Good news, after a long time coming, Microsoft Teams calling and meetings (audio, video and sharing) are now available on VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) with Citrix.
- Citrix is the only VDI/virtualization partner certified for Microsoft Teams. Disclaimer: MS Teams is one of the fastest changing Office applications and currently is on a bi-weekly update schedule. This can make any recommendations obsolete without notice from Microsoft. At the time of this article creation Teams is on version 1.3.00.362.
- The Windows and Mac Citrix Workspace clients support Team optimization at the time of writing this article with Linux on the way. Installing Teams on a VDI environment When installing Teams on a VDI environment, it must be installed a certain way.
- Microsoft Teams chat and collaboration has been supported in VDI for a long time, and now with the Citrix platform, calling and meeting functionality are also supported. Audio, video and sharing are handled via WebRTC on the Citrix platform. VDA-side HDX services use an API to interface with the Microsoft Teams hosted app to receive commands.
Mar 29, 2020 Hello, Im having an issue where Microsoft Teams doesnt appear to be detecting Audio devices. Teams is running on a Server 2019 image running VDA 1912. Teams is version 1.3.00.4461, which the About- version menu displaying Optimized for Citrix. Ive tried deploying both the application and desktop.
Microsoft Teams chat and collaboration has been supported in VDI for a long time, and now with the Citrix platform, calling and meeting functionality are also supported.
Audio, video and sharing are handled via WebRTC on the Citrix platform. VDA-side HDX services use an API to interface with the Microsoft Teams hosted app to receive commands. These components open a control virtual channel (CTXMTOP) to the Citrix Workspace app-side media engine. The VDI endpoint decodes and renders the multimedia locally. The video/sharing is “snapped” to the local Microsoft Teams VDI client.
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops requirements
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly known as XenApp and XenDesktop) provide AV optimization for Teams on VDI.
You can download the latest version of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops here. (You’ll need to sign in first.)
The necessary components are bundled into the Citrix Workspace app (CWA) and Virtual Delivery Agent (VDA) by default. You don’t need to install any additional components or plugins on CWA or the VDA.
Recommended version – Citrix Workspace app 1911 for Windows and Minimum version – Citrix Workspace app 1907 for Windows:
Microsoft Teams Via Citrix Access
Microsoft Teams Requirements
The minimum version of the Teams desktop app that’s required is version 1.2.00.31357.
Some limitations/considerations
- Windows Thin clients only, not Mac or Linux.
- Only a single incoming video stream is supported in meetings or group calls. When multiple people send video, only the dominant speaker’s video is shown at any given time.
- Update 3rd Feb 2021, 2×2 video now supported in preview details here: Microsoft Teams VDI 2×2 Gallery View Public Preview, Citrix and VMware – Tom Talks
- Only one video stream OR screen share stream is supported. When there’s an incoming screen share, that screen share is shown instead of the remote user’s video.
- Screen sharing from VDI is supported, but you must share the whole screen, sharing only specific application windows is not supported.
- Give control and take control of screen sharing is not supported. Giving remote control of a PowerPoint is supported.
- Incoming and outgoing video stream resolution is limited to 720p resolution.
- With VDI per-machine installation, the Microsoft Teams client app isn’t automatically updated in the way that non-VDI Teams clients are. You have to update the VM image manually with the latest MSI on a regular basis.
These calling and meeting features are not supported:
- Enhanced emergency services
- HID buttons and LED controls between the Teams app and devices
- Background blur and effects
- Broadcast/live events
- Location-Based Routing (LBR)
- Call park
- Call queue
Microsoft is now working on adding these features.
Be sure to subscribe to my bi-weekly Microsoft Teams email update for the latest news at these features are added.
References/more information:
Teams PowerShell Overview
Microsoft Documentation: Microsoft Teams for Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure
Citrix: Optimization for Microsoft Teams
Video Demo here
A list containing the majority of Citrix related Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams support articles collated to make this page a one stop place for you to search for and find information regarding any issues you have with the product and its related dependencies.
The page is updated daily with new support articles and information. Articles will change from time and if information here is outdated or incorrect please let me know using the comments. Links may also expire or change so if you find broken links, please again let me know. For each issue, known product versions affected are recorded however that does not mean product versions that aren’t listed are not affected.
There is a search box that you can use if looking for a specific fault. For example if you have an error code or error message, use that to perform a search. You can also use your browsers search feature which will perform a search against the whole page based on the words you enter.
Skype for Business/Microsoft Teams:
| wdt_ID | Brief Description of Issue | Brief Description of Fix | Applicable Product Versions Affected (if known) | Link to supplemental Support Article(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | When using the HDX RealTime Optimization Pack with Philips SpeechMike, you encounter unexpected behaviour such as the SpeechMike freezing, becoming unavailable or exhibiting unwanted behaviour. | This was caused by RTOP querying an unsupported string descriptor and the Philips firmware not handling the request adequately. Upgrade to RTOP 2.3 and Philips SpeechMike firmware version 3.8.380+. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX226621 | |
| 2 | Unable to answer Skype for Business calls by using buttons on the headset or base on a Plantronics Savi headset. | Plantronics Savi requires usage of a wake-up message which was not implemented before. A bug fix 'LC7873' is available from Citrix support. Otherwise this issue has been resolved in RealTime Optimization Pack 2.3. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX226081 | |
| 3 | Moving the volume slider up or down within the Skype for Business options interface does not change the call volume. | Using the Skype for Business options menu to adjust volume only affects future calls and will not change the volume of calls that are in-progress. To overcome this, you can use the volume option available in your meeting window. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX225772 | |
| 4 | You cannot control the volume of a Skype call using the published desktop volume adjustment controls. | When Skype for Business is in optimised mode, the call is running from the endpoint. Use your headset controls or client device to adjust the volume. Citrix is looking to resolve this in future releases. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX225223 | |
| 5 | Users hear an echo under certain scenarios when making a Skype for Business call with HDX Optimization Pack 2.1 or 2.2. | This is a known limitation of the product and whilst the RealTime Optimization Pack contains some functionality for echo cancellation this feature is being constantly improved. | Skype for Business RealTime Optimization Pack 2.1 and 2.2. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX221402 |
| 6 | The RealTime Media Engine may crash when using macOS High Sierra 10.13. | Citrix are currently working on a resolution. | Citrix HDX RealTime Media Engine 2.2.100 and 2.3. | https://discussions.citrix.com/topic/390535-rtme-23-crash-with-high-sierra-1013-release-of-mac-os-x/ |
| 7 | When trying to redirect a Microsoft LifeCam HD-3000 from a Windows 10 client, you receive message 'We didn't detect a camera' until you perform a reboot. This occurs on VDA 7.6 LTSR. | This is a Microsoft issue and relates to the 'waveOutGetDevCaps' interface taking too long to load. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX229630 | |
| 8 | When a third person joins a conference call, the call is paused. | When you have 3 or more participants in a Skype for Business call, the conference is hosted on a Microsoft Media Server such as Office 365. In this case the third participant's RTOP enabled thin client did not have access to the internet. | https://discussions.citrix.com/topic/395295-s4b-meeting-with-paused-status-with-hdx-optimization-pack-24/ | |
| 9 | Message notifications do not play such as when a new IM is sent to a user. | Issue is resolved in HDX RealTime Optimization Pack 2.4.1000. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX235852 | |
| 10 | The Skype UI freezes after a video call is established on a Server OS VDA which is hosting 40 to 50 concurrent sessions. | Contact Citrix support to obtain a private hotfix. | Citrix HDX RealTime Optimization Pack 2.4. | https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX235947 |