ICA - Independent Computing Architecture

What is ICA?

ICA (Independent Computing Architecture) is a proprietary protocol developed by Citrix Systems that allows remote access to applications and desktops over a network.

Why is ICA useful?

ICA is useful for enabling centralized application deployment, remote desktop access, and secure thin-client computing, reducing the need for powerful client devices and simplifying IT management.

How it works?

ICA transmits only screen updates, keystrokes, and mouse movements between the server and client, allowing users to interact with applications hosted on a centralized server with minimal bandwidth usage.

Where is ICA used?

ICA is widely used in Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (formerly XenApp/XenDesktop) environments, especially in enterprise remote access, virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), and thin-client solutions.

Which OSI layer does this protocol belong to?

ICA operates primarily at the Application Layer (Layer 7) of the OSI model, but also relies on lower layers for transport.

Is ICA Windows specific?

No, ICA is not Windows specific. Although commonly used in Windows-based environments, ICA clients are available for other operating systems as well, including macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms.

Is ICA Linux specific?

No, ICA is not Linux specific. Linux systems can use Citrix Workspace or open-source ICA clients, but the protocol itself is platform-independent.

Which Transport Protocol is used by ICA?

ICA uses TCP as the primary transport protocol. It can also work with SSL/TLS for secure connections, and UDP when used with Citrix HDX technologies for improved performance.

Which Port is used by ICA?

By default, ICA uses TCP port 1494. When ICA is tunneled through Citrix Gateway (formerly NetScaler), it typically uses TCP port 443 with SSL encryption.

Is ICA using Client server model?

Yes, ICA uses a client-server model. The server hosts the applications or desktops, while the client connects remotely to interact with them.

Topics in this section,

  • In this section, you are going to learn

  • Terminology

  • Version Info

  • rfc details

  • setup

  • setup

  • packet details

  • usecases

  • features

  • Reference links