Citrix Browser Content Redirection
Browser Content Redirection (BCR) 2.0 is a new feature introduced in Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop v7.16. It allows seamless redirection of the entire browser content area (a.k.a. viewport) to the Citrix client (known as the receiver) for selected webpages or domains. Previous versions of Citrix (such as Flash redirection) allowed only the video element of the page redirected to the client.
The viewport displays the content outlined in the rectangular area of your browser seen in the image below. It does not include things like the address bar, Favorites toolbar, or the status bar.
BCR 2.0 provides Vbrick complete control of Rev’s content display using HTML5 technology including the HTML5 video player. It allows Vbrick to serve multi-bit rate HLS video directly on the receiver.
Vbrick Multicast
Browser Content Redirection is also supported for Vbrick Multicast that provides support for multicast using the HTML5 player. This requires the Vbrick Multicast agent to be installed on the Citrix receiver.
Vbrick Rev Zoning
With Browser Content Redirection enabled, Rev receives the IP of the receiver and Rev applies the zoning using the IP of the receiver. If the User Location IP Service (ULS) is enabled, Rev will use the DME ULS URL to get the client IP of the receiver and Rev will use the IP returned by DME ULS for zoning.
Software Requirements
Proper configuration and use requires the following software versions:
Citrix
●Current Release: Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop 7.16 and above
●LTSR Release: Citrix XenApp/XenDesktop 7.15 LTSR CU3
●VDA Operating System: Windows 10
●Receiver: 18.9 and above
●Receiver Operating System: Windows 10 and 8
●Browsers: IE 11 and Chrome
Vbrick Rev
●Rev 7.25 (Oct 2018) and above
BCR Configuration
1. Install the Browser Content Redirection Chrome Extension on the VDA for each user that will login to the receiver. This can be pushed as a policy by the Citrix Admin.
a. Find it here: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/browser-content-redirecti/hdppkjifljbdpckfajcmlblbchhledln?utm_source=chrome-ntp-icon
2. The Citrix Admin should also configure a studio policy on the controller by selecting the Policies menu option then the Settings tab.
3. This includes whitelisting the Rev URL under Browser Content Redirection ACL Configuration, seen below.
4. If a customer is using SAML SSO with Rev then under Browser Content Redirection Authentication Sites the SAML Identity Provider (IDP) URL is whitelisted.
b. See below for sample configuration. You should also refer to https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX238236 for additional details if needed.
Note: There is no need to whitelist DME or Akamai URLs because any URL that Rev accesses on a Rev page is automatically redirected to the Citrix client. |
Understanding How the Citrix Receiver Fetches Content
Understanding how the Citrix Receiver fetches content is an important configuration consideration.
Client Fetch – Client Rendering: Receiver is contacting Rev directly, therefore it requires Internet access. This offloads all the network usage, CPU, GPU and RAM from VDA to Receiver. All the heavy lifting is done by the Receiver. This configuration is tested and recommended by Vbrick for Rev.
Server Fetch – Client Render: Receiver is contacting and fetching content from Rev through the VDA using a virtual channel. This is useful when the client does not have Internet access. Low CPU, GPU and RAM consumption are expected on the VDA but bandwidth will be consumed on the ICA virtual channel.
Server Side Rendering (SSR): No redirection happening, either because the Rev URL is not whitelisted, or the redirection failed and Citrix fallbacks to rendering the webpage on the VDA.
Caution: Note that when Browser Content Redirection is configured, the server fetch is prohibited by default. |
Browser Content Redirection Confirmation
Verify that you have successfully configured BCR 2.0 by right-clicking on the Webpage which will show a menu About HDX Browser Redirection.
It can also be verified by confirming three processes on the receiver called HDX Overlay Browser on Win10 or called HdxBrowserCef.exe on Win7.
