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Implementing VMware Horizon 7
Implementing VMware Horizon 7

Implementing VMware Horizon 7: Second Edition , Second Edition

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Implementing VMware Horizon 7

Chapter 2. Implementing Horizon Connection Server

The VMware Horizon Connection Server is a key component of the VMware Horizon infrastructure. In addition to acting as a connection broker between Horizon clients and desktops or Microsoft Windows RDS Servers, it also hosts the Horizon Administrator console.

This chapter will discuss multiple topics surrounding the design, deployment, configuration, backup, and recovery of a Horizon Connection Server. We will also discuss how to install additional Horizon Connection Servers, which are known as replicas.

In this chapter we will learn:

  • An overview of a Horizon Connection Server
  • The virtual machine and operating system requirements of a Horizon Connection Server
  • The connection limits of a Horizon Connection Server
  • How to determine the number of Horizon Connection Servers required
  • Infrastructure and vCenter installation prerequisites
  • How to install the first Horizon Connection Server in a Pod
  • The initial configuration of a Horizon Connection...

Overview of VMware Horizon Connection Server

In Chapter 1, VMware Horizon Infrastructure Overview, we discussed some of the roles of the Horizon Connection Server. These roles include:

  • Managing connections between Horizon clients and Horizon-managed resources including Horizon desktops and Microsoft RDS servers
  • Authenticating user connection requests and providing access to assigned resources
  • Hosting the Horizon Administrator console for the VMware Horizon infrastructure
  • Working in tandem with VMware vCenter and Horizon Composer to manage, deploy, and maintain virtual desktops

The following diagram shows the placement of the Horizon Connection Server in a simple Horizon environment. For now, only the Horizon Connection Server is displayed; later chapters will add respective Horizon Servers to this diagram.

Overview of VMware Horizon Connection Server

The Horizon Connection Server authenticates the clients and provides them with access to the appropriate resources. Depending on the configuration of the Horizon Connection Server, the clients...

Horizon Connection Server requirements

Like many other software services, Horizon Connection Server requires a minimum server configuration to ensure adequate performance. To properly support Horizon Connection Server, the VMware vCenter Server must also be assigned adequate resources and configured appropriately, based on the projected size of the Horizon infrastructure.

Hardware requirements

The Horizon Connection Server software has specific requirements with regard to the hardware specifications and host operating system. In addition, all Horizon Connection Servers, regardless of the type, should be installed on a dedicated virtual or physical server.

Tip

The first Horizon Connection Server you install will be referred to as a Horizon Standard Connection Server during the installation process. To meet scalability and high availability needs, up to six additional Horizon Connection Servers can be installed per deployment; each of these is referred to as a Horizon Replica Connection Server...

Horizon installation prerequisites

The installation and configuration process for the first Horizon Connection Server, referred to as a Horizon Standard Connection Server during installation, requires some amount of preparation. This section will outline what is required prior to beginning the installation.

Infrastructure and other prerequisites

There are a number of prerequisites that should be addressed prior to installing the first VMware Horizon Connection Server. The previous chapter discussed the infrastructure requirements. These included:

  • Windows 2003 or later Active Directory
  • An Active Directory user account or security group that will be granted full Horizon administrator access
  • A Static IP address for the Horizon Connection Server
  • Local administrator access on the host server
  • A Horizon license key
  • A Horizon event log database

In addition to the items described in Chapter 1, VMware Horizon Infrastructure Overview, the following items should be prepared in advance for the installation.

Create...

Deploying the first Horizon Connection Server

Deploying the first Horizon Connection Server is broken down into two stages; the installation of the Connection Server software and the final setup using the Horizon Administrator console.

Installing the first Horizon Connection Server

The Horizon Connection Server software is delivered as a single executable (EXE) file, named in a format similar to VMware-viewconnectionserver-x86_64-x.x.x-yyyyyy.exe. This installer is used for all three Horizon Connection Server types, which include Standard, Replica, and Security. The following steps outline the installation process:

  1. Double-click on the Horizon Connection Server installer EXE file to launch the installer.
  2. In the Welcome to the installer for VMware Horizon 7 Connection Server window, click on Next>.
  3. Review the License Agreement section, select the I accept the terms in the license agreement radio button, and click on Next>.
  4. Select the installation directory and click on Next>.
  5. Highlight...

