vDisk Update Manageme & Device Colections B® Views @ Hosts > BB Views v Gy Stores @ rosttscommon GB rostesao FE. Winth-nemman Nane ste [Jnosi tscomman coms c. You can Redirect ulayersve.log to another folder or drive by modifying C:\Program Files\Unidesk\Layering Services\ULayer.exe.config. You can only modify this file after the image is published. (Source =CTX237138 Redirect ulayersvc.log to another folder or drive) 4. CTX226065 Citrix App Layering 4.x: PVS Image Management - choose an image, then list all the targets using that image optionally filtering on one ore more collections,then “promote” the image to all selected targets. unidesk Unidesk 4 Layer PVS Image Management Utility RR “th uty wd to pronots PS volt une y Une, Toute he ult seat an nag to manag, GEE D skint sasvock oO Stopes a wes asec dro fu tat Secon ba owe Sete en stay So al be Pe nea oa ae uanage mage « PenDesten WO Gaiimanes | ‘Selected image Detalls, Export Count: 9 Dete Created: 2016-05-27 25:20:76 Date Last Modifled: 2016-09-29 17:12:20 Tonge ist (Sats) (at colectne watchs Clove xeoutap Meson 07 tie Minto Oe WoloxenTest-10 rant coher finer ny coneciog _GaCotectore | GatTapen [selected image voisks [_ProrsiewOak_| [owenier aa anes nwa \Verser 1. Develped by Undest Gapeatin naneamdeaccon e. If the PVS Image prompts for a reboot, then see CTX230767 App Layering: Published image to PVS prompts user to restart computer. Create a new Platform Layer ver- sion, Take an existing Write Cache disk and attach to the Packaging VM so it can de- tect the new hardware, Remove the second disk and Finalize the Layer. You must restart your computer to apply these changes Before restarting, saveany open files and close all programs. (ian) Elastic LayersLogon delay ~ From Rob Zylowski at XenApp Image Template Application Assignment vs Elastic Delay at Citrix Discussions: “There is a 5-8 second penalty just for turning on elastic layering. But its not a straight x seconds per app because the mounts run in parallel. However more apps do take longer. What can have more of an effect is if the app has a service. We have to mount the disk, read it and then start the service before we allow the logon to ensure that the service is available if your logon actually needs it. There is a log at c:\programdata\unidesk\logs that will tell you the time associated with mounting and starting elastic layers so you will know how much of the logon impact is due to elastic layering.” Citrix.com Understanding Elastic Layering ~ A technical overview of the Citrix App Layering 4.x Elastic Layering Architecture and Configuration details Provisioning Cache Disks - Citrix CTX227454 App Layering: PVS Cache Disks May Need to Be Larger with Elastic Layering: you may need to add capacity to your Cache Disks and/or Cache Memory reservation on your Target Machines to support App Layering with Elastic Layers. App Layering caches entire modified files, not individual modified blocks. Profile Streaming Compatibility - App Layering 4.12 adds support for Citrix Profile Management Profile Streaming with Elastic Layers. Also see Elastic Layers and Profile issues at Citrix Discussions. Delayed loading - By default, Elastically Assigned Layers are loaded at the end of the login process so that the user can get to a desktop quickly and not have to wait for their Flastic Layers to surface first. However, especially with Session Hosts, you may find that the Elastic Layers are not available quickly enough. It is possible to make Elastically Assigned Layers at- tach at the beginning of the login process. by setting HKLM\SOFTWARE\Unidesk\ULayer\MaxCompositingPhase = 0. More info at CIX246468 How to disable delayed loading of Elastic Layers on an image. To assign elastic layers to users: 1. M HTMLS, select an App Layer and switch to the Version Information tab. Select a ver- sion and click Update Assignments.App Layers Platform Layers OS Layers 2 Ear Properties © Remove Assignments) Clone DelotoLayer Putty Win11 Denljele rece ener @vxa7e ner Oicwme-winoincs ——@onin | Layariermation —_Vrsontaniaion ores oven | | vans 7 Unie anipmnens Aen Pevowin or ogo Oru winere Crome | OH Odaterste @ w © deployable a. In Silverlight, go to Layers > App Layers. Right-click a Deployable App Layer, and click Add Assignments, TEN: [Lzernane [Boil [=0.| Notepad++ Delete Versions Add Version Edit Properties ‘Add Assignments upeate AssignrdShts Remove Assignments Analyze Leyerb. In the Select Version page, select an App Layer version, and click the down arrow. Select Version ‘Add Layer Assignment - Select Version “Selene Layerverson a 204 c.In the Image Template Assignment page, don’t select anything, This page lets you as- sign this App Layer t mergingimounting, just click the down arrow. mage Template Aasigent Laver Nlepadee Q ‘0 a Image Template for pre-boot merging, For Elastic ‘Add Layer Assignment - Image Template Assignment ‘cheat age Templates hat shu espa owe the sete Layer vemen. Only nage Terpaon tal me nol ead signe othe Layer may be sled Layer Hepes a J seen] sro ope Temples ready usng hs yer 4. In the Elastic Assignment page, note any issues that Elastic Fit discovered that would prevent the app from merging elastically correctly. If you're OK with the issues, clickthe Assign Elastically button. ‘Add Layer Assignment - Elastic Assignment resnc et @ TRelvecnipahabyntworkuten cele eastatyermay ahme drenty en when dis apoyo age ame Desarton covcon may nt Wa we ter a Sse ast. Ta “Tepe celans CSE vel al Winans an SE caine igi eer 21 PSP) ma at ee nso you wou eto psig i eer to AD uses or gaup epite eve ates, ck he ton blows Crean cans 2.In HTMLS, switch to the Elastic Assignments tab and click Assign to new users. Update Version Assignments Putty Wint1—1.0 Image Template Assignments Elastic Assigaments —y————_ Choose the AD users or groups that should be updated to use the selectec already at the Layer version may be selected. ++ Assign to new users 3, Search for a user group you want to assign this Layer to, and check the box next to the group. Click Save when done. Or click the down arrow when done.Assign to New Users > B & Citrix Admins > Uf @ citrix Remote > DO @ Citrix Adc Admins > O Citrix ne oe) ‘Add Layer Assignment - Elastic As [crocs ho A u2oo ou at wt gate elect yor vrsion a8 an laste lye. Eat bates to caste 2 yup nA fa act layer vert jou ish easly aye absign Nak [po0n hore ard ue AB fo manage uh gla what ner ruaaic rag Ialaecaataiy nt wat ynen dexoed easly, or may anave atarety an when te deplores a Layered Wage ‘Shaw Fale Rules 4, Click Confirm and Complete. Or in Silverlight’s Confirm and Complete page, click Assign Layer.Confirm and Complete ‘Ada Layer Assignment - Confirm and Complete aso menage Tits, Ua ane Groupe mabe asgrea oe ces Layer Laver: Notepae= Version 40 Image TerpleteCourt 0 Irene Teneo UsererGrous count 1 see or Coupe: Domain Users Confirm and Complete Comment ame CB) 5. Open the Tasks pane to see the progress while it copies the App Layer to the remote SMB share. Synchronizing App Layer 'Putty Win11' with remote share. Status Running Stort Time 12/25/2021, 7:04:52 AM User Name Admine@corp.tocat © Cancel | stars | Subtask | Deserintion | Copying ayer Putty Win version 1.1 tothe network share, Running 1 @ = 30% complete. &BEC CR eee 2] te a eared Sea A 6. When it’s done, go to the SMB share to see the files it uploaded, including