Troubleshooting performance issues while connected to the Citrix platform

Using CED virtual labs requires the Citrix plug in and a stable speedy internet connection. If you are experiencing delays, lagging, or connection drops while using Citrix remotely in a CED Lab Computer, there are various potential causes. Such causes can often be related to your WiFi router, ISP, or network. Here are some troubleshooting steps that you can take to help you optimize your connection:

 

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 1) Update the Citrix viewer/workspace application

a.  Click on the citrix app and select update (same for both PC and Mac)

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2)  Close and reopen the browser.

a. PC:

     (i.) Firefox – Click on the X in the top right corner; or click on the three bars below it and select exit;

                        or hit alt + F4;

 

 

     (ii.) Chrome - Click on the X in the top right corner; click on the three dots below it and select exit;

                          OR hit alt + F4;

 

 

b.  Mac:

     (i.) Firefox – Click on the red dot in the top left corner; in the menu bar, click Firefox and select Quit Firefox;

                        OR hit command+Q

     (ii.) Chrome - Click on the red dot in the top left corner; in the menu bar, click Chrome and select Quit Google

                          Chrome; OR hit command+Q

                                       

     (iii.) Safari - Click on the red dot in the top left corner; in the menu bar, click Safari and select Quit Safari;

                        OR hit command+Q

 

 

 

Mac Users, Please Note

  • If your computer does not have it, please download Adobe's Flash Player (sometimes this can help).
  • When you click on either the CED-Lab214 or CED-Lab479 computers to access it, your computer may "download" a file to access it (no matter if you use Safari, Google Chrome, etc.).  You may need to click on that downloaded file, as opposed to the actual Citrix Workspace app.

 

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3)  Restart your computer.

a.  PC: click on start button, hit power logo, select restart

 

 

b.  Mac: In the menu bar, click on the apple icon and select restart.

 

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4) Check your network speed.

 a. Go to speedtest.net

 b. Click on change server

 c. Search for server in another state, but not close by. (e.g., If you live in New York, pick one in Pennsylvania or Vermont [From NorCal, use a SoCal server and vice versa].)

 

 

d. You download speed should be greater than 10Mbps, and your upload should be greater than 3Mbps.  If it’s not, upgrade your internet connection.

 

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5) Make sure your Wifi isn’t being over used (advanced).

 a. PC:

     (i.) Open a command prompt (search for command.exe)

     (ii.) Type ipconfiog /all

     (iii.) Locate your gateway address in your results.  It should be something starting with 10.0.0.1, 172.128.0.1

            or 192.168.0.1

     (iv.) Open a browser and go to your gateway address

     (v.) Log into your wifi router/modem (password is usually password or admin on most models)

     (vi.) Go to security and CHANGE THE PASSWORD FOR THE ROUTER/MODEM

     (vii.) After changing the password, go to someplace that shows you all the devices on your network.  If you

            have a lot of devices, kick some off to see if that helps your speed.

 

 

b.  Mac:

     (i.) Go to System Preferences.  You can access this by clicking on the Apple logo in the top left corner of your

           screen and clicking System Preferences from the drop-down menu.

 

     (ii.) Click on Network.

        

 

     (iii.) Select WiFi in the left panel.  If you are connected through Ethernet, your router IP address will be

            displayed along with other network information when you select the Ethernet from the left-hand side of the panel. 

 

     (iv.) Then click on Advanced.

 

    

     (v.) Click on the TCP/IP tab in the top panel.

 

     (vi.) You will find your router's IP address next to Router.

    

 

 

 

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6) Plug directly into your Router/Modem (If possible)

 

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7) On a Mac computer, sometimes you may need to clear your browser cache to be able to launch the Citrix Viewer properly again after several previous unsuccessful or hung connections.

To delete the browser cache in your Google Chrome browser on a Mac follow one of these instructions.

6.1. Using the keyboard-shortcut

  • Press the keys [shift] + [cmd] + [del].
  • A new browser tab with a popup window opens. In the drop-down menu at the top, you can select which time range you want to delete the cache. You can select from the following options: past hour, past day, past week, last 4 weeks, the beginning of time. If you want to delete all the cache data select "the beginning of time".
  • Enable the checkbox "Cached images and files".
  • Click on the button "Clear Browsing data" and reload the website.

6.2. Using the main menu

  • Click on "Chrome" in the main menu.
  • Select "Clear Browsing Data..."
  • The popup window from the first instruction opens. Follow these instructions from step 2 onwards.

6.3. Using the settings menu

  • First, click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser window next to your URI bar.
  • You can access the "Clear Browsing Data..." from the menu item "More Tools" or from the "Settings".
  • If you select "Clear Browsing Data..." the popup from the first description opens. Proceed as described in the first instruction from step 2.
  • If you select "Settings", the browser settings open in a new window. Scroll to the bottom and click on the link "Show advanced settings".
  • Depending on your screen size you might have to scroll down to see the link.
  • Click on the "Clear Browsing Data..." Button.
  • The popup window from the first instruction opens. Follow those instructions from step 2 onwards..

 

To delete the cache on a Mac in the Firefox browser, please do the following:

  • In the main menu of the browser select "History" and below that the submenu-item "Clear Recent History..."
  • A popup opens. In the drop-down menu, you can define the time range you want to delete the cache. You have the following options: last hour, last two hours, last four hours, today or Everything.
  • To delete all cache data, select "Everything" from the drop-down menu.
  • Afterwards, click on the arrow next to "Details" to show the different possibilities for which data should be deleted. If you want to delete only the cache, then check only the checkbox next to "Cache".
  • With a click on the button "Clear now" you delete the cache.
  • Reload the site afterwards.

 

To delete the browser cache in Safari, you can do that quickly with a keyboard shortcut

  • The fastest way to clear your cache is to use following shortcut: [CMD] + [ALT] + [E].

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7) If you are still having problems, submit a HelpDesk ticket with CED IIT.

 a. Go to https://ced.berkeley.edu/cedhelp.

 b. Click on "Submit a Ticket".

 c. Select Computer Labs.

 d. Fill out the form and give as much detail as possible. Include screen shots if you have them. 

     Error messages are of great use for the IT staff.