Citrix ICA Client Rollout Options

This document written and posted with permission by Michael Foster of Futurelink,and explains how to do a silent install of Program Neighborhood. There is an accompanying batch file to delete the wfcname.ini file after this procedure and a new one will be created when PN is next run. I have made the document and the batch file available for download as /files/silent.zip. There is also a document written by Steven Mcgovern posted with permission at the bottom of this page that explains his method of a Silent install.

Written and tested by Mike Foster
Futurelink Corporation
Complete custom installation of the Citrix 32-bit client - Program Neighborhood
To Utilize: Complete server farm function or Application short-cuts or ICA Files

This document describes procedures to automate, customize and pre-configure the Citrix Program Neighborhood ICA client software for Microsoft Windows 95/98/NT workstations.

Steps that needed to have been completed prior to deploying client software:

1. The Citrix MetaFrame server or server farm is up and running without any errors.
2. All applications have been published using the Published Application Manager utility.

Option 1 of this document describes how to roll out a customized version of the Citrix ICA Client software to be installed as simply as possible for the end users.

1. Getting the Latest Citrix ICA Client Software and Creating Basic ICA Client Installation Diskettes

   1. Use a web browser to get to http://download.citrix.com
   2. Select the Win32 (Win 95, 98, NT) link on the left column of the web page. The current version is 4.20.741.
   3. Accept the license agreement on the next web page
   4. Select the English link to download the file.
   5. Save the program to disk in a temporary folder. The filename is NE000741.EXE and is approximately 2.54 MB.
   6. Close the web browser and start Windows Explorer.
   7. Locate the temporary folder that the file NE000741.EXE was downloaded to.
   8. Run NE000741.EXE by double clicking the file in Windows Explorer.
   9. Type "y" to extract the files in the dos box/command window. This extracts three files:
      • ICAW32Dl.EXE
      • ICAW32D2.EXE
      • README1.TXT
   10. Create 2 folders called Disk1 and Disk2.
   11. Copy ICAW32D1.EXE to the folder Disk1.
   12. Copy ICAW32D2.EXE to the folder Disk2.
   13. Run each to extract the files.
   14. Delete the ICAW32D1.EXE in the Disk1 folder after extraction.
   15. Delete the ICAW32D2.EXE in the Disk2 folder after extraction.
   16. Get 2 blank floppy disks and label one of them Disk1, the other Disk2.
   17. Copy all the files from the Disk1 folder to Disk1.
   18. Copy all the files from the Disk2 folder to Disk2.

   You have now downloaded the latest Citrix ICA Client software for any Windows 32-bit platform and created basic ICA client installation disks. We will now customize these basic ICA client installation disks.

2. Installing the Basic Client for Customization

   This procedure installs the basic ICA client on a new Windows 95/98/NT workstation and demonstrates associated customization parameters. The new workstation must not have any Citrix ICA client software installed on it.

   1. Using the two floppy disks you created in the last procedure, insert Disk1 into the floppy drive of the new workstation.

   2. Select Start - Run and in the Run dialog box type in: a:\setup.exe -R

      The "-R" option creates a script file called SETUP.ISS that will record all input. The parameter "-R" must be in a capital letter. We will use this file later in the procedure to create a "silent" install where the end user is not prompted for any installation data.

   3. The Setup wizard will run. Press the Next button on the Welcome screen.
   4. Press the Yes button on the Citrix License Agreement screen.
   5. The Choose Destination Location screen will appear. The default directory to install the Citrix ICA client software is “C:\Program Files\Citrix\ICA Client.” You can use the Browse button to relocate the software installation directory if needed. We will use the default path of “C:\Program Files\Citrix\ICA Client” for the remainder of this document. Press the Next button.
   6. The Select Program Folder screen appears. The default program folder in the Start - Programs menu is “Citrix ICA Client.” You can modify the folder name, but this document will use the default program folder of “Citrix ICA Client.” Press the Next button.
   7. The ICA ClientName screen appears. This parameter identifies the client workstation to the MetaFrame server. The ClientName value must be unique on the network. It is stored in a file called WFCNAME.INI in the root directory of C. The default ClientName will be the Microsoft Windows computer name. The enclosed batch file will delete this file which will then get recreated when a user attempts a connection. This ensures that the file is unique to each client computer. Accept the default ClientName and press the Next button.
   8. The ICA client software will be copied to the new workstation. When prompted remove Disk1 from the floppy drive and insert Disk 2. Press the OK button to finish copying files.
   9. The program folder “Citrix ICA Client” is displayed and then an Information screen appears confirming successful installation of the ICA client software, Press the OK button.
   10. Remove Disk 2 from the floppy drive.
   11. Locate the SETUP.ISS file from step 2. This text file contains the setup information that you have entered in steps 3 through 7. On a Windows 95/98 workstation, SETUP.ISS will be found in the Windows folder (C:\Windows\setup.iss).
   12. Copy the SETUP.ISS file to both basic client installation disks, Disk1 and Disk2.
   13. Copy the setup.bat file that is included with this document to both installation disks.
   14. Use Windows Explorer to navigate to the floppy disk and locate the SETUP.BAT file you just copied to it.
   15. Right click on the SETUP.BAT file and select Properties.
   16. On the Program tab, check the option to "Close on exit" and press the Apply button and then the OK button. This writes a Program Information File (PIF) that closes the batch file automatically after it is complete.
   17. Locate the PIF file that was created in the previous step and copy it to Disk1. The PIF file should be called C:\Windows\PIF\setup.pif.