the json files, that contain Layer assignments, | = | tayers fone stare View >< DL > Network > 1501 > layers > Sume Dater H Quick access pote oe Ld Unidesk 10/12, GP Downioads — ¢ aaa Documents) EhstcLayerAssignmentsjson = Piaures # Bl tajesicon Horizon? |] MachineAsrociationsjson PolieyDefinitions |_| ShareAssignmentsjson age U) Sharesjson 7. To enable Elastic Layers in machines created from a ELM Image Template, edit the ‘Template (Images), and make sure Elastic Layers is enabled in the Layered Image Disk page. citrix | App Layering $ Got started © View Details ef PublishLayeredimage D cine Edt | | images Bh | termlate name | Connector Conti @ bovers DL Orinto 008 vo04 \itware phe © wit vos standara Aone Vxtware vSphe = Tasks C1 © wnsone 20s veonoe oR vitor vehWindows 2016 .. Edit Template Delete Temple Publish Layered Image Properties Images Help 8, Note: when you enable Elastic Layering, the published image only gets 20 GB of free space due to the addition of a writable partition. HTMLS lets you edit the size of this writable partition. Elastic Layering Application Layering Vv User Layer None Vv Writabte Partition Size (GB) 2g “Minimum 20 6B Conte esc) * To change the size in older App Layering, see CTX225030 How to set the default size of the Elastic Layering writable volume. You edit fusr /local/CAMService/CAMService. exe. config and add the line Exit Template Wizard - Layered Image Disk Ertrnfrnatan abut he yer inage st centers ee Layered mages Fesone: iiasis SERS) Layered age Dik Sie (68)- 60 Sv: [net oremeee B cotton [Enesintnmesr 9. If you find that App Layers are conflicting with each other, you can adjust the App Layer priority by using the Unidesk 4 Layer Priority Utility — Experimental tool. 10. From Citrix Discussions Application from an Elastic Layer as “Published App”? You can Publish an elastic app. Simply publish an app, but manually specify the path to where ex- ecutable would be. The app is mounted before the user logs in, so it will be there when Citrix tries to launch the app. 11. The path to Elastic Layers can be overridden by setting HKEY_LOCAL MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Unidesk\ULayer:RepositoryPath on the published machine. See CTX222107 You can change the Elastic Layer repository in the registry without reimaging (4.x). 12, To debug Elastic Layers, see CTX222133 Elastic Layering Logs. Only Info logging is en- abled by default. a. In C:\Program Files\Unidesk\Layering Services\ulayer.exe.config, set LogTileAppender level to Debug i, Must be set before machine boots. b. C\ProgramData\Unidesk\Logs\ulayersvc.log Update Layers 1. You can optionally select an existing App Layer and click Clone. You would do this if want to create a new branch of app updates without affecting the main branch.4. cotstared AopLayers —PlaformLayere OS Layers Dy renee 2 taitmoatin © hanow hmigmans (Q/GiGS) W tanaianr Layers 2 Sum Putty Wint! tose Q este ete Own ire ee Ooreess Coma |e Prwrnen ermine | 0 oo a Platform Layers Coy Adobe Reader Delete Versions. ‘add version Edit Properties Glone Ly b Add Assignments Update Assignmentsa. You can select a particular version of the source layer. Clone App Layer Putty Wint! Source Layer Version 10 v New Layer Name Putty Wint1-Copy New Layer Description Choose an Icon Fi Vv Unloada new icon Browse New Version Name 10) DescriptionLayer oon Clone App Layer Wizard - Layer Details, or cotate about me Lay eee fee a Layer Destin: ‘Vrion Destin )O@ b. It takes a bit of time to clone the layer. Use the Task status panel to see when it's done.Cloning Application Layer @ done 12/25/2021, 6:40:45 AM Admingcorp.tocat Stotus | Subtack | Description Putty Wiatt Co Application Layer {lly lene from Putt Om emia. ’2,In the HTMLS interface, select an App Layer, switch to the Version Information page, and then click Add Version. In Silverlight, right-click an App Layer and click Add Version. App Layers: Platform Layers 0S Layers 2 EditProportios © Remove Assignments OQ Clone Delete Layer Putty Wintt Q tives rie Od: tepeyetle Q©rveondeswinwrs62 ote Leyorlofeemation Vestn nfoeation Oovicezer O oxtte Pov ————) fone = Orr iwins 64 Odesterabie o ww @ deployable [[isenoe ——_ailint=» [63] Platfom Layers Ces Office 2016 Delete Versions ‘Add Version Edit Properties Add Assianments 3.In the Version Details page, enter a new version, and scroll down or click the down ar- row.Add Version Putty Win11 Base Version 10 Vv New Version Name 1) New Version Description (Create Application Version Wizard - Version Details vest deta tr 9B Now Yerson ome Lye. Layertone: Of 2918-23 Labstiewin 10 Lape ese vein } es ese Nace S26(085. go 4. In the OS Layer page, click the down arrow. 5. In the Prerequisites Layers page, click the down arrow.6.In the Connector page, select a Connector, and click Confirm and Complete, or click the down arrow.OS Layer Select an OS Layer | Neme | Version Prerequisite Layers If the application you are layering requires other App Layers during initialization, pick the necessary layers. (The finalized App Layer Version does net include these Layers.| Only layers associated with the selected OS Layer can be selected. No App Layers available for OS Laye Platform Layer If you are creating this layer on a different hypervisor than the one where you created the 8 layer, select the platform layer for your chosen hypervisor. No Platform Layers available for OS VMware vSphere-vCenterO2-ESX03.._ \/ LF Packaging Disk Filename Putty Wint1 Confirm and Complete(Create Application Version Wizard - Connector ‘Sole ne connect conaguasen cn wrich no paeeaan ck wl be cepojee. Use the butons ew oa or congue connec Select a Connector Configuration nae tw veins SgU2 01 g 7.In the Platform Layer ©2® page, click the down arrow. 8. In the Packaging Disk page, click the down arrow. 9.In the Confirm and Complete page, click Add Version. (Create Application Version Wizard - Confirm and Complete \onty e veri deta ate comoet and etek Act Vario eee anew version ere Ape yer Gickherefornet ste, [Gsekie Copy URL) Ljer Name: onic 2018 - wae Layer Beseton: ‘version: 1.1 \vorson Desergton: maxtayersee (08: 10 OS Layer rons 2016-10 Prereguse Layers Comecios anfiguaton Vunate sphere xCenten2-sso2esx01 Poekagew Disk Flenane ono 2018 Wine Pancagng Oise Fema VMOK Pltoce Layer 6 connrm ana Complete10, The task details shows the current progress. Tn acne ken eect Pee ee ev Sub Tesk peed Perr el Ce ee ces iE te 11, It eventually says Action Required. Active @ Completed Pou cacael | Deseristion | Status Adding Version to App Layer: ‘Putty Wint1’. Aebeg Required dh 12, When the Packaging Machine is deployed, you can connect to its console and perform any desired updates. When you are done performing updates, finalize the layer: a. George Spiers Citrix App Layering Preparation Script: runs a number of tasks to clean out temporary folders, clear out Event Log entries, remove ghost devices from Device Manager, etc. ? b. Double-click the Shutdown for Finalize icon on the desktop. If it finds issues, it will tell you what to do (e.g. reboot needed), Otherwise, it will shut down the VM.re nikon Fah oa’ 13. If Offload Compositing is enabled, then upload happens automatically. a. Otherwise, when done updating the Packaging Machine, right-click the App Layer that is marked as Editing, and click Finalize. freed eves eee ecu Office 2016 - Wi... Edit Properties