Allow user access via RDP to desktop on a XenApp 6.0 server

I haven’t worked with Citrix/XenApp for a while but today I needed to do some testings on a new server. While doing the testing I needed to logon with a user account to the RDP connection to the server (i.e. not ICA-protocol).

I was faced with the following error message when trying to logon with a test-account (non domain admin) to RDP desktop (server connection):

The desktop you are trying to open is currently unavailable. Contact you administrator to confirm that the correct settings are in place for your client connection.

To resolve the issue a Citrix XenApp policy must exist for the user with the following settings:

1. Desktop launches: Allowed

If you need to launch a application with the RDP client (i.e. Programs tab) then I was faced with the following error:

The initial application you are trying to open is currently unavailable. Contact your administrator to confirm the correct settings are in place for your client connection.

To resolve the issue another policy needed editing:

1. Launching of non-published programs during client connection: Enabled

You edit the Citrix policies according to this:

1. Start –> Citrix –> Management Consoles –> Citrix Delivery Services Console
2. Citrix Resources –> XenApp -> [Farm] –> Policies