3. Create custom ICA Connections

   Skip to section IV if you will be using the features of a Server Farm.

   Open Program Neighborhood by double-clicking the icon that was created on the desktop.

   Conditions that must be met prior to proceeding:

   This workstation must have a valid network connection with tcp/ip.

   1. Double-click “Add ICA Connection” and the “Add New ICA Connection” dialog box appears. From the drop-down box select Wide-Area Network, press the Next button.
   2. Click the “Published Application” radio button, and then select the published application you wish to connect to from the drop-down list (If the drop-down list gives an error then acknowledge the error and then type in the name of the published application in the field exactly as it was named when created.) Type in a description if one is not put there automatically. Press the Next button.
   3. The next screen gives you the option of selecting a “seamless window” or a “remote desktop”. I suggest you keep the default setting and click the Next button.
   4. The next screen allows you select the desired Encryption Level. Leave this setting at the default and press the Next button.
   5. The next screen allows you to enter user and domain information. Leave this blank and press the Next button.
   6. The next screen allows you to select the desired color depth for the connection. It is set at 16 colors by default. If you would like to change this to 256 colors then uncheck the “default” box and then select 256 colors from the drop-down box. Press the Next button.
   7. You can now press the Finish button to complete the creation of the connection.
   8. Create any additional custom connections that you may need in the same manner.
   9. Right-click on the newly created connection and click “create desktop icon”. This will create a shortcut on the desktop that will be used later.

   10. Close Program Neighborhood

       After you have completed the entries in Program Neighborhood, and saved them as short-cuts on the desktop, you can complete the custom installation of the ICA Client.

   11. Open Windows Explorer and copy the appsrv.ini file located in “C:\Windows\Profiles\username\Application Data\ICAClient” to Disk2 of the client installation diskettes with the name appsrv.src
   12. Also copy the desktop shortcut(s) that you created earlier from the desktop to Disk2 of the client installation diskettes.

   This completes the creation of the custom installation diskettes. These diskettes can then be duplicated and distributed to your users. User instructions are shown below.

4. Server Farm Specific Information

   If you are using a Server Farm instead of Custom ICA Connections you will not need to create any connections prior to distributing the client diskettes to the users. However, you will need to perform the following steps:

   1. Double-click Program Neighborhood
   2. Login to the Server Farm by providing your NT login credentials
   3. The system will update your desktop and your Program Neighborhood with the application that you are permitted to use. This will update the pn.ini file and the appsrv.ini located in the “C:\Windows\Profiles\username\Application Data\ICAClient” folder.
   4. Exit Program Neighborhood
   5. Copy pn.ini and appsrv.ini from C:\Windows\Profiles\username\Application Data\ICAClient to Disk2 of the installation disk set. The names of these files should be changed to pn.src and appsrv.src.
   6. These disks can now be duplicated and distributed to users.

5. User Instructions

   1. Insert disk1 into the floppy drive
   2. Click Start, Run and type in a:\setup.pif then click OK
   3. A DOS window will appear telling you to wait until the installation is complete before you press a key. DO NOT PRESS ANY KEY AT THIS TIME! You will notice that the diskette is still being accessed. This is the installation of the client and will not display any option screens to the user.
   4. When prompted take out disk1 and replace it with disk2, click the OK button.
   5. The installation of the client will be complete after the client program group is built, which will display on your screen. When the diskette stops accessing it is okay to proceed.
   6. Close the client program group window.
   7. Press any key within the DOS window to allow the setup batch file to proceed.
   8. You will be prompted to choose your operating system. Type the number that represents your OS.

   The installation will complete and the DOS window will close. You will now have a short-cut on your desktop for the Citrix Program Neighborhood as well as any short-cuts for Custom ICA Connections created earlier.

6. Additional User Instructions when connecting to a Server Farm

   If there is a Server Farm being used to control application access then there will not be any new short-cuts placed on the desktop during the installation of the client software. They will be placed on the desktop once the user authenticates to the Server Farm.

