Install, upgrade, and uninstall

This article contains the following sections:

Installation checklist

Install Session Recording by using the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops installer

Automate installation

Upgrade Session Recording

Uninstall Session Recording

Installation checklist

You can install the Session Recording components by using the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops installer.

Before you start the installation, complete this list:

Note:

• We recommend that you divide the published applications into separate Delivery Groups based on your recording policies. Session sharing for published applications can conflict with the active policy if the applications are in the same Delivery Group. Session Recording matches the active policy with the first published application that a user opens. Starting with the 7.18 release, you can use the dynamic session recording feature to start or stop recording sessions at any time during the sessions. This feature can help to mitigate the conflict issue with the active policy. For more information, see Dynamic session recording.
• If you are planning to use Machine Creation Services (MCS) or Provisioning Services, prepare a unique QMId. Failure to comply can cause recording data losses.
• SQL Server requires that TCP/IP is enabled, the SQL Server Browser service is running, and Windows Authentication is used.
• To use HTTPS, configure server certificates for TLS/HTTPS.
• Ensure that users under Local Users and Groups > Groups > Users have write permission to the C:\windows\Temp folder.

Install Session Recording by using the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops installer

We recommend that you install the Session Recording Administration, Session Recording Agent, and Session Recording Player components on separate servers. The following procedures detail how to install these components:

Install the Session Recording Administration components

Install the Session Recording Agent

Install the Session Recording Player

Install the Session Recording Administration components

The Session Recording Administration components include the Session Recording Database, Session Recording Server, and Session Recording Policy Console. You can choose the component to install on a server.

Step 1: Download the product software and launch the wizard

1. If you have not downloaded the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO yet, use your Citrix account credentials to access the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops download page. Download and unzip the product ISO file or burn a DVD of it.
2. Use a local administrator account to log on to the machine where you are installing the Session Recording Administration components. Insert the DVD in the drive or mount the ISO file. If the installer does not launch automatically, double-click the AutoSelect application or the mounted drive.
   The installation wizard launches.

Step 2: Choose which product to install

Click Start next to the product to install Citrix Virtual Apps or Citrix Virtual Desktops.

Step 3: Select Session Recording

Select the Session Recording entry.

Step 4: Read and accept the license agreement

On the Software License Agreement page, read the license agreement, accept it, and then click Next.

Step 5: Select the components to install and the installation location

On the Core Components page:

• Location: By default, components are installed in C:\Program Files\Citrix. The default location works for most deployments. You can specify a custom installation location.
• Component: By default, all the check boxes next to the components that can be installed are selected. The installer knows whether it is running on a single-session OS or a multi-session OS. It allows the Session Recording Administration components to be installed on a multi-session OS only. It does not allow the Session Recording Agent to be installed on a machine that has no VDA installed in advance. If you install the Session Recording Agent on a machine that has no VDA installed in advance, the Session Recording Agent option is unavailable.

Select Session Recording Administration and click Next.

Step 6: Select the features to install

On the Features page:

• By default, all the check boxes next to the features that can be installed are selected. Installing all these features on a single server is fine for a proof of concept. However, for a large production environment, we recommend that you install the Session Recording Policy Console on a separate server and the Session Recording Server, Session Recording Administrator Logging, and Session Recording Database on another separate server. The Session Recording Administrator Logging is an optional subfeature of the Session Recording Server. Select the Session Recording Server before you can select the Session Recording Administrator Logging.
• To add another feature on the same server after you select and install a feature or features on it, you can only run the msi package. You cannot run the installer again to achieve the goal.

Select the feature or features that you want to install and click Next.

Step 6.1: Install the Session Recording Database

Note:

The Session Recording database isn’t an actual database. It is a component that creates and configures the required databases in the Microsoft SQL Server instance during installation. Session Recording supports three solutions for database high availability based on the Microsoft SQL Server. For more information, see Database high availability.

