Citrix on a Mac

Good news for Mac users: Citrix has just released a new client for the Mac that makes using Citrix much easier.

Citrix is a form of virtual computing, where you can run programs remotely. For instance, we have some databases in the library that are open to the Siena community. Instead of having to go down to the library, you can research them from your computer. There's also software (like SPSS) that can be accessed.

This works on the Macintosh, even if they are Windows programs. Since your computer is only a terminal in a Citrix session, the Operating System makes no difference.

The new software can be found on the Citrix site. Once you install and configure it, you can log on the Citrix, and click on any program you see to run it. It will ask to open the program in the Citrix client; once you choose "yes," then the program will run.

Files will be saved in your network "My Documents" folder, and can be downloaded or worked on again through Citrix.

Getting rid of that pesky login

A few weeks ago, I talked about the Citrix Program Neighborhood and how it allows you to run Citrix applications in I&TS labs without having to login to Citrix. Of course, you do have to log in to the program neighborhood, and seeing the log in pop up whenever you use a lab computer can quickly stop being a novelty and move on to annoying.

Well, we've updated the system so that the window will not pop up, but you'll still be able to use Citrix. It involves something called "pass-through authentication," which means it takes the login you used when logging on to the computer and sends the information to Citrix. Since the same username and password is used, this lets you use all the applications on Citrix directly from the start menu. You'll see the appliations under "all programs."

To set up pass-through authentication and log in automatcially, do the following:

• Right click on the Citrix icon on the taskbar. It will be displayed on the lower right near the clock and looks like a red ball on a square gray background.
• Select "Properties."
• Select "Pass-through authentication" from the "Login Mode" drop down.
• Click "OK."

Now you're set for pass-through authentication. Even better: once you make the change, it will become part of your profile and thus turn off the login screen for any I&TS managed computer you log on to. You may never see it again.

The instructions and pictures on how to set this up can be found on the Automatic Login page on our website. You can find out more about what Citrix can do on our Citrix Program Neighborhood Instructions page.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood (Citrix Program Neighborhood)

If you log in to a computer in the I&TS labs, you may see a new login screen:




This is the Citrix Program Neighborhood Agent. It lets you log in to Citrix Applications without logging into Citrix itself via the web.

You log in with your network username and password. The domain is always "sienaservices" (no quotes).

You can ignore it, but it may be useful to log on. Once you have, Citrix applications (SPSS, FARS, Fathom, MapInfo, Library CDs, etc.) will display on your start menu. There will also be an icon in the system tray (near the clock) that lets you access your Citrix applications.
The system tray icon will log you in if you haven't done so already.

Eventually, we will eliminate the need to log in at all, but for now, this is a nice shortcut to applications.