JavaScript must be enabled to correctly display this content

Chapter 1 New Features and Changes

This chapter describes the new features and changes in Oracle Secure Global Desktop (SGD) Release 5.6.

1.1 New Features in Release 5.6

This section describes the features that are new in the SGD 5.6 release.

1.1.1 oracle-sgd-ext-* Extension Packages

The following extension packages have been added for this release:

oracle-sgd-ext-unixcdm-version.el7.noarch.rpm
oracle-sgd-ext-print-converter-version.el7.noarch.rpm
oracle-sgd-ext-print-cups-version.el7.noarch.rpm

Install these packages on the SGD host, to provide full support for the following features of SGD:

UNIX client drive mapping. The oracle-sgd-ext-unixcdm package is required for the new implementation of UNIX CDM described in Section 1.1.2, “Improvements for Client Drive Mapping”.
PDF printing. The oracle-sgd-ext-print-converter package is required for PostScript to PDF conversion.
Printing from a UNIX or Linux application server. The oracle-sgd-ext-print-cups package is required.

See Installing the oracle-sgd-ext-* Extension Packages in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Installation Guide for details of how to install the packages.

1.1.2 Improvements for Client Drive Mapping

The following improvements have been introduced for client drive mapping (CDM):

UNIX CDM. This release includes a new implementation of UNIX CDM, based on Filesystem in Userspace (FUSE) technology. The new implementation is more secure and provides improved file transfer performance and reliability.

The new implementation of UNIX CDM is used automatically on Oracle Linux 7 or later application servers. For other application servers, SGD uses the legacy implementation of UNIX CDM.

The following requirements apply:
- The fuse-sshfs package must be installed on the application server.
- The oracle-sgd-ext-unixcdm extension package must be installed on the SGD host.
See Configuring UNIX CDM for Oracle Linux 7 or Later Application Servers in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.
Drop Drives. For Windows CDM, client drives called drop drives can be specified. Files can then be dragged and dropped to the client drive, but opening files or browsing the drop drive is not allowed.

The Drop Drives (dropdrives) option has been added to the Client Device Drives list of the Client Drive Mapping attribute for Windows application objects and for user profile and organization objects.

See Configuring Drop Drives in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.

1.1.3 Enhanced Graphics Performance for Applications

A new application object attribute called Enhanced Graphics (--enhancedgraphics) has been introduced. Enabling this attribute on the Performance tab results in improved graphics performance. For example, when displaying video and animations in a high color application or desktop session.

To use Enhanced Graphics the application object must have the following settings:

Window Type: Independent Window or Kiosk.
Color Depth: 16-bit or 24/32-bit.

See Enhanced Graphics Performance for Applications in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.

1.1.4 HTML5 Client Improvements

This release includes an improved HTML5 Client. The new HTML5 Client is supplied as the oracle-sgd-webclient package and must be installed on the SGD host. See Installing the HTML5 Client for installation instructions.

The new HTML5 Client provides improved performance and includes the following changes:

User interface changes. The application toolbar has been simplified and copy and paste dialogs have been redesigned.

Menu options for sending keyboard shortcuts to the remote application window are now available.
International keyboard support. International keyboards are now supported. In previous releases, only US English keyboards could be used with the HTML5 Client.
Support for RESTful web services. This enables an Administrator to monitor and configure an SGD server, by using a browser or a client application such as curl.
Tablet devices. Tablet devices, such as iPad and Android devices, are not supported by the new HTML5 Client.

Note

Internet Explorer is not supported as a client browser for the HTML5 Client.

See Using the HTML5 Workspace in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop User Guide.

1.2 Changes in Release 5.6

This section describes the changes in SGD Release 5.6.

1.2.1 Automatic Configuration of Gateway Deployments

The following changes for configuring an SGD Gateway deployment automatically have been introduced. The changes provide a quicker method of configuring Gateway deployments, without the need for manual tasks such as copying and installing security certificates. However, use of legacy commands and configuration procedures are still supported.