There are typically three types of deployments for the Session Recording Database and Microsoft SQL Server:

• Deployment 1: Install the Session Recording Server and Session Recording Database on the same machine and the Microsoft SQL Server on a remote machine. (Recommended)
• Deployment 2: Install the Session Recording Server, Session Recording Database, and Microsoft SQL Server on the same machine.
• Deployment 3: Install the Session Recording Server on a machine and install both the Session Recording Database and Microsoft SQL Server on another machine. (Not recommended)

1. On the Features page, select Session Recording Database and click Next.

2. On the Database and Server Configuration page, specify the instance name and database name of the Session Recording Database and the computer account of the Session Recording Server. Click Next.

On the Database and Server Configuration page:

• Instance name: If the database instance is not a named instance as you configured when you set up the instance, you can use only the computer name of the SQL Server. If you have named the instance, use computer-name\instance-name as the database instance name. To determine the server instance name you are using, run select @@servername on the SQL Server. The return value is the exact database instance name. If your SQL server is configured to be listening on a custom port (other than the default port 1433), set the custom listener port by appending a comma to the instance name. For example, type DXSBC-SRD-1,2433 in the Instance name text box, where 2433, following the comma, denotes the custom listener port.

• Database name: Type a custom database name in the Database name text box or use the default database name preset in the text box. Click Test connection to test the connectivity to the SQL Server instance and the validity of the database name.

  Important:

  A custom database name must contain only A-Z, a-z, and 0–9, and cannot exceed 123 characters.

• You must have the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions of the database. If you do not have the permissions, you can:
  • Ask the database administrator to assign the permissions for the installation. After the installation completes, the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions are no longer necessary and can be safely removed.

  • Or, use the SessionRecordingAdministrationx64.msi package (unzip the ISO file, and you can find this msi package under …\x64\Session Recording). During the msi installation, a dialog box prompts for the credentials of a database administrator with the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions. Type the correct credentials and then click OK to continue the installation.

    The installation creates the Session Recording Database and adds the machine account of the Session Recording Server as db_owner.

• Session Recording Server computer account:
  • Deployments 1 and 2: Type localhost in the Session Recording Server computer account text box.
  • Deployment 3: Type the name of the machine hosting the Session Recording Server in the format of domain\computer-name. The Session Recording Server computer account is the user account for accessing the Session Recording Database.

  Note:

  Attempts to install the Session Recording Administration components can fail with error code 1603 when a domain name is set in the Session Recording Server computer account text box. As a workaround, type localhost or NetBIOS domain name\machine name in the Session Recording Server computer account text box. To get the NetBIOS domain name, go to the machine where you installed the Session Recording Server and run $env:userdomain in PowerShell or echo %UserDomain% in Command Prompt.

3. Review the prerequisites and confirm the installation.

The Summary page shows your installation choices. You can click Back to return to the earlier wizard pages and make changes, or click Install to start the installation.

4. Complete the installation.

The Finish Installation page shows green check marks for all the prerequisites and components that have been installed and initialized successfully.

Click Finish to complete the installation of the Session Recording Database.

Step 6.2: Install the Session Recording Server

1. On the Features page, select Session Recording Server and Session Recording Administrator Logging. Click Next.

Note:

• The Session Recording Administrator Logging is an optional subfeature of the Session Recording Server. Select the Session Recording Server before you can select the Session Recording Administrator Logging.
• We recommend that you install the Session Recording administrator logging together with the Session Recording server at the same time. If you don’t want the administrator logging feature to be enabled, you can disable it on a later page. However, if you choose not to install this feature at the beginning but want to add it later, you can only manually add it by using SessionRecordingAdministrationx64.msi.

