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This document contains some general information and tips for deploying IBM Access Client Solutions in Remote Desktop (RDP) Environments such as Citrix and Windows Terminal Server.

IBM i Access Client Solutions can be leveraged in an RDP environment, but there are a couple of things that are different.

First, IBM i Access Client Solutions has only one executable program that is Platform and Java bitness specific.

For instance, on Windows Server 2012 we would expect that you would be deploying 64-bit Java.  If so, the application would be Start_Programs/Windows_x86-64/acslaunch_win-64.exe. This executable calls Java so the Citrix User would have to be allowed to launch Java applications. Also, this executable launches only the main IBM i Access Client Solutions User Interface. If you want that shortcut published, you pass a parameter for the function to be launched. If a saved 5250 emulation file is passed, that emulator session would be launched. The GettingStarted documentation also documents several plug-ins that can be launched. For example,

acslaunch_win-64.exe /PLUGIN=sm would launch the 5250 Session Manager.

Another thing to keep in mind is that IBM i Access Client Solutions is a Java based application, whereas IBM i Access for Windows is primarily C++, though the System i Navigator does run in IBM Java 1.6.

Each user that launches IBM i Access Client Solutions consumes a significantly larger amount of memory than each IBM i Access for Windows user did. On a single user workstation, it might not be noticeable, but in a multi-user Terminal Server type environment that could be a significant issue.

Finally, with IBM i Access Client Solutions in many environments, running in a Terminal Server is not as necessary. IBM i Access Client Solutions can be staged on a Network Server environment and users on their individual client workstations with Java installed can launch IBM i Access Client Solutions from that network location.  The application runs on the individual client workstation, but the IBM i Access Client Solutions client resides on the network.

Here is information on various deployment methods:

IBM i Access Client Solutions: Customization and deployment made easy