5.2
Table Of Contents
- VMware Horizon View Architecture Planning
- Contents
- VMware Horizon View Architecture Planning
- Introduction to Horizon View
- Planning a Rich User Experience
- Feature Support Matrix
- Choosing a Display Protocol
- Using View Persona Management to Retain User Data and Settings
- Benefits of Using View Desktops in Local Mode
- Accessing USB Devices Connected to a Local Computer
- Printing from a View Desktop
- Streaming Multimedia to a View Desktop
- Using Single Sign-On for Logging In to a View Desktop
- Using Multiple Monitors with a View Desktop
- Managing Desktop Pools from a Central Location
- Architecture Design Elements and Planning Guidelines
- Virtual Machine Requirements
- Horizon View ESX/ESXi Node
- Desktop Pools for Specific Types of Workers
- Desktop Virtual Machine Configuration
- vCenter Server and View Composer Virtual Machine Configuration
- View Connection Server Maximums and Virtual Machine Configuration
- View Transfer Server Virtual Machine Configuration and Storage
- vSphere Clusters
- Storage and Bandwidth Requirements
- Horizon View Building Blocks
- Horizon View Pods
- Advantages of Using Multiple vCenter Servers in a Pod
- Planning for Security Features
- Understanding Client Connections
- Choosing a User Authentication Method
- Restricting View Desktop Access
- Using Group Policy Settings to Secure View Desktops
- Implementing Best Practices to Secure Client Systems
- Assigning Administrator Roles
- Preparing to Use a Security Server
- Understanding Horizon View Communications Protocols
- Overview of Steps to Setting Up a Horizon View Environment
- Index
You can create a View Composer persistent disk that contains user settings and other user-generated data. This
persistent disk is not affected by a recompose operation. When a linked clone is deleted, you can preserve the
user data. When an employee leaves the company, another employee can access the departing employee's user
data. A user who has multiple desktops can consolidate the user data on a single desktop.
If you want to disallow users from adding or removing software or changing settings, you can use the refresh
feature to bring the desktop back to its default values. This feature also reduces the size of linked clones, which
tend to grow over time.
Managing VMware ThinApp Applications in View Administrator
VMware ThinApp™ lets you package an application into a single file that runs in a virtualized application
sandbox. This strategy results in flexible, conflict-free application provisioning.
VMware ThinApp provides application virtualization by decoupling an application from the underlying
operating system and its libraries and framework and bundling the application into a single executable file
called an application package. You can use View Administrator to distribute VMware ThinApp applications
to desktops and pools.
IMPORTANT If, instead of distributing ThinApps by assigning them to desktops and pools, you would rather
assign ThinApps to Active Directory users and groups, you can use VMware Horizon Workspace.
After you create a virtualized application with VMware ThinApp, you can choose to either stream the
application from a shared file server or install the application on the virtual desktops. If you configure the
virtualized application for streaming, you must address the following architectural considerations:
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Access for specific user groups to specific application repositories, where the application package is stored
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Storage configuration for the application repository
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Network traffic generated by streaming, which depends largely on the type of application
For streamed applications, users launch the applications by using a desktop shortcut.
If you assign a ThinApp package so that it is installed on a virtual desktop, the architectural considerations
are similar to those that you address when you use traditional MSI-based software provisioning. Storage
configuration for the application repository is a consideration both for streamed applications and for ThinApp
packages installed in virtual desktops.
NOTE Assigning application packages created with VMware ThinApp is not supported for View desktops
that are downloaded and used in local mode. Rolling back a desktop might cause View Connection Server to
have incorrect information about the ThinApps on the rolled-back desktop.
Using Existing Processes for Application Provisioning
With Horizon View, you can continue to use the application provisioning techniques that your company
currently uses. Two additional considerations include managing server CPU usage and storage I/O and
determining whether users are permitted to install applications.
If you push applications out to large numbers of virtual desktops at exactly the same time, you might see
significant spikes in CPU usage and storage I/O. These peak workloads can have noticeable effects on desktop
performance. As a best practice, schedule application updates to occur during off-peak hours and stagger
updates to desktops if possible. You must also verify that your storage solution is designed to support such
workloads.
Chapter 3 Managing Desktop Pools from a Central Location
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