Add Assignments Update Assignments Remove Assignments Analyze La} Finalize b, In the Script Path page, click the down arrow.c.In the Confirm and Complete page, click Finalize. Confim ana Complete Finalze Layer Wizard - Confirm and Complete (Cec Fain te compote creston of mo ajo and ako 57238 fer aroun Name: Of 2015-2016 Saipl Pat 14, View the task details to see the current progress. Adding Version to App Layer: ‘Putty Win11'. Status © Running Start Time veresiz02\, User Name ‘Admin@corp.locat Cancel All status bore © Bunnings bore 46:20 AM Putty Winlt 1A Windows 11-10, Subtask Description Bool Image Boot imaye is already in the cache. ty Windows 11-10 is already in the cache. Detaching roquired disks from the victual machins.Tee eed ete Sub Task ee a ee ee eee 15, To confirm that you have a new version, in HTMLS interface, select the App Layering and switch to the Version Information tab. In Silverlight, right-click the App Layer, and click Delete Versions. App Layers: Platform Layers ESTED 2 esiProportics @ Remove @ Here nencor O veriyie © recone wena 003 @ dency OQoricezore Overy BP Putey nn Ocericyesi QP wine res © desir 08 Layers ments Clone Putty Wint1 Deployable Layer information a oO oO version 1 10 1 detoteLayer Version Information & stots Oepioyabio © deoioyabioa onisa aie assigned to 1 image template | Has Slastic assignment Image Template Assignments © Wint! VDA Standard Apps Elastic Assignments @ Domain UsersDelete Layer Wizard - Version Selection ‘ela any unves vttans to delat relat Dat Layer delat ne entre Layer, Version Selection 17. There are two methods of assigning a new version: one image at a time, or multiple images. 18, To edit one image: a. Go to the Images tab. Select an Image, and click Edit Template. 4 Getstarted © View Details Publish Laveredimage Clone ae or ) Imases ees Cameos & Lovers TI © weno sos vor ViarevSphere Tooke © ier v0r starr Ans iar vSohere TQ wince 2016 .Sehere vA iar vSohere . Es eee win2016 Pvs as °) Edit Template Delete remplal? Publish Layered Image b. In HTMLS interface, scroll down to the App Layers section and click Edit Selection. Select the new version and click Save. Then click Confirm and Complete.App Layers Select the App Layers to include in the Template. Press "Edit Selection’ to select Layers, and their specific versions. The selection is limited to Layers created using the selected OS Layer. @ Fait Selecting Name | Version Pewee 10 App Layers x t Tonys es i. In Silverlight, click the Application Assignment page. Click the plus arrow next toa Layer and select the new version. Then complete the wizard. Edit Template Wizard - Application Assignment Sebi gpLare he ne Teng, Ege Lael apnea. The © O veteser-vce Aen ses BD © commie aie. 19, To update multiple images: a. In HTMLS, in the Version Information tab for a Layer, select the version and click Update Assignments.AppLayers Platform Layers 08 Layers 2 EeitProperies © Remove Assignments Q Clone OeetoLaver Putty Wintl @ srr @omnie soa © rrctsco0r+ wins 90 @vepioyatie Layer information Version Information a Oona Srmmmie | @ vowels 7 Wiokigonots @ Aone Bevin oepcyatie | vesion | states Orv wits sea Oxrioyate au © dopleyabio Oo w @depiovabie i. In Silverlight, right-click the updated layer, and click Update Assignments. HET ES Lol=] [tayername a =o [6] rote Delete Versions ‘Add Version| Edit Propertes Add Assignments Update Assignment: Remove Ascignments ii. In the Select Version page, select the version you want to assign, and click the down arrow.Update Layer Assignment - Select Version b. In the Image Template Assignment tab, select the templates you want to update, and scroll down or click the down arrow. Update Version Assignments x Putty Wint— 1 Image Template Assignments Elastic Assignments (Chooao tho Image Templates that shouldbe update to uso tho solecod Layer version. Only inaxe Templates that aro not ++ Assign tone image Templates | ez Tenette Cone Yorn os %, © vworvorstncorsaooe 10 umage Template Aasigent Update Layer Assignment - Image Template Assignment ‘creo he age Templates hat shou e pae o use the set Layer vemien Only a J seen] Ty sow nna Tenses enya vesen c. In the Elastic Assignment tab, if this App Layer is assigned to users, you can update them too, Click the down arrow. Update Version Assignments Putty Wintl — 11 Image Template Assignments _Elast Assignments —+ — [choose the AD users or grauns that should be undated to use the solected Layer version, Only users or grout already at the Layor version may be solocted. +} Assign tonew users | current version |New version 10 1Update Layer Assignment - Elastic Assignment ‘oneose the AD users or ous ta shou be ude to use he sete Layer version Oniy ‘rere gap al re al eady ote Layesveron may base Ty Sow A os nd os ee ts ven 4. Click Confirm and Complete, or in the Confirm and Complete page, click Update Assignments. en ake Ci) ‘Confrm and Complet= Update Layer Assignment - Confirm and Complete Reve the Image Temples, ser, and Greups a wi epee ous the selected Layer Layee ones 2016-2018 vere: 14 mane Tena Count 2 nage Temps: 2016 Ps aus 235 spree VOR. set ot Group cout 1 Users or Group: Duma Uses20, Once an image has a new version a iifabe4 re ead 4 Get started © View Details cf PublishLayeredimage Q Clone & | ‘igned, you must republish it. Images HB | template name | @ levers © winto 1203 voa i wwe © wirtrvor standare Aves © wireows 2016 vsohere VOA Export Layers App Layering 4.3 and newer let you export all layers and versions to the SMB File Share, 1. Go to the Layers tab. 2. Right-click on the background, and click Export. App Layers ees 08 Layers Create App Layer Create Piatform Layer Create OS Layer Boot py Import 0S Layers Help3. App Layering 4.4 and newer lets you specify a file share for the exported layers. File Share Expos Layers Wizard - File Share Emter the netuok le sat intormaton where te vcore ar versions il be stored. Pleste fu ne spore apr verzans lle plceain Pe Undeshtapaied els swell under ‘he speed te share ocston ‘Sm Fe Snare Pat: [to tuayere Username: earladin ] cue fee (aise aE) see Oe 4, ELM 45 and newer let you select the layers and versions that you want to export. Make your selections, and then click the down arrow. ———*Z—i~C=«&{&*~=&_*—xq{{;——>{ iC_—> Version Selection Export Layers Wizard - Version Selection Sethe rors ceva eer. say craton cS, penn an ator er ‘emon sf OS layer nate siherin oe hae crceafepoaion an apreaiono Psform yor asoetteg wt [Show versons hich canal be sett Pere a I -eplieaton Layers BD © perwmesse Sy BD mi rscmiazen BD © vravindons 20163645. Review the list of layersiversions it will export, and click Export. Svatane or por Expat Leceton Space Aveta Confirm and Complete ‘vaio Yo Escort: Export Layers Wizard - Confirm and Complete Cok porto star me process of poring a tne spas ayer versions nd make mem so tdyers Paty wint6x62-1.0 \VDaWandours 2018388-7 14 = Ca Soe 6. If you look in your SMB share, in the \Unidesk\Exported Layers folder, you'll see a folder for the OS Layer, and in there, you'll see a folder for each Platform and Application Layer. [3 LA = | Windows 2016 eo A Quick access I Desktop $ downtoaas Bl Documents Share View > Neswork » fs01 > Layets > Unidesk > Exported Layers » Windows 2015 > * ¢ Nome Date medified Putty Wint6 64 7/13/2017 740 AM VDA Windone 20186! [7 tosenece93e041127a1 440950569344201. Type File folder