2. On the Database and Server Configuration page, specify the configurations.

On the Database and Server Configuration page:

• Instance name: Type the name of your SQL Server in the Instance name text box. If you are using a named instance, type computer-name\instance-name; otherwise, type computer-name only. If your SQL server is configured to be listening on a custom port (other than the default port 1433), set the custom listener port by appending a comma to the instance name. For example, type DXSBC-SRD-1,2433 in the Instance name text box, where 2433, following the comma, denotes the custom listener port.
• Database name: Type a custom database name in the Database name text box or use the default database name CitrixSessionRecording that is preset in the text box.
• You must have the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions of the database. If you do not have the permissions, you can:
  • Ask the database administrator to assign the permissions for the installation. After the installation completes, the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions are no longer necessary and can be safely removed.
  • Or, use the SessionRecordingAdministrationx64.msi package to install the Session Recording Server. During the msi installation, a dialog box prompts for the credentials of a database administrator with the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions. Type the correct credentials and then click OK to continue the installation.
• After typing the correct instance name and database name, click Test connection to test the connectivity to the Session Recording Database.
• Type the Session Recording Server computer account, and then click Next.

3. On the Administration Logging Configuration page, specify configurations for the Administration Logging feature.

On the Administration Logging Configuration page:

• The Administration Logging database is installed on the SQL Server instance: This text box is not editable. The SQL Server instance name of the Administration Logging database is automatically grabbed from the instance name that you typed on the Database and Server Configuration page.
• Administrator Logging database name: If you choose to install the Session Recording Administrator Logging feature, type a custom database name for the Administrator Logging database in this text box or use the default database name CitrixSessionRecordingLogging that is preset in the text box.

  Note:

  The Administrator Logging database name must be different from the Session Recording Database name that is set in the Database name text box on the previous Database and Server Configuration page.

• After typing the Administrator Logging database name, click Test connection to test the connectivity to the Administrator Logging database.
• Enable Administration Logging: By default, the Administration Logging feature is enabled. You can disable it by clearing the check box.
• Enable mandatory blocking: By default, mandatory blocking is enabled. The normal features might be blocked if logging fails. You can disable mandatory blocking by clearing the check box.

Click Next to continue the installation.

4. Review the prerequisites and confirm the installation.

The Summary page shows your installation choices. You can click Back to return to the earlier wizard pages and make changes, or click Install to start the installation.

5. Complete the installation.

The Finish Installation page shows green check marks for all the prerequisites and components that have been installed and initialized successfully.

Click Finish to complete the installation of the Session Recording Server.

Note:

The Session Recording Server default installation uses HTTPS/TLS to secure communications. If TLS is not configured in the default IIS site of the Session Recording Server, use HTTP. To do so, cancel the selection of SSL in the IIS Management Console by navigating to the Session Recording Broker site, opening the SSL settings, and clearing the Require SSL check box.

Step 6.3: Install the Session Recording Policy Console

1. On the Features page, select Session Recording Policy Console and click Next.

2. Review the prerequisites and confirm the installation.

The Summary page shows your installation choices. You can click Back to return to the earlier wizard pages and make changes, or click Install to start the installation.

3. Complete the installation.

The Finish Installation page shows green check marks for all the prerequisites and the component that have been installed and initialized successfully.

Click Finish to complete your installation of the Session Recording Policy Console.

Step 7: Install Broker_PowerShellSnapIn_x64.msi

Important:

To use the Session Recording Policy Console, install the Broker PowerShell Snap-in (Broker_PowerShellSnapIn_x64.msi) manually. Locate the snap-in on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO (\layout\image-full\x64\Citrix Desktop Delivery Controller) and follow the instructions for installing it manually. Failure to comply can cause an error.

Install the Session Recording Agent

Install the Session Recording Agent on the VDA or VDI machine on which you want to record sessions.

Step 1: Download the product software and launch the wizard

Use a local administrator account to log on to the machine where you are installing the Session Recording Agent component. Insert the DVD in the drive or mount the ISO file. If the installer does not launch automatically, double-click the AutoSelect application or the mounted drive.

The installation wizard launches.

Step 2: Choose which product to install

Click Start next to the product to install Citrix Virtual Apps or Citrix Virtual Desktops.

Step 3: Select Session Recording

Select the Session Recording entry.

Step 4: Read and accept the license agreement

On the Software License Agreement page, read the license agreement, accept it, and then click Next

Step 5: Select the component to install and the installation location

Select Session Recording Agent and click Next.

