Force USB redirection as "Generic" AOT "Optimized"?

[Tommy Rasmussen]

When we connect a USB camera it does not show up as expected in the XA/XD session - it looks as if we attached a USB stick. However the "drive" it appears as is inaccessible. If we then go to the receivers "device manager" and click "Switch to generic" beside the camera it shows up correctly in the session.

 

Now, my question is - is there a way to set it up (preferably a Citrix policy) so that these devices are always connected as "Generic" and not "Optimized"?

 

I have looked at "Client USB device optimization rules" as it seemed to do exactly what I needed. However it is only supported on Class 03 devices and the cameras are Class 05 devices. And yes, I did test it anyway and came to the conclusion the documentation was correct - sadly.

[Aamir Vohra]

Hello Tommy, 

 

Is the camera from a particular brand? What is the XenApp/XenDesktop and Receiver version that you're using?

 

Regards

[Aamir Vohra]

Refer to the following link to see the registry changes required for USB video devices: https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX123015

 

Also go through the following article for policy changes that might help with Generic USB redirection: https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX137939

 

And for all generic device to be redirected you always have to select below options in cdviewer preferences:

1. when session start connect device automatically

2. when new device attached connect device automatically

 

 

 

av

[Tommy Rasmussen]

Hello Tommy, 

 

Is the camera from a particular brand? What is the XenApp/XenDesktop and Receiver version that you're using?

 

Regards

We have seen this with multiple cameras - a Samsung and a Canon Ixus among others. I can provide more exact models if required.

We are using receiver 4.8 for Windows and XenApp is version 7.13 on Windows Server 2016 (XenDesktop is still 7.12 on Windows 10)

 

 

Refer to the following link to see the registry changes required for USB video devices: https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX123015

 

Also go through the following article for policy changes that might help with Generic USB redirection: https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX137939

 

And for all generic device to be redirected you always have to select below options in cdviewer preferences:

1. when session start connect device automatically

2. when new device attached connect device automatically

 

 

 

av

I have looked at the 2 articles and they both provide information on how to automatically redirect USB devices. The thing is - the cameras are already being redirected autmatically but are using optimized channel which apparently does not work with these devices. Hence the user have to go to the device manager in receiver and switch it to Generic (as shown in this screenshot: https://holstebro.sharefile.eu/d-s5e7f7588c3c4e30b).

 

so basically what we want is to have the image import wizard starting when attaching a camera like on a stand alone Windows box without having to switch the device to Generic channel.

[Aamir Vohra]

Hello Tommy,

 

Try referring to the following discussion once: https://discussions.citrix.com/topic/376957-usb-redirection-and-auto-switching-from-optimized-to-generic-mode/

 

Regards

[Tommy Rasmussen]

Hello Amir,

 

thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately I didn't find anything in that thread that  solved my issue (can't rule out lack of knowledge on my part ;-) ). 

 

Though having been down that road I gave it another shot but to no avail unfortunately. I added the AutoRedirectStorage=1 on the client as mentioned in the thread. I wouldn't expect that to work though as my camera represents it self to Windows as a Class 06 device (MPT/PTP) and to the best om my knowledge, AutoRedirectStorage applies to Class 08 devices? Additionally I tried to set all the AutoRiderectxxxxx to 1, except from printers and audio. This didn't change anything either.

 

I could see that it is possible to control it on a device level so I tried to add the following to the client:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Citrix\ICA Client\GenericUSB\Devices\VID04A9 PID31C2]

"AutoRedirect"=dword:00000001

"Name"="Tommys Camera"

"Mode"=dword:00000002

 

(Not sure if "Mode" is supported but I could see it was an option on the policy so I just tried to add it)

 

Still no luck as this screenshot shows: https://holstebro.sharefile.eu/d-se80360dbef349c18 it still runs optimized. The device name indicates the registry key has been read.

[Nick Panaccio]

I have tried every which way to automatically force specific devices to use Generic instead of Optimized, and as of Receiver 4.9.1000, nothing has changed. So, I'm bumping this thread in case somebody else comes across a way to accomplish this.

[Brad Eley]

On 12/1/2017 at 1:07 PM, Nick Panaccio said:

I have tried every which way to automatically force specific devices to use Generic instead of Optimized, and as of Receiver 4.9.1000, nothing has changed. So, I'm bumping this thread in case somebody else comes across a way to accomplish this.

 

After using group policy to force the 2 Generic USB options in the connections tab of the Receiver, I noticed the same thing, that they were still using Optimized mode. I made the following registry changes, reconnected to my VDI desktop and in the devices list in Receiver preferences, the devices show as running in generic mode:

HKLM\Software\Citrix\ICA Client\GenericUSB\Devices

Change AutoRedirect values to 1

 

[xiaobai wu]

On 2018/2/15 at AM1点52分, Brad Eley said:

 

After using group policy to force the 2 Generic USB options in the connections tab of the Receiver, I noticed the same thing, that they were still using Optimized mode. I made the following registry changes, reconnected to my VDI desktop and in the devices list in Receiver preferences, the devices show as running in generic mode:

HKLM\Software\Citrix\ICA Client\GenericUSB\Devices

Change AutoRedirect values to 1

 

thank！

I solved this problem with reference to this document.

https://discussions.citrix.com/topic/376957-usb-redirection-and-auto-switching-from-optimized-to-generic-mode/