File Felder LAVPKG File 7. After creating new layer versions, if you export layers again, it will only export the layers/versions that haven’t already been exported.Export All Layers Wizard - Confirm and Complete Cok export star me process of poring a ne spas iayer versions nd make mem Svatane or por Boyar Loccion: 0 gers Spice Avoible: 797008 Confirm and Complct= Spree Reged: 218 MB YYstor Ye Ese VDA Wadows 2018%94-7.14 ~ . | Gap soe | 8, Ifyou right-click the background, and click Import... eves Ey eS Fae ae-2] es Create App Laver, Create Platform Layer Create 0S Layer Export Import a 0 Layers Help9. Itonly imports the layers/versions that are missing. Import Layers Wizard - Confirm and Complete Ciekimpeto tan e eess ot gong ae specter eon na mate em Impat Locaton: 0 yers Spice Avoible: 28077018 Confirm and Complct= Spree Regie: 16830 MB Yarsone Te mart Windows 2016-10 he April 20, 2022 & Cari Stalhood & Citrix App Layering, Unidesk 124 thoughts on “App Layering - App Layers, Image Templates, and Publishing” Stephen September 22, 2022 at 5:37 pm just wanted to thank you Carl for creating this site and putting in the effort it takes to update and maintain. Citrix engineers refer to this site constantly and know you by name, Pretty cool! a Carl Stalhood 3 “* september 22, 2022 at 5:41 pm ‘Thanks for your kind words! I enjoy sharing what I learn. Others should do the same. @ Roger ParentFebruary 16, 2022 at 2:52 pm We installing Applayer on Nutanix AHV, a new installation.The only thing that is not working is when I create an Apps Layer, when I add a new apps layer, it failed with that error “A function was called with an invalid parame- ter”. The VM is not created. OS Layer, platform layer and Images Layer are working fine, Nutanix AHV 202001105.2244 / AOS 5.20.3, OS Layer on Windows 10 2142. Toolbox May 12, 2021 at 2:44 pm Hi Carl, Just wondering if you have anything written up for what to do after an ESXI host is updated? We recently updated from 6.7 to 7.01 and now the VM hard- ware is showing it is out of date. How do you fix this? Carl Stalhood 3, May 12, 2021 at 2:57 pm Did you specify a VM Template in your Connector? T assume the Template can be whatever hardware version you desire, https://docs.citrix.com/en- usi ering/4/connect/machine-creation-for-vsphere.html Toolbox May 12, 2021 at 3:18 pm So edit the template and then a new OS layer. Thanks. RickR December 28, 2020 at 8:51 am Carl —we have been using layering and love it, but have recently realized that out Windows Server 2016 Component Store gets corrupt upon creating an im- age. Have tried recreating various times and it is always corrupt. Is this some- thing you have seen? or has anyone else seen this? Bigger issue is that running all of the DISM repair options are NOT repairing the store,Dominic December 15, 2020 at 1:27 am Hi Carl, thanks for your great article. Is there any possibility to dublicate a Platform Layer? There's no GUI option to clone like App Layers. Import an existing Layer doesn’t work also. Regards Carl Stalhood 2 December 15, 2020 at 7:03 am I think most people simply recreate it. Zsunit November 6, 2020 at 8:55 pm Hello Carl, Thank you for writing so many and most useful reference guides. Thad a question if you may help. I have tried to look it up on citrix and other blogs, but have not found much reference. Is there a limit of how many appli- cations i can throw in in one layer? Would it affect performance? Is there a comprehensive list of applications which i can and cannot layer. App Layering Recipes articles have very very limited applications listed. Carl Stalhood 3 November 7, 2020 at 4:54 am If not elastic, then I suspect # of apps in layer doesn’t matter. If elastic, then more apps probably means more time to integrate the elastic layer at logon Zsunit November 7, 2020 at 6:06 pm Thank you. Twas planning on doing Elastic layer, but if i choose to do one application per layer then it will be many layers and that will also take longer. Ihave a use case where the user has almost 15-20 applicationsapart from some core and office applications. office and core layers are al- ready on another layer. Any other way i can work this out? Sakari Salla ‘August 20, 2020 at 12:05 am Hi. P'm trying to expose hardware assisted virtualization to the guest os in vmware. | enabled it to the os layer vm but that didn’t work because when I created a new application layer the setting was disabled. I also tried enabling it in the published image template but after updating the machine catalog all the created vms had the setting disabled. How can I configure the setting so that it stays enabled? Dimitrios Agrafiotis Raptis July 31, 2020 at 3:17 am Hi Carl, thanks for all the info in the article. I just noticed that the “App layer recipes” link has changed at Citrix Docs. it is: https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/citrix-app-layering/4/layer/app-layering- recipes.html Thank you. Dimitris aq Carl Stalhood 2 “* july 31, 2020 at 4:19 am. ‘Thanks for noticing that. I just updated the link. Bob Highland June 3, 2020 at 7:37 am. Hello, Can Citrix App Layering be used to create and update virtual machines, without having MCS or PVS? We currently use Unidesk and are trying to setupCitrix App Layering. We have VMware vSphere 6.7, VMware Horizon 7 and VMware Horizon 7 Composer. Thank you Preston Rohrick March 8, 2020 at 1:13 pm If you are using Office 365 on an RDS image you must add the following line in your Office 365 ODK configuration.xml file: If NOT you will get an error that it is not licensed properly for terminal server. Vaijanath Madugolkar November 2, 2019 at 10:10 pm 1am using trial version of windows server 2012, Iam using MCS to provision the machines from applayer template but found that 2012 trial version is showing expired. I have validated the OS layer and Platform layer i don’t see any issue with license. Any suggestion’s. a Carl Stalhood 3 *® November 30, 2019 at 6:35 am MCS will rearm licensing, by default. You can configure KMS to not re-arm— https:/iwww.carlstalhood.com/catalogs-delivery-groups/#imageprep Ravikumar November 18, 2019 at 4:22 pm Getting a black screen in win10-1809 User layer published images, Initial logon is fine, vhd is creating in the share, but if Tlog out and logon for 2nd time Pm. getting the black screen. thedelph October 9, 2019 at 9:33 am Hi Carl. Thanks for the guide. Is there a way to bulk upload multiple applica- tion icons? i. Is there just a folder on the appliance that they exist in?Andrew poage September 17, 2019 at 3:45 pm Hey Carl, Question in regards to using VHDX in PVS with app layering as your version er. Looking through the docs and the comments I cant see any clear benefit to doing it... Is there any reason performance or other wise that doing the con- version to vhdx is anything but a waste of time? Carl Stalhood 3 September 18, 2019 at 6:11 pm If you're not doing Versioning with that vDisk, then there probably isn’t much benefit. Venakt September 10, 2019 at 11:44 am HiCarl, Office 2016 and 2013 Configuring each time run if I enable Elastic Layer in the published template. and App Layer - PVS published templates (vhd) taking more than 2 min for users to login, MCS ones are less than 30 sec even with Elastic layer. Thanks, Venkat Kevin August 16, 2019 at 9:01 am Hi Carll Great article!!! Quick question — If [wanted to open an App layer just to look as what's going on inside (no changes!) would I still need to create a new version? How do you just open an existing App layer?a Carl Stalhood 3 “® ugust 16, 2019 at 10:13 am Maybe you can export the layer and then mount it in Windows. Venakt ‘August 14, 2019 at 2:10 pm When creating a new MCS Catalog, App Layer created VDA machine in v Sphere is not available in studio for selection. Carl Stalhood 3 ‘August 15, 2019 at 6:43 am Isit in the same cluster that is configured in your Hosting Resource? Venakt ‘August 22, 2019 at 2:33 pm ‘Thanks for your response Carl! yes, they are in the same Resource Pool in vSphere, and what I noticed is that master image is now showing in the studio, but it took 3 days to reflect in Studio, This issue is still persistent, I deployed Win10 1809 & 1709 yesterday using App Layering those 2 templates also not showing in the studio now. I re- moved XdConfig custom attribute and even rebooted DDC like last time, but no luck. Maybe I need to give a few more days for this also:). am not sure what is happening in the back-end. Carl Stalhood 2 ‘August 22, 2019 at 3:00 pm If you had to remove the attribute, then restarting the Delivery Controller might force a refresh. Why does your image have the attribute?Venakt ‘August 22, 2019 at 5:16 pm My bad, it fixed after changing resource pool. thanks Carl. Austin January 30, 2019 at 11:16 am Hi Carl, Thave been having this issue for a few weeks now. Office 365 always ask to lo- gin when i launch my MCS VDIs. When i launch outlook it s keeps loading pro- file at adding username@emaildomai mn. This suddenly started no change made. I have also installed office professional pro plus 2016 and that works fine, Reinstalled 365 based on CTX224566. Still same issue. when i launch other office apps, it requests login. Do you know what might be causing this? Thanks Andy April27, 2019 at 7:11 am Hi Carl Hoping you can help with a performance query please. We are using NetApp HCI (all SSD) and have configured 10GB on hosts for management network. We use the VCenter appliance. PVS servers are all on same HCT cluster and all other VM performance with HCI has been exceptional. Creating layers and publishing to PVS is still very slow despite 10GB network. We suspect it's network related, but not sure if it’s still possibly using 1GB rather than the 10GB. Do you have any guidance on how to verify as its getting to stage that it's too slow to continue using as any new layers and publishing images just takes too much time.Many Thanks Carl Stalhood April 30, 2019 at 4:35 am When Layering publishes to vSphere, it converts VHD to VHDX, which takes time, Is caching enabled in your Layering Connector? Newer versions of Layering highlight the benefits of connector caching. John Wolfe March 12, 2021 at 11:55 am Tknow this is old thread, but did you ever get a resolution for that outlook 365 ‘loading profile’ issu within the past few weeks, and your issue sounds hauntingly familiar. We use citrix user profile management. If I turn of UPM and copy the profile down locally, Outlook loads fine. With UPM turned on the problem comes back. The issue seems to be a combo of something that happened to the user's reg hive nituser.dat and when the profile/hive is loaded with UPM for ve started having customers complain about this the user. If swap out the ntuser.dat or reset the profile, the issue goes away. Isort of wonder if active writeback registry might be at play. But my hope is that whatever you found as a solution might help me as well. Maybe the info Pm looking for is further down this thread, but I welcome any reply. Robert October 16, 2018 at 3:34 am Hi Carl, Is there a reason you use the vsphere connector for publishing a MCS template and not the Citrix MCS for vSphere connector? Carl Stalhood 3 October 16, 2018 at 7:18 am I didn’t notice the MCS connector until after I wrote those instructions. @Robert October 16, 2018 at 7:42 am Tthought that maybe the packaging cache size option in the vSphere con- nector configuration has advantages for speeding up the publishing proces. But after testing this did not gave an advantage for publishing an image. Janaka Silva October 10, 2018 at 8:48 pm Hi Carl, What are the capabilities or restriction with App Layers, if the application in- stall destination need to go to a second partition istead of the OS drive? Carl Stalhood 3 October 11, 2018 at 5:46 am Is this an actual application requirement and it won't work if installed on C:? Or are you just installing apps to D: because that’s how you build servers? Janaka Silva October 11, 2018 at 4:53 pm I'm in the process of migrating from a 6.5 infrastructure and the organisa- tion have done the install that way. When the Applications team was queried, they have advised that they want to keep it the same. Janaka Silva October 15, 2018 at 4:41 pm Hi Carl, Any suggestions, I've tried creating a new base with an added HDD but the layer failed to finalize due the added HDD. @ Thanks in advancemike October 1, 2018 at 11:37 am Great article, running small POC for app layering, when creating new layer for app, platform, os or publishing template, it takes incredible amount of time to finish. talking hour for creating application layer, is that something expected? a Carl Stalhood 3 “* october 1, 2018 at 1:27 pm ‘What is your hypervisor? Did you enable caching in your hypervisor connection? If'so, the caching should benefit you when creating App Layers. Vinod September 26, 2018 at 8:45 am Hello Carl Thanks for such good docs. Have one query , What layer you suggest best for run the windows patches. Security and other patches like MS-office based. As of now I am confused whether to update app layer for MS-office patches (as of now getting issue on app layer when trying to update ms-office patch). q Carl Stalhood “* september 26, 2018 at 8:58 am https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX224566#Updates says Application Layer. Update the OS Layer first. Then boot the App Layer and install the Office updates. Dazza June 4, 2018 at 1:54 pm Carl, having the ability to recreate your gold images from scratch is something I think is of importance... OS, agents, apps et al.... other than App Layering, what other strategies have you seen or employed to achieve this?Brett Molitor June 4, 2018 at 6:32 pm https://stealthpuppy.com/hands-off-my-gold-image-the-scripts/#. WxXLKKVOl- E This is an older post but still relevant today and is worth the effort to put into play. MDT is free and automation is key. eu May 31, 2018 at 10:28 am Hi Carl: After initially being excited about App Layering, our Team dove into the heavy work of making Layers out of some of our enterprise Apps... That’s when the difficulties arose: We found that HKCU settings — which many of our Apps require — can be configured in a Layer but will not “stick” when a Template is created, copied to PVS, and booted from... And having to import ADMKX templates, and create GPOs for dozens of Apps that require HKCU set- tings, is laborious at best... Plus, it takes way more Time to test Versions of Layers than it does to just create a new PVS Version and test it on the fly, Have you found these same things to be true, in your experience? Thanks very much! Carl Stalhood 3 May 31, 2018 at 1:05 pm How many image templates do you have? If