Step 6: Specify the Agent configuration

On the Agent Configuration page: Type the computer name of the machine where you installed the Session Recording Server and the protocol and port information for the connection to the Session Recording Server. If you have not installed Session Recording yet, you can change such information later in Session Recording Agent Properties.

Note:

There is a limitation with the test connection function of the installer. It does not support the “HTTPS requires TLS 1.2” scenario. If you use the installer in this scenario, the test connection fails but you can ignore the failure and click Next to continue the installation. It does not affect normal functioning.

Step 7: Review the prerequisites and confirm the installation

The Summary page shows your installation choices. You can click Back to return to the earlier wizard pages and make changes, or click Install to start the installation.

Step 8: Complete the installation

The Finish Installation page shows green check marks for all the prerequisites and components that have been installed and initialized successfully.

Click Finish to complete the installation of the Session Recording Agent.

Note:

When Machine Creation Services (MCS) or Provisioning Services (PVS) creates multiple VDAs with the configured master image and Microsoft Message Queuing (MSMQ) installed, those VDAs can have the same QMId under certain conditions. This case might cause various issues, for example:

• Sessions might not be recorded even if the recording agreement is accepted.
• The Session Recording Server might not be able to receive session logoff signals and therefore, sessions might always be in Live status.

As a workaround, create a unique QMId for each VDA and it differs depending on the deployment methods.

No extra actions are required if single-session OS VDAs with the Session Recording Agent installed are created with PVS 7.7 or later and MCS 7.9 or later in the static desktop mode that is, for example, configured to make all changes persistent with a separate Personal vDisk or the local disk of your VDA.

For multi-session OS VDAs created with MCS or PVS and single-session OS VDAs that are configured to discard all changes when a user logs off, use the GenRandomQMID.ps1 script to change the QMId on system startup. Change the power management strategy to ensure that enough VDAs are running before user logon attempts.

To use the GenRandomQMID.ps1 script, do the following:

1. Ensure that the execution policy is set to RemoteSigned or Unrestricted in PowerShell.

Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned

2. Create a scheduled task, set the trigger as on system startup, and run with the SYSTEM account on the PVS or MCS master image machine.

3. Add the command as a startup task.

powershell .exe -file C:\\GenRandomQMID.ps1

Summary of the GenRandomQMID.ps1 script:

1. Remove the current QMId from the registry.
2. Add SysPrep = 1 to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSMQ\Parameters.
3. Stop related services, including CitrixSmAudAgent and MSMQ.
4. To generate a random QMId, start the services that stopped previously.
   Example GENRANDOMQMID.PS1:

# Remove old QMId from registry and set SysPrep flag for MSMQ

Remove-Itemproperty -Path HKLM:Software\Microsoft\MSMQ\Parameters\MachineCache -Name QMId -Force

Set-ItemProperty -Path HKLM:Software\Microsoft\MSMQ\Parameters -Name "SysPrep" -Type DWord -Value 1

# Get dependent services

$depServices = Get-Service -name MSMQ -dependentservices | Select -Property Name

# Restart MSMQ to get a new QMId

Restart-Service -force MSMQ

# Start dependent services

if ($depServices -ne $null) {

    foreach ($depService in $depServices) {

        $startMode = Get-WmiObject win32_service -filter "NAME = '$($depService.Name)'" | Select -Property StartMode

        if ($startMode.StartMode -eq "Auto") {

            Start-Service $depService.Name
        }
}

}
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Install the Session Recording Player

Install the Session Recording Player on the Session Recording Server or on workstations in the domain.

Step 1: Download the product software and launch the wizard

Use a local administrator account to log on to the machine where you are installing the Session Recording Player component. Insert the DVD in the drive or mount the ISO file. If the installer does not launch automatically, double-click the AutoSelect application or the mounted drive.

The installation wizard launches.

Step 2: Choose which product to install

Click Start next to the product to install Citrix Virtual Apps or Citrix Virtual Desktops.

Step 3: Select Session Recording

Select the Session Recording entry.

Step 4: Read and accept the license agreement

On the Software License Agreement page, read the license agreement, accept it, and then click Next

Step 5: Select the component to install and the installation location

Select Session Recording Player and click Next.