Configuring the Horizon Instant Clone Engine

While Horizon does not require a Composer Server to deploy and manage Instant Clone desktops, we are required to provide an AD account that it will use to create and manage the Instant Clone desktop AD computer objects. In this section we will create the AD account, grant it the permissions required in AD, and provide the account details in the Horizon Administrator console.

Configuring the Instant Clone Engine AD user account

Horizon requires an AD account with specific permissions in order to manage the desktop AD computer objects for Instant Clone desktops. Refer to the Delegate permissions for Horizon Composer in Active Directory section of Chapter 3, Implementing Horizon Composer, for the procedure used to delegate these permissions, although refer to the following list of updates to that procedure as the permissions required and AD account used are different. It is assumed that prior to performing this procedure you have already created...

Overview of VMware Horizon Connection Server


In Chapter 1, VMware Horizon Infrastructure Overview, we discussed some of the roles of the Horizon Connection Server. These roles include:

  • Managing connections between Horizon clients and Horizon-managed resources including Horizon desktops and Microsoft RDS servers

  • Authenticating user connection requests and providing access to assigned resources

  • Hosting the Horizon Administrator console for the VMware Horizon infrastructure

  • Working in tandem with VMware vCenter and Horizon Composer to manage, deploy, and maintain virtual desktops

The following diagram shows the placement of the Horizon Connection Server in a simple Horizon environment. For now, only the Horizon Connection Server is displayed; later chapters will add respective Horizon Servers to this diagram.

The Horizon Connection Server authenticates the clients and provides them with access to the appropriate resources. Depending on the configuration of the Horizon Connection Server, the clients...

Horizon Connection Server requirements


Like many other software services, Horizon Connection Server requires a minimum server configuration to ensure adequate performance. To properly support Horizon Connection Server, the VMware vCenter Server must also be assigned adequate resources and configured appropriately, based on the projected size of the Horizon infrastructure.

Hardware requirements

The Horizon Connection Server software has specific requirements with regard to the hardware specifications and host operating system. In addition, all Horizon Connection Servers, regardless of the type, should be installed on a dedicated virtual or physical server.

Tip

The first Horizon Connection Server you install will be referred to as a Horizon Standard Connection Server during the installation process. To meet scalability and high availability needs, up to six additional Horizon Connection Servers can be installed per deployment; each of these is referred to as a Horizon Replica Connection Server...

Horizon installation prerequisites


The installation and configuration process for the first Horizon Connection Server, referred to as a Horizon Standard Connection Server during installation, requires some amount of preparation. This section will outline what is required prior to beginning the installation.

Infrastructure and other prerequisites

There are a number of prerequisites that should be addressed prior to installing the first VMware Horizon Connection Server. The previous chapter discussed the infrastructure requirements. These included:

  • Windows 2003 or later Active Directory

  • An Active Directory user account or security group that will be granted full Horizon administrator access

  • A Static IP address for the Horizon Connection Server

  • Local administrator access on the host server

  • A Horizon license key

  • A Horizon event log database

In addition to the items described in Chapter 1, VMware Horizon Infrastructure Overview, the following items should be prepared in advance for the installation.

Create...

Deploying the first Horizon Connection Server


Deploying the first Horizon Connection Server is broken down into two stages; the installation of the Connection Server software and the final setup using the Horizon Administrator console.

Installing the first Horizon Connection Server

The Horizon Connection Server software is delivered as a single executable (EXE) file, named in a format similar to VMware-viewconnectionserver-x86_64-x.x.x-yyyyyy.exe. This installer is used for all three Horizon Connection Server types, which include Standard, Replica, and Security. The following steps outline the installation process:

  1. Double-click on the Horizon Connection Server installer EXE file to launch the installer.

  2. In the Welcome to the installer for VMware Horizon 7 Connection Server window, click on Next>.

  3. Review the License Agreement section, select the I accept the terms in the license agreement radio button, and click on Next>.

  4. Select the installation directory and click on Next>.

  5. Highlight the...

Configuring the Horizon Instant Clone Engine


While Horizon does not require a Composer Server to deploy and manage Instant Clone desktops, we are required to provide an AD account that it will use to create and manage the Instant Clone desktop AD computer objects. In this section we will create the AD account, grant it the permissions required in AD, and provide the account details in the Horizon Administrator console.