you needed to depoy a Windows patch (OS Layer update) to all of your pools, how long would that take? Dazza May 31, 2018 at 1:17 pm Carl. Ok, so you only have to update a single OS layer for patching, but you still need to republish all your images that use it again, in their entirety, and reconfigure your PVS / MCS image allocations. | am currently myself thinking that the complexities of App Layering are bigger than the prob- lems it solvesa Carl Stalhood 3 “May 31, 2018 at 2:01 pm I don’t disagree. Dazza June 1, 2018 at 5:07 am Carl, what’s your honest opinion on App Layering as it is today?... Do you think it's more trouble than it’s worth or are you a keen advocate?.. and why? Carl Stalhood June 1, 2018 at 6:52 am It’s safer to let customers form their own opinion. @ But I usually don’t offer it in my designs. I tend to promote Persistent Virtual Desktops over any non-persistent solution. Dazza June 1, 2018 at ‘01 am “But I usually don’t offer it in my designs. I tend to promote Persistent Virtual Desktops over any non-persistent solution” Fair enough, What about for XenApp workloads? Carl Stalhood June 1, 2018 at 8:25 am Talways discuss how long it would take to deploy a security patch to multiple images, and if the duration is acceptable or not. Update OS Layer is around an hour. Publish each Template and update Catalog is, probably another hour each Image. And no automation. Greg@ May 31, 2018 at 1:41 pm. We only have about 4 Image Templates created, at the moment... You're right, one of the huge advantages to App Layering is the ability to deploy Updates quickly... But the disadvantages of HKCU settings not being “portable” is a big problem for us. We thought of WEM to help out with that, but we're using Mandatory Profiles, so WEM doesn’t have a whole lot to add, in our situation, JackyH June 1, 2018 at 4:42 pm Tcurrently have 14 golden images in my environment and use an SCCM ‘Task Sequence to apply any security and application updates. It takes about 2-3 hours total. ‘The slow part is updating the catalogs and restart- ing and verifying all the servers (F find the new image does not always get applied on the restart). I’m just finishing my POC of App Layering. Every time I add a new version it takes up to 90 minutes, then I have to struggle with having no active directory, no access to the internet, no SCCM so no way to pick and choose the security updates I want to apply. It then takes another 20 minutes to finalize. Then you have to do the same in all the other layers that need updating. Finally, publishing the image takes an- other hour. And I've only got an OS Layer, Platform Layer and two App Layers for the POC but we have hundreds of apps. I was pretty excited about app layering but sadly I cannot see where there is any time saved. One little update can take hours. I feel like I'm missing something... ps, ‘Thank you Car! for your excellent instructions. It was very easy to setup. It's just too slow in our environment (vSphere 5.5) Preston Stover June 2, 2018 18 pm Ireally liked Unidesk 2.x. It was great for XD/Horizon View as it allowed you to define individual 1:1 desktops with a composition of layers. The creation/update process was short as it stored in vsphere format and published in vsphere format. It wasn’t single instance management of the image but was with the layers and it worked. Then 4.x introduced the provisioning publishing which added another step in addition to the storage/conversion overhead for vsphere (apparently reduced if using XenServer). I wish they would have allowed for 2.x style provisioning in4.x to at least allow that functionality to be used for users. And 2.x had a user layer that was production. Brett Molitor June 2, 2018 at 5:38 pm 2.x was legit except that cache point appliance nonsense. If you ever needed to move those + user layers to new storage? Holy Hannah, that, sucks, mikeSTV October 2, 2018 at 2:31 am Hey, did you ever figured out if you are missing something? Doing same type of POC finding the product to be less helpful then originally antici- pated. Every operation takes ages, hour before you are even able to get to the actual update and since you separate by application for most part, itis time consuming process. Was also thinking that this cannot be it, does not feel like improvement to automated update process when using PVS/MCS Jacky H October 2, 2018 at 3:34pm Sorry Mike I didn’t, It was rubbish and would have added days to an al- ready arduous patch routine. We have just upgraded our hypervisor to VMWare 6.5 so I might try again once I have some time. I wonder if those that have had success are all using Citrix for their hypervisor? will April 17, 2018 at 3:24 am Thanks Carl, During Template creation, PVS authentication I am getting error “Failed to connect to the Citrix App Layering Agent on xxxxx”What I have done so far: Uninstall reboot and reinstall PVS Agent Enable-PSRemoting Ensure that port 8016 is open register /i e:IP_address_of_ELM /u:Administratorname load dils c:\program files\citrix\provisioning services console “CAWindows\Microsoft. NET\Framework64\v4.0,30319\InstallUtil.exe” Citrix.PVS.snapin.dll (for XD 7.15) “get-pssnappin -registered” Removed all firewalls Enable bits Account is in PVS administrators group in the farm properties. Jim March 30, 2018 at 8:14am Very detailed doc Carl, thanks. It's still all hazy and confusing despite a lot of info and Q&A. Lalready have a VDI environment built out of MCS and PVS, I want to gradu- ally replace my PVDs with this, without having an OS layer how can I simply connect the apps in the app layers to my existing environment? Carl Stalhood 5 March 30, 2018 at 8:20 pm Citrix App Layering ties App Layers to OS Layers. Other vendors (e.g Liquidware, VMware App Volumes) don’t have that restriction, Jim March 31, 2018 at 8:38 am Thanks Carl, Tunderstand you need an OS (like Win10 or 2012) as an “installation ma- chine” only and once app layers are created you can simply elastically as- sign those to VDI’s created out of other technologies like PVS and MCS. I don’t want to use app layering to create my OS images just the apps. If am correct do I then only need the agent on the VDIs to enumerate the apps?topokin March 26, 2018 at 3:14 am Lam testing AppLayering with using “PVS Connector Script to Convert VHD to VEDX “. ‘The Image creation works fine but the disk is not being converted. I do not have any log file to indicate what could have gone wrong. Is there any other location to check why the script was not launched? topokin March 23, 2018 at 4:03 pm Tam testing AppLayering with PVS, and using “PVS Connector Script to Convert VHD to VHDX “, But I observed that the disk was not converted and no log to indicate the cause. There was even no error message during publish of the Image. Is there any other place I could check why the script was not even launched? mike October 1, 2018 at 11:30 am Did you follow the Citrix article on how to deploy the script including the suggested application (qemu), modified the script to include correct path and in ELM the connector script? fun huh :] alessandro tomba March 13, 2018 at 4:56 am Hello Carl, I'm testing AppLayering on my lab. It's working perfectly using MCS, but when i use PVS the image was correctly added as vhd to vdisk image, but when i associate a server wit that image the server hang showing