Citrix HDX Best Practices for End User Performance

Citrix HDX Overview

Citrix HDX (High Definition Experience) is a suite of technologies designed to optimize the user experience for Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops. It includes features for graphics, multimedia, USB redirection, printing, and more. Proper configuration is critical for performance, especially in WAN/remote or resource-constrained environments.

Here's a breakdown of Citrix HDX configuration areas and best practices, updated for current deployments (e.g., Citrix DaaS on Windows Server 2019/2022):

Core HDX Configuration Areas

1. Display/Graphics

Preferred Codec: Use Adaptive Display v2 (H.264/H.265) for WAN users. This provides compression and lower bandwidth usage.
Use Video Codec for Compression: Enable and set to “For the entire screen” for low-bandwidth/high-latency environments.
Optimize for 3D apps: Use GPU-accelerated VMs (if available) with HDX 3D Pro.
Frame Rate: Set frame rate limit (30 or 60 FPS) based on use case (e.g., lower for office apps, higher for media apps).
Lossless Compression: Enable selectively; lossless = high quality, but increased bandwidth.

2. Multimedia (Audio/Video)

Audio Quality: Use “Medium” for balance. Only use “High” if needed for VoIP or media production.
Client Audio Redirection: Enabled by default. Restrict on low bandwidth links.
Windows Media Redirection: Enable for better performance with native media formats.
Browser Content Redirection (BCR): Offload YouTube and similar web content to the endpoint browser — useful for Chrome/Edge users.

3. USB and Peripheral Redirection

USB Redirection: Disable unless necessary. Use Generic USB for specific peripherals like signature pads.
Policy-Based Redirection: Use Citrix policies to allow/block specific devices via VID/PID.
Prefer Native Redirection: For printers, scanners, smart cards — use built-in redirection types instead of generic USB.

4. Printing

Use Universal Print Driver (UPD) when possible.
Session Printers: Use Citrix Policy or Group Policy Preferences, avoid logon scripts.
Print Server Placement: Prefer close proximity to session host (e.g., via DFS or local print server for WAN sites).
Auto-Creation Policy: Disable unless truly needed (especially in multi-session VDI or published apps).

5. Optimization Policies

Use Citrix Studio or Group Policy templates to manage HDX. Key policies:

Visual Display > Target Frame Rate
Multimedia > Multimedia Acceleration
Flash Redirection (if legacy apps)
HDX Adaptive Transport: Enable EDT (Enlightened Data Transport) — works over UDP for better performance.
Use TCP as fallback if EDT fails: Yes (default is now smart fallback).

6. Session Reliability and Transport

Enable Session Reliability: Keeps session open even during short-term network drops.
HDX Adaptive Transport: Always enabled unless specific compatibility issues.
WAN Optimization Tools: Use Citrix SD-WAN or WAN accelerators if operating over congested circuits.

Best Practices Summary

Area	Best Practice
Graphics	Enable H.264/H.265 Adaptive Display. Use GPUs if available.
Audio/Video	Medium audio quality, enable media and browser redirection.
Printing	Use Citrix UPD. Avoid client auto-created printers unless needed.
USB Devices	Redirect only necessary USB devices. Use native redirection types.
Policies	Manage through Citrix Studio or GPOs. Avoid conflicting settings.
Session Transport	Enable EDT with fallback to TCP. Ensure UDP ports are open.
Monitoring	Use Director and Citrix Analytics for user session quality tracking.
Latency Handling	Enable Adaptive Transport, Session Reliability, Frame Rate control.

Tools to Help

Citrix Director: Live session metrics and historical trends (latency, bandwidth, etc.).
Citrix HDX Monitor: Downloadable tool for deep inspection of HDX sessions.
Citrix Policy Modeling Wizard: Test policy inheritance and effective settings.
Citrix Insight Services (CIS): For health checks and environment diagnostics.

Checklist Example and Settings for HDX Environment Best Practices

Based upon the analysis of the user environment the following configuration details encompass GPO and Citrix Director Policies settings to optimize performance for Citrix HDX environment. These policies can be broken down to apply to specific groups of users via GPO Organization Units or Citrix Groupings per group and per user if required.

Citrix HDX Environment Profile

User Types (choose all that apply):

General Office / Task Workers
Call Center / VoIP Users
Power Users / Developers
Graphic Designers / CAD / 3D
Remote Workers on Home Networks

Endpoint Devices:

Windows PCs
Thin Clients
Macs
Chromebooks
Other: ___________

Session Type:

Multi-session VDI (e.g., Windows Server 2019/2022)
Single-session VDI (Windows 10/11)
Published Apps
Published Desktops

Do you use GPU acceleration (vGPU, passthrough, or AMD/NVIDIA hardware)?