Step 6: Review the prerequisites and confirm the installation

The Summary page shows your installation choices. You can click Back to return to the earlier wizard pages and make changes, or click Install to start the installation.

Step 7: Complete the installation

The Finish Installation page shows green check marks for all the prerequisites and components that have been installed and initialized successfully.

Click Finish to complete the installation of the Session Recording Player.

Automate installation

Session Recording supports silent installation with options. Write a script that uses silent installation and run the relevant commands.

Automate installation of the Session Recording Administration components

For example, the following command installs the Session Recording Administration components and creates a log file to capture the installation information.

Msiexec /i "c:\SessionRecordingAdministrationx64.msi" ADDLOCAL="SsRecServer,PolicyConsole,SsRecLogging,StorageDatabase" DATABASEINSTANCE="WNBIO-SRD-1" DATABASENAME="CitrixSessionRecording" LOGGINGDATABASENAME="CitrixSessionRecordingLogging" DATABASEUSER="localhost" /q /l*vx "yourinstallationlog"
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Note:

You can find the SessionRecordingAdministrationx64.msi file on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO under \layout\image-full\x64\Session Recording.

Where:

• ADDLOCAL provides the features for you to select. You can select more than one option. SsRecServer is the Session Recording Server. PolicyConsole is the Session Recording Policy Console. SsRecLogging is the Administrator Logging feature. StorageDatabase is the Session Recording Database. Session Recording Administrator Logging is an optional subfeature of the Session Recording Server. Select the Session Recording Server before you can select Session Recording Administrator Logging.
• DATABASEINSTANCE is the instance name of the Session Recording database. For example,.\SQLEXPRESS,computer-name\SQLEXPRESS,computer-name
• DATABASENAME is the database name of the Session Recording database.
• LOGGINGDATABASENAME is the name of the Administrator Logging database.
• DATABASEUSER is the computer account of the Session Recording Server.
• /q specifies quiet mode.
• /l*v specifies verbose logging.
• yourinstallationlog is the location of your installation log file.

Automate installation of the Session Recording Player and web player

For example, the following commands install the Session Recording Player and web player, respectively.

msiexec /i "c:\SessionRecordingPlayer.msi" /q /l*\vx "yourinstallationlog"
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msiexec /i "c:\SessionRecordingWebPlayer.msi" /q /l*vx "yourinstallationlog"
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Note:

You can find the SessionRecordingPlayer.msi file on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO under \layout\image-full\x86\Session Recording and SessionRecordingWebPlayer.msiunder \layout\image-full\x64\Session Recording.

Where:

• /q specifies quiet mode.
• /l*v specifies verbose logging.
• yourinstallationlog is the location of your installation log file.

Automate installation of the Session Recording Agent

For example, the following command installs the Session Recording Agent and creates a log file to capture the installation information.

For 64-bit systems:

msiexec /i SessionRecordingAgentx64.msi /q /l*vx yourinstallationlog SESSIONRECORDINGSERVERNAME=yourservername
SESSIONRECORDINGBROKERPROTOCOL=yourbrokerprotocol SESSIONRECORDINGBROKERPORT=yourbrokerport
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Note:

You can find the SessionRecordingAgentx64.msi file on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO under \layout\image-full\x64\Session Recording.

For 32-bit systems:

msiexec /i SessionRecordingAgent.msi /q /l*vx yourinstallationlog SESSIONRECORDINGSERVERNAME=yourservername
SESSIONRECORDINGBROKERPROTOCOL=yourbrokerprotocol SESSIONRECORDINGBROKERPORT=yourbrokerport
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Note:

You can find the SessionRecordingAgent.msi file on the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO under \layout\image-full\x86\Session Recording.

