Administration

Table Of Contents
Using SAML Authentication
The Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) is an XML-based standard that is used to describe and
exchange authentication and authorization information between different security domains. SAML passes
information about users between identity providers and service providers in XML documents called SAML
assertions.
You can use SAML authentication to integrate Horizon 7 with VMware Workspace ONE,
VMware Identity Manager, or a third-party load balancer or gateway. When SSO is enabled, users who
log in to VMware Identity Manager or a third-party device can launch remote desktops and applications
without having to go through a second login procedure. You can also use SAML authentication to
implement smart card authentication on VMware Access Point, or on third-party devices.
To delegate responsibility for authentication to Workspace ONE, VMware Identity Manager, or a third-
party device, you must create a SAML authenticator in Horizon 7. A SAML authenticator contains the trust
and metadata exchange between Horizon 7 and Workspace ONE, VMware Identity Manager, or the third-
party device. You associate a SAML authenticator with a Connection Server instance.
Using SAML Authentication for VMware Identity Manager
Integration
Integration between Horizon 7 and VMware Identity Manager (formerly called Workspace ONE) uses the
SAML 2.0 standard to establish mutual trust, which is essential for single sign-on (SSO) functionality.
When SSO is enabled, users who log in to VMware Identity Manager or Workspace ONE with Active
Directory credentials can launch remote desktops and applications without having to go through a second
login procedure.
When VMware Identity Manager and Horizon 7 are integrated, VMware Identity Manager generates a
unique SAML artifact whenever a user logs in to VMware Identity Manager and clicks a desktop or
application icon. VMware Identity Manager uses this SAML artifact to create a Universal Resource
Identifier (URI). The URI contains information about the Connection Server instance where the desktop or
application pool resides, which desktop or application to launch, and the SAML artifact.
VMware Identity Manager sends the SAML artifact to the Horizon client, which in turn sends the artifact to
the Connection Server instance. The Connection Server instance uses the SAML artifact to retrieve the
SAML assertion from VMware Identity Manager.
After a Connection Server instance receives a SAML assertion, it validates the assertion, decrypts the
user's password, and uses the decrypted password to launch the desktop or application.
Setting up VMware Identity Manager and Horizon 7 integration involves configuring
VMware Identity Manager with Horizon 7 information and configuring Horizon 7 to delegate responsibility
for authentication to VMware Identity Manager.
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