{"id":11534,"date":"2020-05-29T11:17:09","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T15:17:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eginnovations.com\/blog\/?p=11534"},"modified":"2025-04-10T14:06:24","modified_gmt":"2025-04-10T18:06:24","slug":"citrix-connection-quality-indicator-cqi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eginnovations.com\/blog\/citrix-connection-quality-indicator-cqi\/","title":{"rendered":"Monitor Citrix Connection Quality for Users"},"content":{"rendered":"

Citrix Admins can now track Citrix Connection Quality using CQI without needing client software<\/h2>\n

Citrix technologies are often used by remote employees or collaborators to access corporate applications and desktops. Citrix access is session oriented \u2013 a session is established at logon time and a connection between the client and the server\/desktop being accessed is maintained for the duration of the session. User access to Citrix apps and desktops is highly interactive \u2013 mouse clicks, keystrokes, etc. all have to go from the client to the server\/desktop to be processed. All of this means that Citrix performance<\/a> is heavily dependent on the quality of the network connection between the user terminal and the Citrix server\/desktop.<\/p>\n

\"Citrix<\/a>When users complain that Citrix applications or desktops are \u201cslow\u201d, the Citrix stack is usually the first suspect and the helpdesk passes most such complaints to the Citrix admin team. Yet, not all problems related are due to Citrix issues. Bottlenecks in the supporting infrastructure, storage or in the network can manifest as \u201cCitrix is slow\u201d<\/a> complaints from users. There have been many instances of Citrix admins spending hours troubleshooting only to find that Citrix slow complaints are due to poor network connectivity from the user end. <\/a>
\nAs a result, Citrix admins have often desired to have the ability to prove that it\u2019s not the Citrix farm but a user\u2019s connection to the data center that is causing the issue. <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
1.<\/td>\n\n

Citrix Connection Quality Indicator for Citrix Users<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Citrix<\/a>Several years ago, Citrix introduced a Connection Quality Indicator (CQI)<\/a>. This is a client-side tool that can be executed by a Citrix user while he\/she is in a session. The user can leave the tool running during their session, or they can execute it when needed (e.g., when there was a problem or when they were on a call with the Citrix helpdesk seeking help for slow access).<\/p>\n

Citrix admins can also make this tool available to users (instead of depending on the user to download the tool). The connection quality indicator can be installed along with the Citrix VDA and configured using group policies (GPOs) so it is automatically executed and running in a user\u2019s session. Using this tool, Citrix users can see notifications when there is a change in the connection quality for applications and desktops delivered by Citrix virtual apps and desktops.<\/p>\n

The CQI highlights if a user\u2019s connection to the Citrix farm is Strong, Weak, or Poor. This judgement is made by assessing several metrics during a session. Metrics considered include ICA Round Trip Time (ICA RTT), Latency, line speed and access bandwidth. As per the latest Citrix guidelines<\/a>, if the latency is below 60ms, the connection is good, whereas if the latency is more than 220ms, the connection quality is weak. If the latency is in between 60ms and 220ms, the connection is graded as being weak.” The same bounds are used for ICA RTT also. Bandwidth availability is also considered when determining connection quality \u2013 higher the bandwidth available, better the connection quality.<\/p>\n

\"<\/a>The Connection Quality Indicator is intended to be a tool for end users. It notifies users of changes to user experience. It serves the following purposes:<\/p>\n