only windows startup flag. Can you help me? The only step that I skip was CTX226065 Citrix App Layering 4.x: PVS Image Management — choose an im- age, then list all the targets using that image optionally filtering on one ore more collections, then “promote” the image to all selected targets.The tools return a script error getting collections and targets. Wayne Green February 26, 2018 at 12:33 pm Hi, Do elastic layers have to be applied to a “Layering Image”? Can | install the lay- ering service on our non-persistent VPC image and have the layers applied there? Citrix does state: “Any machine running the App Layering Service (ULayer.exe) can have Elastic Layers assigned to it.” Where do I get the install that sets up the App Layering Service? Thanks Carl Stalhood 3 February 26, 2018 at 12:36 pm I think it only layered image is supported. And the Elastic Layers must be based on the OS Layer of the layered image. There's a Tech Preview feature that the Elastic Layers don’t have to match the OS Layer. The service is either installed with the App Layering Machine Tools, or lay- ered in when the image is published from ELM. bg January 30, 2018 at 6:11 am HiCarl, I'm having some trouble understanding elastic layers. Can an elastic layer be assigned regardless of the underlying layered image? For example if Ihave an elastic layer for Aodbe Reader and two different Layered images —one is Windows 7 and the other is Windows 10 - and assign the layer to an AD Users group... will the layer apply regardless of which image the user is accessing? So far I've been unable to get this behaviour from an elastic layer which seemsstrange given that the whole premise of App Layering is to reduce overhead. My elastic layer will work with one image but not the other, even though it’s only assigned to one user group and not any templates. Thanks, Carl Stalhood 3 January 30, 2018 at 6:15 am ‘There is a “lab” feature to enable this. bg February 5, 2018 at 8:48 am Hi Carl, I didn’t see your reply until now. I've enabled both the features available in “labs” — OS User Layer (Full) and OS Layer Switching — but neither of these seem to do the trick? I'm using App Layering 4.8. Thanks, Dazza January 5, 2018 at 9:46 am Carl. Why is it that we cannot assign elastic layers to computers instead of users? Seems like a good idea to me. And it seems a shame elastic layers can- not be automatically cached to computers on boot-up to prevent the first user “losing out” on experience as it’s downloaded. Thoughts? Plus I want native VHD Plus I want PVS versioning integration I don’t want much do I? gr Corey * January 26, 2018 at 2:01 amYou can create a global group that contain computers accounts and assign the layer to that group. It will still attach on user login so you wont get any precaching but it does work, Andy November 15, 2017 at 4:23 am Hi Carl, Hoping you can help with a challenge around SCCM and Microsoft Endpoint. I found a recipe for SCCM (https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX226394?down- load) which seems fine so we can deploy that in an app layer. How do we en- sure that Microsoft endpoint definition updates apply to PVS target thought? Is this not compatible as we cannot put endpoint in an application layer as it is integrated into Windows 2016 OS. Also, the OS layer guide recommends disabling Windows update which Endpoint client requires, Tassume these endpoint definition updates need to apply to the OS disk which is read only so how do we ensure that PVS target can successfully update when Endpoint definition updates become available throughout the day. ‘Thanks Carl Stalhood 3 November 15, 2017 at 5:40 am Layering recommends a GPO to disable Automatic Updates, but the service is not disabled. | assume a SCCM configuration can still deliver definition up- dates to the SCCM client. Ewald Bracko October 17, 2017 at 4:25 am Hi Carl, would you please consider to go more into detail when it comes to publish im- ages to PvS?I’m missing there statements about when and where to set up the cache disk configuration, For example: In order to get PvS caching working properly I need configure the cache disk settings properly within the Layers. Tassume I need to create at some time an additional disk and at some point I need to configure the required settings for caching, WEM cache settings, Event Log redirection and so on, I think this all should be done while setting up the App Layer, correct? Also I assume that right after finalizing the App Lauer and shutting down the VM but before uploading it to the CLM appliance I have to remove the cache disk from the VM, correct? Its quite important to get a good guidance to properly combine the different Citrix components, especially when it comes to get CLM, WEM and PVS or MCS properly working all together. Just for example some of the questions there that should be answered are: Where should I do the promotion of the published images: By using CLM or PvS console? What are the Best Practices there? Should I consider to convert the uploaded images from VHD to VHDX and in which cases this doesn’t make sense? Carl Stalhood 3 October 17, 2017 at 5:07 am ttps://support.citrix.com/article/CTX226095 shows how to add a drive to the Packaging Machine. Note, Pv$ will move the pagefile automatically so you don’t have to worry about that specific component. Other components (e.g. UPM Logs) can be moved by simply pushing down a group policy. The WEM Cache makes sense on D: drive, but WEM is installed in the Platform Layer. App Layering pushes the image/template to PvS and adds the vDisk to the Provisioning Services console. You then assign it to Target Devices. VHDX is beneficial (fast merges) for PvS versioning, which isn’t needed with App Layering, since each Publish is a new vDisk. Ideally, Citrix should add native VHDX to App Layering, but it isn’t there today. Taylor Shipman October 13, 2017 at 8:10 amHey Carl when using Citrix App Layering and publishing an image we are noticing the image is joined to the domain. We look in the logs of the Norskale agent and it showing trust issues with the domain. I am not sure if one of the layers was not removed from the domain before finalizing. Should the image be joined to the domain before publishing to MCS? Carl Stalhood 3 October 13, 2017 at 9:24 am ‘The Platform layer, yes. Taylor Shipman October 13, 2017 at 9:27 am Well yes the platform layer is joined to the domain but when we create that image from all the layers should that image still be joined to the domain? Carl Stalhood 2 October 13, 2017 at 9:43 am Maybe not correctly. It's the domain join registry keys that are important. MCS and PvS should change the machine identity. Tentaal Bairavi October 6, 2017 at 6:42 am Hello, we have used elastic layers but noticed that with only a few elastics mounted the login time become longer. The process of mounted VHD is very fast but it looks the service “User profile service” takes much more time to process when there is about 10 or more elastics layers. Consequently, the whole login process time can takes up to 2 minutes with EL enabled. If we do not use it or if there is only a few elastic assignments then login times takes be- tween 10 and 40 seconds. This was tested with XenApp 7.14 and 7.15LTSR and Windows 2016 as VDA. Frank ‘August 7, 2017 at 10:13 amHicarl Do you know it is possible