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    Launch Endpoint Configuration

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    Christopher Briggs
    • Updated

    This article has been updated to support v4.1 of the Goliath Application Availability Monitor.

    This article will review the process of creating a new launch endpoint for Citrix XenApp & XenDesktop, VMware Horizon View, Microsoft RDS and Cerner Patient Portal. The Launch Endpoint is the server, virtual machine, or workstation in which the Application Availability Monitor will be executing the launches from.  

    Prerequisites

    Before continuing, please review the Goliath Application Availability Monitor Prerequisites

    Configuration via Wizard

    1. On the Goliath Server, navigate to the ‘Bin’ folder within the install directory. 
      1. The default locations is ‘C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorIT\Bin’
    2. Locate the ‘GAAMEndpoint’ executable 
      1. If the launches will be executing locally on the Goliath Server, launch the executable.
      2. If the launches will be executing on a remote machine:
        1. Log into the machine as the Local Windows Service Account created for GAAM
        2. Copy over the ‘GAAMEndpoint’ executable and launch it
    3. The executable will start the install process and display a Welcome screen, click ‘Next’ to proceed. 
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    4. The installer will prompt for the launch type, Citrix XenApp & XenDesktop is selected by default, choose the option for the virtualization environment that will be tested and then click ‘Next’ to proceed. For Cerner Patient Portal please choose the option for ‘Other’. 
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    5. If the launch endpoint is the Goliath Server, proceed to step6. If the launch endpoint is a remote machine, enter the ‘IP Address’ or ‘DNS Name’ for the Goliath Server and the port used for agent communication (default is 443)
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    6. If the launch endpoint is the Goliath Server, proceed to step 6. If the launch endpoint is a remote machine, you will next be prompted to verify the install directory of the technology.
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    1. Next, choose if to disable UAC at the system level via the installer. Please note, a reboot is required in order for the change to take place. Also, if UAC is not disabled the technology will no function and the configuration will be incomplete.
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    2. Verify that the following installation settings are correct, if so select ‘Next’ to proceed with the installation or ‘Back’ to make the appropriate modifications.
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    3. During the installation process, a progress bar will show the progress of installing the Launch Endpoint, as seen in the figure below.
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    4. Once the Launch Endpoint is successfully installed the install program will display a message that the installation is complete. Click ‘Finish’ to exit the install program.
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      2. If the Launch Endpoint is not fully installed the install program will display a message that the installation requires further configuration.
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        2. This message can if any/all of the below are missing:
          1.  End User Opted out of Disabling UAC
            1. Internet Explorer version 11 is not found on the machine
            2. Citrix – Citrix Receiver is not installed
            3. VMware – VMware Horizon View Client is not installer
          2. This information can be found in the SetupLog located in the install directory.  
    5. For Citrix & Microsoft RDS, the website that will be launched needs to be added to Internet Explorers ‘Trusted Sites’. Please see the following instructions for modifying the settings. 
      1. Open Internet Explorer
      2. Click the gear icon and select the menu option for ‘Internet Options’
      3. Navigate to the ‘Security’ tab, and select the ‘Trusted Sites’ zone
      4. Click the ‘Sites’ button, add your Citrix/RDS portal address and click close when finished
      5. Under ‘Security level for this zone’ move the slider down to the lowest possible setting
      6. Lastly, click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to save these settings
    6. For Citrix & VMware, make sure the appropriate client is installed.
    7. Optionally, Goliath recommends configuring Automatic Logons for the Windows Service Account so that if the endpoint machine is ever shut down or restarted, the service account will be logged back in automatically and the launches will be resumed. This can be done by:
      1. Navigating to the install directory:
      2. Default location is ‘C:\Program Files\MonitorIT’
      3. Opening the folder labeled ‘AutoLogon’
      4. Launching the ‘AutoLogon’ executable and following the on-screen prompts