Where:

• yourservername is the NetBIOS name or FQDN of the machine hosting the Session Recording Server. If not specified, this value defaults to localhost.
• yourbrokerprotocol is HTTP or HTTPS that the Session Recording Agent uses to communicate with the Session Recording Broker. If not specified, this value defaults to HTTPS.
• yourbrokerport is the port number that the Session Recording Agent uses to communicate with the Session Recording Broker. If not specified, this value defaults to zero, which directs the Session Recording Agent to use the default port number for your selected protocol: 80 for HTTP or 443 for HTTPS.
• /q specifies quiet mode.
• /l*v specifies verbose logging.
• yourinstallationlog is the location of your installation log file.

Upgrade Session Recording

You can upgrade certain deployments to later versions without having to first set up new machines or Sites. You can upgrade from the version of Session Recording included in the latest CU of XenApp and XenDesktop 7.6 LTSR, and from any later version, to the latest release of Session Recording.

Note:

When you upgrade Session Recording Administration from 7.6 to 7.13 or later and choose Modify in Session Recording Administration to add the Administrator Logging service, the SQL Server instance name does not appear on the Administrator Logging Configuration page. The following error message appears when you click Next: Database connection test failed. Please enter correct Database instance name. As a workaround, add the read permission for localhost users to the following SmartAuditor Server registry folder: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Citrix\SmartAuditor\Server.

You cannot upgrade from a Technical Preview version.

Requirements, preparation, and limitations

• Use the Session Recording installer’s graphical or command line interface to upgrade the Session Recording components.
• Before any upgrade activity, back up the database named CitrixSessionRecording in the SQL Server instance. In this way, you can restore it if any issues are discovered after the database upgrade.
• In addition to being a domain user, you must be a local administrator on the machines where you are upgrading the Session Recording components.
• If the Session Recording Server and Session Recording Database are not installed on the same server, you must have the database role permission to upgrade the Session Recording Database. Otherwise, you can:
  • Ask the database administrator to assign the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions for the upgrade. After the upgrade completes, the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions are no longer necessary and can be safely removed.
  • Or, use the SessionRecordingAdministrationx64.msi package to upgrade. During the msi upgrade, a dialog box prompts for the credentials of a database administrator who has the securityadmin and dbcreator server role permissions. Type the correct credentials and then click OK to continue the upgrade.

• You can choose not to upgrade all Session Recording Agents at the same time. Session Recording Agent 7.6.0 (or later) is compatible with the latest (current) release of Session Recording Server. However, some new features and bug fixes might not take effect.
• Any sessions started during the upgrade of Session Recording Server are not recorded.
• The Graphics Adjustment option in Session Recording Agent Properties is enabled by default after a fresh installation or upgrade to keep compatible with the Desktop Composition Redirection mode. You can disable this option manually after a fresh installation or upgrade.
• The administrator logging feature is not installed after you upgrade Session Recording from a previous release where the feature is unavailable. To add the feature, modify the installation after the upgrade.
• If there are live recording sessions when the upgrade process starts, there is little chance that the recording can be complete.
• Review the following upgrade sequence, so that you can plan and mitigate potential outages.

Upgrade sequence

To upgrade an existing installation, go to each machine where you installed a Session Recording component and then run the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO.

Tip:

Go to the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops download page to download the appropriate version of Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops.

Upgrading an existing installation generally follows the following sequence:

1. Upgrade the Session Recording server component.

   If there are more than one Session Recording server, first upgrade the one where the Session Recording database component is installed. After that, upgrade the rest Session Recording servers.

   To do so, complete the following steps:

   1. Stop the Session Recording Storage Manager service manually on the Session Recording server.
   2. Through the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager, ensure that the Session Recording Broker is running.
   3. Run the Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops ISO and select the Session Recording entry to upgrade.
2. The Session Recording service is back online automatically when the upgrade of the Session Recording server is completed.
3. Upgrade the Session Recording agent (on the master image).
4. Upgrade the Session Recording policy console with or after the Session Recording server.
5. Upgrade the Session Recording player.

Uninstall Session Recording

To remove the Session Recording components from a server or workstation, use the uninstall or remove programs option available from the Windows Control Panel. To remove the Session Recording Database, you must have the same securityadmin and dbcreator SQL Server role permissions as when you installed it.

For security reasons, the Administrator Logging Database is not removed after the components are uninstalled.