The core VMware Horizon components and features for this solution include the following:
- Connection Server: The Connection Server securely brokers and connects users to the Horizon Agent that has been installed in the desktops. It authenticates users using Active Directory and directs the connection requests to the resource where the user is entitled.
- Horizon Console: The console is an integrated web UI dashboard that is part of the Connection Server. This console allows administrators to configure the server, and to deploy and manage desktops. Administrators use the console to control and monitor the user experience. Other console functions include the following:
- Manage user authentication
- Initiate and examine system and user events
- Provide end-user support
- Perform analytical activities
- Horizon Agent: The Horizon Agent is installed on the guest operating system of the virtual desktops. Connection servers use the agent to manage the virtual desktop.
- Horizon Client: The Horizon Client is installed on end-user computing devices such as a desktop or laptop. This client facilitates access to a Horizon-managed virtual desktop that has the Horizon Agent installed.
- VMware instant clone technology: Use of instant clones allows for the rapid creation of large automated pools of desktops from a gold image VM. VMware App Volumes is used to provide a persistent user experience.
- Horizon Cloud Connector: The connector is a virtual appliance that connects a Connection Server in a pod with the Horizon Cloud Service. A core purpose of the connector is to manage Horizon subscription licenses. The connector is also required in order to use the management features in Horizon Control Plane Services.
- VMware App Volumes: For this solution, App Volumes is used to assign each user a writable volume. A writable volume is a read/write volume that stores user-specific changes written in the session. Changes persisted include user-installed applications and user profile information. Use of writable volumes ensures a persistent user experience. When a user logs off, their instant clone desktop is refreshed to match the current gold image. However, user-specific data is preserved at logoff on their writable volume. User-specific data is available to the user the next time they log on.
- App Volumes can be used with Horizon to optimize application delivery by managing assignments of application volumes to users, groups, and target computers.
- To learn more, see the VMware App Volumes product page.
Table 4. Horizon components
Horizon Connection Server | 8.4.0 build 18964782 (Version 2111) |
Horizon Console (HTML access) | 8.4.0 build 18962767 |
Horizon Agent | 8.4.0 |
Horizon Client | 8.3.0.21227 |
App Volumes and Agent | 4.5.0.77 |