    Manual Configuration

    1. Windows Account that is always in a Logged on or Disconnected state:
      1. Since GAAM is creating real Citrix/VMware/RDS/Patient Portal sessions, you will need a local or domain service account that is logged into the endpoint at all times, either logged in or disconnected. Please create this service account and log in with it before continuing.  
      2. We suggest enabling Automatic logons for this account so that if the machine is rebooted the user will be logged in right away. Here is a link to a Windows Utility that will allow you to accomplish this https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/autologon.aspx 
    2. UAC Disabled at the Kernel/System level:
      1. While the launches are launching, the technology is making a number of system level call. In order to avoid unexpected prompt, UAC must be disabled at the system level (not through Control Panel). To accomplish this, Goliath includes a registry file to update the system. This file requires a machine reboot. Below are instructions: 
        1. On the Goliath Server, open Windows File Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorIT\Tools
        2. Locate the reg file and copy it over to the launch endpoint(s) 
        3. Double click to run the file
        4. A warning will appear for changing the registry, click ‘Yes’ to continue
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        5. A confirmation window will appear, click ‘Ok’
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        6. Reboot the launch endpoint
    3. Goliath Agent:
      1. The Goliath Agent is used to connect to the main Goliath server in order to run the launches at their scheduled time, as well as report the data back to the console. If your launch endpoint is the same as the goliath server there is no need to install the agent as it is deployed by default. Otherwise, please follow the instructions below for installing the agent. 
      2. On the launch endpoint, enter in the URL for the goliath console and append ‘\installagent.exe’ to the end. For example, https://10.20.10.10\installagent.exe 
      3. An agent installer will download, when ready run the installer.
      4. When prompted enter the IP address or FQDN of the Goliath Server
      5. The default agent port is 443, if you are using a different port, please define your agent communication port in the ‘server port’ field.
      6. Click next to install the agent
      7. When the installation in complete click finish
      8. After a minute, open the Goliath Console and navigate to the inventory page to confirm that the agent is connecting in to the product.
    4. Client Specific Configuration:
      1. VMware Horizon View Client(VMware Horizon View Only):
        1. Since GAAM is creating real VMware View sessions, the VMware Horizon View Client is required in order to execute the launches. Below are instructions on how to determine if the VMware Horizon View Client is installed.
        2. Open Windows Control Panel
        3. In the top right hand corner, change the ‘View By’ option to be ‘Small Icons’ 
        4. Select ‘Programs and Features’
        5. Sort by Name and confirm if the VMware Horizon Client is installed. If not, please install it before continuing.
      2. Citrix Receiver(Citrix XenApp & XenDesktop Only): 
        1. Since GAAM is creating real Citrix sessions, Citrix Receiver is required in order to execute and run the ICA files. Below are instructions on how to determine if Citrix Receiver is installed.  
        2. Open Windows Control Panel
        3. In the top right hand corner, change the ‘View By’ option to be ‘Small Icons’ 
        4. Select ‘Programs and Features’
        5. Sort by Name and confirm whether or not Citrix Receiver/Workspace is installed. If it is not, you can download the latest version of Citrix Workspace at the link provided https://www.citrix.com/downloads/workspace-app/
    5. LogonSimulator.exe is running:
      1. The LogonSimulator.exe is the application that works with the Goliath Agent in order to execute the launch at their scheduled time. This application functions as a background process that must be running in order for the launches to execute. Please follow the below instructions for obtaining and executing the application. 
      2. On the launch endpoint, open the Start Menu and run ‘shell:startup’
      3. On the Goliath Server, navigate to the Bin folder inside the install directory
        1. The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\MonitorIT\Bin
      4. Copy the LogonSimulator.exe file and paste it into the Startup folder on the launch endpoint
      5. Double click to run the file, this file runs in the background so you will not see anything happen. Use Task Manager to confirm there is only 1 instance running
        1. If there are security prompts when you run it the first time, please uncheck the box to check the executable in the future, to ensure successful starts of LogonSimualtor.exe following restarts of the launch endpoint.
    6. For Citrix & Microsoft RDS, the website that will be launched needs to be added to Internet Explorers ‘Trusted Sites’. Please see the following instructions for modifying the settings. 
      1. Open Internet Explorer
      2. Click the gear icon and select the menu option for ‘Internet Options’
      3. Navigate to the ‘Security’ tab, and select the ‘Trusted Sites’ zone
      4. Click the ‘Sites’ button, add your Citrix/RDS portal address and click close when finished
      5. Under ‘Security level for this zone’ move the slider down to the lowest possible setting
      6. Lastly, click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ to save these settings

     

    Maintenance

    Configuring Launch Endpoint Maintenance is recommended  

     

     

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