   1. Double-click Program Neighborhood from the desktop
   2. Login to the Server Farm using your NT login credentials
   3. The applications that you are permitted to use will appear in Program Neighborhood and on the desktop if the administrator selected the option to place them on the desktop.
   4. After you have established the first connection to the Farm and icons were placed on the desktop it is not necessary to open Program Neighborhood again. The applications can be launched directly from the icon on the desktop. You will have to provide login credentials at least one time during the day.

This completes the installation of the Citrix ICA client software.

Web client installation with ICA files (Diskette Method)

This client installation does not require a browser or even a specific browser. This method will install the ActiveX client and create the appropriate file association to properly launch ica files.

1. Create an ICA file for the published application or desktop

2. Copy the ICA file and the ActiveX client to a floppy

   The ActiveX files are located on the MetaFrame Server in folder \WTSRV\System32\Clients\ICA\icaweb\disks\disk1\ActiveX

   You will only need the ocx and exe files.

To facilitate the installation of these files and to correctly setup the file association you can create batch files similar to the following:

95setup.bat
@echo off
REM This file will install the ica web client to a Win95 System.
REM
copy A:\wf*.* %windir%\System
copy A:\*.ica %windir%\Desktop
%windir%\system\wfica32 /setup

or

98setup.bat
@echo off
REM This file will install the ica web client to a Win98 System.
REM
copy A:\wf*.* %Windir%\System
copy A:\*.ica %Windir%\Desktop
%Windir%\System\wfica32 /setup

or

NTsetup.bat
@echo off
REM This file will install the ica web client to a WinNT System.
REM
copy A:\wf*.* %Systemroot%\System32
copy A:\*.ica %SystemRoot%\Profiles\%username%\Desktop
%Systemroot%\System32\wfica32 /setup

Create these files on the floppy and distibute the floppy to users with the instructions shown below.

Citrix Web Client Installation Instructions

1. Insert Setup disk in drive A
2. Click Start, Run, type the name of the setup file that corresponds to your operating system; a:\95setup, a:\98setup or a:\NTsetup.
3. Click OK to start the installation
4. When the installation is complete you will see a message regarding "restarting your browser", ignore this message and click OK.
5. An icon has been placed on your desktop called "published app.ica". If you have established a connection to the LAN either directly or via a dialup connection double?click this new icon and you will be taken to the published application defined by the ica file.

This client installation limits the user to the published app(s) defined by the ica file(s) you provide on the diskette. This method can also be used from a network share, or you can package the whole group of files using “winzip self-extractor” send it in an email to your users and have it auto install when they double-click the attachment.

Here is another way that was submitted to me by Steven McGovern of Point to Point LTD.

As a background the functionality is built into install shield as it can create an answer type file.

This is the way I found to create a silent PN install....

1. From a Windows 95/NT4 PC load the client disk 1 and run setup.exe -r
2. Install the Client as normal.

3. Locate the freshly created setup.iss file

   [InstallShield Silent]
   Version=v5.00.000
   File=Response File
   [DlgOrder]
   Dlg0=SdWelcome-0
   Count=6
   Dlg1=SdLicense-0
   Dlg2=SdAskDestPath-0
   Dlg3=SdSelectFolder-0
   Dlg4=SdShowDlgEdit1-0
   Dlg5=SdFinishReboot-0
   [SdWelcome-0]
   Result=1
   [SdLicense-0]
   Result=1
   [SdAskDestPath-0]
   szDir=C:\Program Files\Citrix\ICA Client
   Result=1
   [SdSelectFolder-0]
   szFolder=Citrix ICA Client
   Result=1
   [SdShowDlgEdit1-0]
   szEdit1=ICAClient
   Result=1
   [Application]
   Name=ICA Client
   Version=4.0
   Company=Citrix
   [SdFinishReboot-0]
   Result=1
   BootOption=0
   		

   You will notice that the client name from the pc you created the iss file on is embedded in it as szEdit1=ICAClient This means you will get the same wfcname.ini file which is bad... Citrix have a way around it but this is unduly complex.

   This should be amended to szEdit1=" " (the space between the " " is intentional)

   This will give a wfcname.ini file with the line

   CLIENTNAME=
   		

   The first time you make a connection to the server, the local client name will be created automatically, using the local machine name giving each machine a unique file.

4. Copy the setup.iss file onto disk 1
5. Customise the appsrv.ini /src files if you wish
6. Copy the client disks onto a network share
7. At the new client run setup -s

The script will then silently install the client.

Note. If the REBOOT parameter in the iss file is set to 2 this means Restart Windows.

• Steven McGovern
• Point to Point Ltd
• UK