The Parallels RAS Migration tool operates in two key parts.
The first is to export the configuration from the existing Citrix solution into a format that can be used in Parallels RAS.
The second is to import into an existing Parallels RAS environment.
The Application settings migrated include:
-
Display Name
-
Application Path
-
Description
-
Working Directory
-
Start Menu Folder
-
Command Line Executable
-
Application Type
-
Application Icon
The full process for using the migration tool is summarized below:
These steps are described further within this document.
Parallels® RAS Citrix Migration Tool Download
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops version & components
Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) 1912 CU6 and above.
CVAD PowerShell cmdlets
Microsoft PowerShell v5.1
Parallels RAS version & components
Parallels RAS 19 and above
Parallels RAS PowerShell 19 or newer
Microsoft .Net Framework 4.5
Microsoft PowerShell v5.1
The first part of the migration process creates an XML settings file of the applications configured within the Citrix Farm and converts the Citrix settings to the equivalent Parallels RAS settings.
The process makes use of the Citrix CVAD PowerShell cmdlets. The cmdlets are installed when Citrix Studio is installed and can also be installed directly from the installation media.
Run the following PowerShell command from a host which has access to a Citrix Delivery Controller to export these settings:
.\CVAD7xExport.ps1 -ddc
[CitrixDeliveryControllerName] -folder [PathToOutputFolder]Example as follows:
.\CVAD7xExport.ps1 -ddc CTXDDC-01 -folder c:\temp\citrixexportIf the '-ddc' parameter is not specified, the script will assume it is being run from a delivery controller and attempt to connect to the local host.
The file applications.xml is saved to the folder path specified
If you are installing a new Parallels RAS environment, follow the guidance below to install the management components.
To install the Parallels RAS components, always refer to the documentation relevant for the version you are using
Create the required components using a supported Windows operating system (check the admin guide for the version of Parallels RAS you are using here: https://www.parallels.com/products/ras/resources/).
Download the Parallels RAS installer from https://www.parallels.com/products/ras/download/links/
Deploy Parallels RAS components following the installer steps.
Configure the Parallels RAS farm and activate it using your license key (a trial can also be used).
If you are deploying the Parallels RAS Agents to existing VMs (either the current Citrix VDAs for testing, or new hosts based on the same template image currently in use by the VDAs), you can follow the simple wizard-driven process described in the Parallels RAS Admin guide, found here: https://www.parallels.com/uk/products/ras/resources/. Look for "Add an RD Session Host." Parallels RAS installs all the required agents and settings for you.
Part of the wizard-driven process allows you to assign hosts to Groups. It is recommended that a specific group is added for the imported hosts. This group can be selected once the applications have been imported to ensure the correct applications re-launched on the appropriate host.
As soon as the Parallels RAS Agents are installed on the target hosts and their status is verified, the hosts are ready to accept connections.
Place the applications.xml file into the folder you placed the Citrix Migration Tool files.
Launch PowerShell and change -xmlpath the current path to the Parallels RAS Citrix Migration Tool folder.
In the PowerShell console window, execute PrepareImport.ps1 script as shown below:\
.\PrepareImport.ps1 -XmlPathApplications .\applications.xmlRunning this script will generate a ImportToRAS.ps1 script along with the application icons in an icons folder. ImportToRAS.ps1 can be then modified to your needs if required. If the script is going be executed on a different host, the icons folder must be available too.
From a host which has the Parallels RAS PowerShell Module installed, Place both the ImportToRAS.ps1 script and the icons folder in the same location and run the script as shown below:\
.\ImportToRAS.ps1Provide your Parallels RAS server hostname or IP address and administrator credentials when prompted.
Minimum supported Parallels RAS version is 19.x.
For this version of the Migration tool, only application settings are imported into Parallels RAS. Features such as Zones and Server configuration are not configured. The published applications are placed within the Default Site within Parallels RAS and will be useable following import, providing the applications are present on the VM in the same folder structure.
It is advisable to use a Group to collate hosts of the same build together. This Group can be selected in the "Publish From" tab of the Published Application.
For a migration, we recommend that Parallels RAS is installed on freshly built operating system. However, if you wish to test the Parallels RAS agents in a non-production environment on to existing Citrix VDAs, some extra steps are needed to allow access these hosts, as Citrix restricts access to connections made by their broker by default.
- Add non-admin users to the "Direct Access Users" group
When the Citrix Virtual Delivery Agent is installed on a machine, non-administrators can no longer remotely connect directly to the host without using the Citrix broker. A new local group called Direct Access Users is created on each Virtual Delivery Agent. Add your non-administrator users to this local group, so they can connect directly to the machine.
- Enable non-published applications to be launched
By default, Citrix limits the launching of applications to those initiated by the Citrix Broker. A Group Policy setting can be changed to alter this. This can be set from Citrix Studio itself.
Open Citrix Studio and navigate to Policies. On the top right, select Create Policy.
In the Search field at the top, enter Launching of non-published programs during client connection and select this policy.
Chose Enabled
Name the Policy and select Enable Policy
Ensure the Policy takes precedence by selecting Higher Policy on the right-hand side.
Then either wait until Group Policy updates, or force the Policy to update by running gpudate /force.
As soon as the Parallels RAS Agents are installed on the target hosts and their status is verified, the servers are ready to host RDP connections.
Using Parallels Client, connect to the Parallels RAS Secure Gateway and open one of the migrated applications to test.
Providing the applications are present on the host in the same folder structure as there were in the CVAD configuration, the Published Applications should now launch within Parallels RAS.
In general, Uninstalling Citrix Components should be caried out via the Windows feature to Remove Programs within the operating system. For more information Citrix documentation should be referenced. At the time of writing this documentation can be found here: https://docs.citrix.com/en-us/citrix-virtual-apps-desktops/install-configure/remove.html
Application settings migrated include:
-
Display Name
-
Application Path
-
Description
-
Working Directory
-
Start Menu Folder
-
Command Line Executable
-
Application Type
-
Application Icon
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Applications:\ |
| • Create Shortcut on Desktop |
| |
| • Create Shortcut in Start Folder |
| |
| Application User limits |
| |
| File Type Association |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Zones |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Servers |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Delivery Groups |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Machine Catalogs |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Load Balancing Policies |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Load Evaluators |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Policies |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
- RASMigrationEngine.ps1 - This is the engine that drive the conversion of the exported XML to ImportToRAS.ps1
- Utilities.ps1 - This is a utility script which contains all the OU/AD resolution functions, Table creation, and Logs.