Configuring the Instant Clone Engine AD user account

Horizon requires an AD account with specific permissions in order to manage the desktop AD computer objects for Instant Clone desktops. Refer to the Delegate permissions for Horizon Composer in Active Directory section of Chapter 3, Implementing Horizon Composer, for the procedure used to delegate these permissions, although refer to the following list of updates to that procedure as the permissions required and AD account used are different. It is assumed that prior to performing this procedure you have already created the...

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Key benefits

  • This is the first book on the market that delivers desktops and applications through a single Virtual Desktop Infrastructure platform
  • Reduce enterprise costs by dynamically allocating resources with virtual storage, compute and networking
  • This comprehensive guide provides simplified operations, improved security, and accelerated time-to-value using VMware Horizon 7

Description

VMware Horizon 7 has been a buzz since it was announced. One of the major reasons is the introduction of the new Instant Clones feature. This book will complement the product documentation by providing real-life examples of how it is implemented along with the latest features and components of the platform. We'll explore the latest features of the platform, including those added through product acquisitions such as User Environment Manager and App Volumes. Further on, you will also be introduced to the new capabilities added to the core product such Linked-Clone RDS pools. Upon completion of this book, you will have an understanding of the capabilities and benefits VMware Horizon can provide to your organization, and how each of its components are implemented.

Who is this book for?

If you are a newcomer to system administration, and you wish to implement the Horizon environment, then this book is for you. Prior knowledge of Horizon is beneficial.

What you will learn

  • Walk through the configuration of VMware Horizon, including the new Horizon Access Point appliance
  • Implement a multi-site VMware Horizon pod using the Cloud Pod Architecture feature
  • Understand the integration between VMware Horizon and VSAN, and see how they are deployed together
  • Explore how to implement and maintain Microsoft RDS and Linux and Windows Desktop Pools Create and optimize desktop master images.
  • Understand how to manage the SSL certificates for each of the VMware Horizon components.

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Jun 29, 2016
Length: 478 pages
Edition : 2nd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785889301
Vendor :
VMware

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Product Details

Publication date : Jun 29, 2016
Length: 478 pages
Edition : 2nd
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785889301
Vendor :
VMware

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Table of Contents

15 Chapters
1. VMware Horizon Infrastructure Overview Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Implementing Horizon Connection Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Implementing Horizon Composer Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Implementing Horizon Security Server Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Implementing VMware Horizon Access Point Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Implementing a Horizon Cloud Pod Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Using VMware Virtual SAN with Horizon Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Implementing VMware User Environment Manager Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Implementing VMware App Volumes Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Creating Horizon Desktop Pools Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Implementing Horizon Application Pools Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
12. Performing Horizon Desktop Pool Maintenance Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
13. Creating a Master Horizon Desktop Image Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
14. Managing Horizon SSL Certificates Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
15. Using Horizon PowerCLI Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
(5 Ratings)
5 star 60%
4 star 20%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 20%
Chuck Phill Feb 14, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Easy and simple to understand with a few tips and tricks that really helped our enviorment
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Jens Soeldner Nov 05, 2016
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
As a long-time certified VMware instructor (VCI), I have taught Horizon View courses several times and helped German customers implement VMware's VDI solution. Jason's book does a great job of walking the reader through almost every relevant aspect of a Horizon View implementation. I highly recommend this book!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
BeGee Aug 22, 2018
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Sehr ausführlich, empfehlenswert.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
FHenderson May 08, 2017
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Empty star icon 4
While overall the book was very informative. I didn't like a couple of things. First, from a learning perspective I was disappointed when the author decided to not give screenshots of configurations. The explanation of why made me feel as though it was our of laziness and disregard for the reader. Second, at times if a topic was very identical it was presented the same in words without making it more interesting. Many of the illustrations for the e-book were not able to be seen as they seemed to be an after thought.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Steve G. Sep 06, 2017
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1
This book is full symbols that the printer did not interpret properly. Amazon sent me a replacement book with the exact same errors. First book was printed on demand, not sure about the second. Would not care if it was a novel, but as an IT professional where you need to type the exact syntax, this is unacceptable to more than 50 of these to show up throughout the book.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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