Yes
No
Mixed

Citrix Environment:

Citrix DaaS (Cloud)
Citrix CVAD On-Prem
Version (if known): ___________

Network Conditions:

LAN (1 Gbps or better)
WAN (10–100 Mbps)
Remote / VPN (Variable)
High Latency / Congestion

Citrix HDX Policy Template (for Studio or GPO)

Graphics & Display

Setting	Value
Visual quality	Medium
Preferred color depth for simple graphics	16-bit
Use video codec for compression	For the entire screen
Use video codec when preferred	Enabled
Target Frame Rate	30 fps
Lossless	Disabled, unless needed for specific apps
Legacy graphics mode	Disabled
Framehawk	Disabled

Audio & Video

Setting	Value
Audio quality	Medium
Client audio redirection	Allowed
Enable Real-Time Audio Transport	Enabled
Video codec for compression	Use video codec when preferred
Windows Media Redirection	Enabled
Browser Content Redirection (BCR)	Enabled (if clients support it)
Flash Redirection	Disabled (deprecated)

Printing

Setting	Value
Auto-create client printers	Do not auto-create
Default printer	Set via Group Policy or session printer
Universal Print Driver usage	Use only if no driver found
Printer redirection	Allowed, limit via GPO

USB & Peripheral Redirection

Setting	Value
Generic USB redirection	Disabled by default
USB redirection rules	Whitelist specific VID/PIDs as needed
Client COM port, LPT port redirection	Disabled unless required
Client clipboard redirection	Allowed (bidirectional)
Drive mapping	Allowed (disable for call centers if needed)

Session Experience

Setting	Value
Session Reliability	Enabled
Idle timeout	Based on user type (e.g., 30 min for task workers)
Auto client reconnect	Enabled
Fast Reconnect	Enabled
Desktop Composition Redirection	Disabled
Dynamic keyboard layout sync	Enabled

HDX Adaptive Transport

Setting	Value
HDX Adaptive Transport	Preferred
Enlightened Data Transport (EDT)	Enabled
Fallback to TCP	Allowed
UDP Ports Open	Yes (1494, 2598, and Dynamic UDP range)

EPIC in Citrix – Best Practice Settings

General HDX Settings (Building on What You Already Have)

Setting	Recommendation	Notes
Visual Quality	Medium or Low	EPIC is not graphically intensive. Lower settings reduce bandwidth usage.
Use Video Codec for Compression	For Actively Changing Regions	Avoid full-screen video compression unless needed (e.g., embedded Citrix video redirection).
Target Frame Rate	24–30 fps	Sufficient for UI responsiveness; avoid higher FPS unless needed.
Lossless Compression	Disabled	Only enable if image fidelity is required (e.g., radiology apps).
Clipboard Redirection	Bidirectional or restricted to text	Prevent PHI leakage if needed.
Session Reliability	Enabled	EPIC sessions should be seamless through network glitches.
Adaptive Transport (EDT)	Enabled/Preferred	For WAN and VPN scenarios, EDT improves latency tolerance.

Printing and Session Behavior

Feature	Recommendation
Printer Mapping	Use Citrix Universal Print Server or session printers mapped by context (location-based printing)
Default Printer	Set via Group Policy, not user-controlled
Client Drive Mapping	Consider disabling to prevent data leakage
Roaming Profiles / FSLogix	Use FSLogix Profile Containers for consistent EPIC user state
EPIC Cache (Hyperspace)	Ensure cache location is redirected to a fast write location, not redirected folders

Display Settings and Performance

Feature	Recommendation
Display Protocol	Use Thinwire+ (not Framehawk)
Resolution	Prefer single-monitor or dual-monitor setups; avoid 4K or more than 2 monitors if not GPU-backed
Font Smoothing / ClearType	Can be enabled for readability, but may slightly increase bandwidth

Security Considerations

Smart Card Redirection: Enable if clinicians use badge-based access or e-prescribing.
USB Redirection: Block unless devices like signature pads or scanners are explicitly required.
Session Timeout: Consider shorter idle timeouts for compliance (e.g., 15–30 minutes).

EPIC Client Settings

Command-line flags for Hyperspace (-appserver, -cache, etc.) should be carefully reviewed with EPIC support.
Do not use roaming profiles to store EPIC cache. Redirect it to a local fast disk or ephemeral drive.

Group Policy Notes (if managing via AD)

Use the Citrix ADMX templates (matching your CVAD version) to apply these settings in Group Policy under:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Citrix Components > Citrix Receiver/Workspace/Desktop Agent

You can layer GPOs by Delivery Group (e.g., apply stricter limits for call center users or remote workers).

Comprehensive Summary of all Settings

Policy Name	Value
Visual quality	Medium
Preferred color depth for simple graphics	16-bit
Use video codec for compression	For the entire screen
Use video codec when preferred	Enabled
Target Frame Rate	30 fps
Lossless	Disabled
Legacy graphics mode	Disabled
Framehawk	Disabled
Audio quality	Medium
Client audio redirection	Allowed
Enable Real-Time Audio Transport	Enabled
Windows Media Redirection	Enabled
Browser Content Redirection (BCR)	Enabled
Flash Redirection	Disabled
Auto-create client printers	Do not auto-create
Default printer	Set via Group Policy or session printer
Universal Print Driver usage	Use only if no driver found
Printer redirection	Allowed
Generic USB redirection	Disabled by default
USB redirection rules	Whitelist specific VID/PIDs as needed
Client COM port, LPT port redirection	Disabled unless required
Client clipboard redirection	Allowed (bidirectional)
Drive mapping	Allowed
Session Reliability	Enabled
Idle timeout	30 min
Auto client reconnect	Enabled
Fast Reconnect	Enabled
Desktop Composition Redirection	Disabled
Dynamic keyboard layout sync	Enabled
HDX Adaptive Transport	Preferred
Enlightened Data Transport (EDT)	Enabled
Fallback to TCP	Allowed
UDP Ports Open	Yes (1494, 2598, and Dynamic UDP range)