to use windows 10 build 1607 and applayering 4.3 also with pvs and pvd? I publish a win10 image over elm and use than pys xendesktop wizard with static desktop. But that wont work. The pvd disk is empty. Is applayering with pvd disk Supported? Regards frank Mare Daub July 12, 2017 at 4:57 am. Hi, Thave created an Image, which includes an OS-Layer with Windows Server 2016 and Citrix PVS as Connector. So when I start the VM, everything is ok, but when I select “Elastic layering only for application layers” at the image, the VM stucks at booting. Ive attached an screenshot in here: https://discussions.citrix.com/topic/388391-vm-does-not-boot-from-image- when-elastic-layering-for-application-layers-was-selectedi#entry1976122 Can you figure out why it does not function? Alex June 27, 2017 at 1:55 am Is anyone here running App-V (Server 2016) and Applayering 4.2 with PVS? The question is how? Udo June 15, 2017 at 2:45 pm Citrix says that elestic layers on XenApp (terminal) servers are nw possible and even with retaining user data according to the lates “hot-adduser-as- signed-app-layers-for-xenapp” post As far as I know, this has only been possible for Win7 guest OS, but not for Server 2016 based XenApp servers. Hast this really changed and does the current 4.2 really already support this oris this a little premature and only something they will provide in future? In case it really should be possible with 4.2, Carl, do you have some instruc- tions on how to use this on Terminal Serversand most of all how retaining the user data is working and how it is merged into the user proifiledata? Thank you! Carl Stalhood 3 June 15, 2017 at 3:09 pm User Layers for RDSH are on the roadmap, but I suspect it will be a while be- fore it's released. They need to get it working on Virtual Desktops first. © Udo June 15, 2017 at 3:24 pm. ‘The Citrix post I referred to (would like to post the link here, but the site policy doesn’t allow to do so apparently) http://www.citrix.com/blogs/2017/06/01/hot-adduser-assigned-app-layers for-xenapp is saying it already exists for XenApp servers. Strange, but thank you for your clarification. And please keep us informed once this is really working! Carl Stalhood 3 June 15, 2017 at 4:31 pm Maybe you're thinking of general application settings stored in a user profile? That definitely works. Just implement UPM like normal. Udo June 17, 2017 at 9:07 am No, not in the user profile, because, yes, then UPM would cover this, but I'm thinking about the settings within the program and maybe for ex- ample changes in an application's proprietary database or similar things. ‘To get this handled we would need not only a read only layer, but some- thing which is taking care about saving all the intermittent data. Is thiswhat will be working once the announcement in the above link will re- ally be coming true? Carl Stalhood 2 June 17, 2017 at 10:44 am When user layers are added to RDSH, yes. Ray December 23, 2017 at 4:09 pm es So as of now users layers are a no go? Is this what you a re saying Carl? Carl Stalhood 3 December 25, 2017 at 8:48 am They are still Tech Preview. Thomas Braukmann (@ThomasBraukmann) June 13, 2017 at 2:26 am Hi Carl, i have a strange issue with the applayer in version 4.3. I build a applayer with Office 2013 SP1 KMS an published with the elastic methode to the users. Ifa user start a word or excle document from redirect Desktop Folder , he be- come a flicker issues after closed the documents. If the user move the documents into a folder on redirect Desktop an start, again it is ok Idont now it is a bug or is this normal ? BR, ‘Thomas3 Carl Stalhood 2 “* June 13, 2017 at 5:56 am What Operating System version? You think this is caused by Elastic Layers and not a general OS bug? Mike May 31, 2017 at 8:25 am HiCarl, Tam trying to figure out what would be the use case in our environment for Citrix App Layering. We are using XenDesktop 7.14 to provide end users VDI’s and also applications (the XenApp way). The main thing we need to provide is browsers with different Java-versions. We are using vSphere and MCS to de- ploy both the VDI’s and the Servers providing just the applications. Right now we have a different golden images for every Java-version. So we have e.g. Windows Server 2012 R2 with Java 6 Update 60, another Windows Server 2012 R2 with Java 7 Update 80 etc. Same thing with the Desktop OS's. From what I've understood, with App Layering (Elastic Layers) itis still not possible to provide different Java versions for the same VDI depending on the user who logs in. So this is not possible: User logs in to VDI and get's Java 6 update 60. Another user logs on to the same VDI and gets Java 7 Update 80. Like you mentioned here, layering does not iso- late the applications. We also publish browsers with different Java versions (the XenApp way). Tam just trying to figure out here what benefit would the App Layering bring us comparing to the current model. Any chance you could enlighten me? Carl Stalhood 3, May 31, 2017 at 8:27 am Ithelps if you have identical applications in multiple images and only want to update the apps once.Mike May 31, 2017 at 2:05 pm. Thanks! From MCS perspective the idea is that you can more easily manage the golden images, am I right? So with App Layering you can deploy new golden image which, in turn the MCS will use to deploy x number of new ‘V's? Does App Layering help when you need to installl patches to the VM’s deployed from the golden image? Is it easier with App Layering, and could you give an example of how the OS Layer is updated? Carl Stalhood 3 May 31, 2017 at 5:40 pm You can have multiple MCS Catalogs/images based on a single Unidesk OS image. When you update the Unidesk OS image, it updates all of the MCS Catalogs, even if they have different apps layered in, Keith Higgins August 3, 2017 at 12:47 pm When you say “update the Unidesk OS image”, are you talking about up- dating the VM that was published from the ELM, or update the OS layer in the ELM, and then publish an updated layered image (VM) to veenter. In the case of the later, I am not sure how the MCS catalog will use this updated layered image since the VM it creates has a unique name. The snapshot that the MCS Catalog uses is based off of a different VM. Can you help me reconcile this? Carl Stalhood August 3, 2017 at 1:15 pm. I meant: create a new version of the OS Layer. Update the Image ‘Templates to use the new OS version. Publish the Image to hypervisor. Then use MCS to update the Catalogs.Bruce Vang May 25, 2017 at 7:47 am Carl, Thanks for the instructions! I am getting the error below right after I logged in. ‘Any ideas? I did skipped some of the optional configuration you mentioned. Citrix App Layering - Error We were unable to load the required configuration files. You may not be able to access some of your applications. And, any changes you make to application settings or data will not be saved. Be sure to save any work to a shared net- work location. Unable to find the folder specified. a Carl Stalhood 3 “* May 25, 2017 at 7:50 am Do you see the Elastic Layers in the file share? Do users have permissions to read the files in the file share? Bruce May 25, 2017 at 3:34 pm I figured it out. Thanks! Travis July 31, 2017 at 8:04 am, Bruce, I'm getting this same error. What did you do to fix it? Brett Molitor May 24, 2017 at 11:37 am