XenApp 6.5 Pre-Launch

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Now setting up Session Pre-Launch is a every simple task but I though I would would just add a bit more regarding the topic along with some screen shoots of how I set it up. 

The pre-launch feature allows a pre-launch session to be created when a user logs on, pre-launch session reduces the launch time of the first application. The default application ctxprelaunch.exe runs in the session, but is not visible to the user.  Also keep in mind that once a pre-launch session starts it does take a XenApp license regardless of whether a user launches an app or not and this setting will apply to all users.

1.   First right click on an App and select other tasks> Create Pre-Launch application.

2.  It will now create a PreLaunch-AppName application, me personally i like to change the name of this to PreLaunch-FarmName (Or something more descriptive) since you only need to create one PreLaunch per farm.

 3.  Next add the Pre-launch Disconnect Timer Interval policy - Amount of time before the pre-launch application disconnects the session (60 minutes by default). Once disconnected, the session gives up the XenApp license. When a user launches an application, the session is reconnected. This timer does not disconnect a session if a user launches an application. If the interval is not configured, the pre-launch session is not ever disconnected.

 4.  Next add the Pre-launch Terminate Timer Interval policy - Maximum amount of time before the pre-launch application exits (60 minutes by default). Starting a user application in the session also terminates the pre-launch application. Once the pre-launch application exits, the session remains alive if the user's applications are running or if you configured session lingering.

 5.  Now if you are setting this up for the first time remember to restart your receiver and once you do have a look at the connected users

NOTE: Customizing the pre-launch feature using Administrative Templates is not supported. However, you can change the pre-launch configuration by modifying the registry values, located at:

For 32-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\ICA Client\Prelaunch and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Citrix\ICA Client\Prelaunch

For 64-bit: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Citrix\ICA Client\Prelaunch