Automatic Gateway Configuration. The new gateway server add-array command enables Administrators to configure a Gateway deployment automatically, by running a single command on the Gateway.

The gateway server add-array command also reconfigures the Gateway configuration automatically if the array structure is changed. For example, when a new member joins the array or an existing member is removed from the array. See gateway server add-array in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Gateway Administration Guide.

The gateway server list-array command enables you to list the arrays that have been added using the gateway server add-array command.
Discovery of a Remote Gateway. The tarantella discover gateway command has been extended to discover a remote Gateway. See tarantella discover gateway in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.

In previous releases this command could only be used for single host Gateway deployments.
Gateway Deployment role. The Gateway Deployment role has been introduced for SGD servers. This role is designed to be used with the new commands. See The Gateway Deployment Role in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Gateway Administration Guide.

1.2.2 Changes for tarantella array join Command

New options have been added to the tarantella array join command, to enable automation and minimize user input during the array join procedure. See tarantella array join in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.

Note

These options can only be used when running tarantella array join on the primary server in the array.

1.2.3 Changes for Default Client Proxy Settings

SGD uses the following methods to determine the default proxy settings for a client device. The methods used vary depending on whether the SGD Client is installed on the client device, or if the HTML5 Client is used.

SGD Client. On Windows and MacOS client platforms, default proxy settings are determined by the operating system settings.

On Linux client platforms, default proxy settings are determined from the https_proxy environment variable.

The default settings can be overridden by editing the proxy settings in the client profile.

The Use Default Web Browser Settings client profile setting has been renamed to be Automatically Determine Proxy. This setting now obtains the proxy settings from the client system.
HTML5 Client. The browser settings are used automatically.

1.2.4 Retirement of Graphics Acceleration Attribute

The Graphics Acceleration (--accel) attribute for application objects is no longer available in this release.

1.2.5 Changes for RANDR X Extension Configuration

Configuring multiple monitor displays is simplified in this release and less system resources are used. Users no longer need to preconfigure parameters such as the maximum display size.

RANDR is enabled by default for an SGD array. From this release, RANDR cannot be disabled either globally, or for individual applications or users.

The following RANDR attributes are no longer available:

Global Settings. The RandR Extension (--array-xrandr-enabled) attribute on the Global Settings, Client Device tab.
Applications. The Window Size: RandR Extension (--xrandr) attribute on the Presentation tab for the application object.
Users. The RandR Extension (--orgxrandr) attribute on the Client Device tab for a user profile, organizational unit, or organization object.

See Using the RANDR X Extension in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.

1.2.6 Changes for SGD Client Platforms

The following changes apply for SGD Client platforms:

32-bit Client Packages. Legacy 32-bit versions of the SGD Client are not available in this release. 64-bit versions of the SGD Client are available for all supported client platforms.

The oracle-sgd-clients-legacy package for enabling download of legacy SGD Client packages from an SGD server is no longer available.
Solaris Client Packages. Packages for Solaris client platforms are not available in this release.
Internet Explorer support. Internet Explorer is no longer supported as a browser on Windows client platforms. Microsoft Edge browser can be used as an alternative.

1.2.7 Changes for Java Software

This release requires Java 11 to be available on the SGD host. See Section 2.1.3, “Java Requirements”.

1.2.8 Changes for PDF Printing on Windows Platforms

The following changes have been introduced for PDF printing on Windows platforms:

Client PDF Viewers. In previous releases, Adobe Reader was required in order to use PDF printing on Windows client devices. Other PDF viewers such as Nitro and Chrome are supported in this release.

SGD uses the default PDF viewer for the user on the client device.

See Section 2.2.3, “PDF Printing Support”.
PDF Printing on Windows Application Servers. For PDF printing from Windows application servers, you can configure SGD to use the Microsoft Print to PDF printer driver. This means that the PDF is generated on the application server and print job conversion is not required on the SGD host.

Using this method can reduce resource usage and improve performance.

See PDF Printing Without Using the oracle-sgd-ext-print-converter Extension Package in the Oracle Secure Global Desktop Administration Guide.