The wait is over! Today, we announced the general availability of the Citrix Workspace app 1912 Long Term Service Release (LTSR) for Windows. Since we released Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912 LTSR, there has been a ton of customer excitement about the Workspace app LTSR.
This is the first LTSR since we transitioned to the Citrix Workspace app, and we cannot wait to see customers migrate from Citrix Receiver 4.9 LTSR to this release.
If you’ve been following our release notes, you already know that numerous quality fixes and features have gone into the product since the last Citrix Receiver LTSR. We have combined the best of those capabilities and fixes into the new Citrix Workspace app LTSR. We have also made some requested enhancements to installation that IT admins should note:
- In earlier versions, if an admin tried to install the Citrix Workspace app in a system that has a user-installed instance of the app, the admin installation was blocked. With this LTSR, admins can override the user-installed instance of the Citrix Workspace app.
- Previously, you couldn’t update the Citrix Workspace app as a user if there was an admin-installed instance of the app. With this LTSR, users can update the Citrix Workspace app on an admin-installed instance of the app.
This release also includes the new App Protection capabilities, which provides enhanced security when using Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. With this feature, the Citrix Workspace app provides anti-keylogging and anti-screen-capturing capabilities, helping to protect sensitive data from misuse or theft.
We know there’s a ton of interest in the Citrix Workspace app LTSR, so we’ve put together some FAQs to help you learn more about this release.
How does the LTSR program work for Citrix Workspace app?
Citrix Workspace app 1912 for Windows is the LTSR version, which has a three-year lifecycle. During the three-year active maintenance period, a regular cadence of cumulative updates (CUs) will be released. These CUs will typically contain fixes, devoid of new functionality, allowing customers to retain the same base version for an extended period of time.
The release of a CU for an LTSR version will define a new maintenance baseline, and customers will be required to move to the latest CU to receive continued maintenance. After the end of maintenance (EOM) date (yet to be announced), no new CUs will be provided for that base version. This program is limited to Citrix Workspace app and is different from the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR program. For more information, check out the Citrix Workspace app lifecycle milestones page.
How do I decide whether I should choose the LTSR or CR (Current Release) track?
The considerations for choosing the CR or LTSR of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops are very similar to considerations for choosing which Workspace app track works best for you (check out our CR or LTSR blog). At its core, a CR delivers the latest features and functionality due to the frequent update cycles. An LTSR offers an accumulation of the features from the previous LTSR with predictable support and updates. The choice is truly yours as to what works best for you and your environment.
For which platforms will the Citrix Workspace app LTSR program apply?
The LTSR program for the Citrix Workspace app (version 1912) applies only to the Windows platform (Win32 application).
What versions of XenApp/XenDesktop and Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops will be supported with the Citrix Workspace app 1912 under the LTSR program?
The following combinations are supported as part of the Workspace app LTSR program:
- XenApp/XenDesktop LTSR 7.6 + Workspace app LTSR 1912
- XenApp/XenDesktop LTSR 7.15 + Workspace app LTSR 1912
- Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR 1912 + Workspace app 1912 LTSR
- Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops Current Release + Workspace app 1912 LTSR
What features/capabilities of Citrix Workspace app will be supported as part of the LTSR program?
All Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops features released up to Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops 1912 that are a part of the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR program will be supported.
Browser content redirection will not be supported as part of the Workspace app LTSR for Windows program. You can find more details regarding the exclusion of browser content redirection from Workspace app LTSR program here.
More details regarding the baseline, compatible and excluded components/features are available here.
Will I be able to upgrade from Citrix Receiver LTSR 4.9 to Citrix Workspace app LTSR?
Of course! You can easily upgrade from Citrix Receiver 4.9 for Windows (or any Citrix Receiver 4.9 cumulative updates) to Citrix Workspace app LTSR.
If I am currently on Citrix Receiver 4.9 LTSR, when do I need to transition to Citrix Workspace app 1912 LTSR by to maintain support?
For your convenience, Citrix has extended the End of Life (EoL) for Citrix Receiver 4.9 LTSR to December 31, 2020. It is required that you upgrade all users to Workspace app 1912 LTSR before this date to maintain support.
As an administrator, are there any pointers I should consider while upgrading my users to Workspace app LTSR 1912?
Citrix has penned a few considerations while installing/upgrading to Workspace app 1912 LTSR here.
I am on the Workspace app CR track. Is Workspace app 1912 for Windows for me?
Workspace app 1912 for Windows is not intended for users on the CR track. Citrix recommends Workspace app users on the CR track to adopt Workspace app 2002 for Windows. If you are a CR user on Workspace app for Windows and rely on automatic app updates, you will automatically be updated to Workspace app 2002 for Windows. If you are a CR user on Workspace app for Windows and update the app manually, you may download the Workspace app 2002 here.
Now that the wait is over, our Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops LTSR customers should download the Citrix Workspace app LTSR for Windows today! Start testing in your environments and rolling it out to your employees. Have questions? Leave them in the comments below. Also, check out my top 10 reasons to upgrade to the Citrix Workspace LTSR!
