6.1.1

A remote desktop port might be shown as overlapped. For example, you might see COM1
(Overlapped). In this case, the virtual machine is configured with a COM port in the virtual hardware
on the ESXi host. You can use a redirected port even when it is mapped to an overlapped port on the
virtual machine. The virtual machine receives serial data through the port from the ESXi host or from
the client system.
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In the Device Manager in the guest operating system, you can use the Properties > Port Settings tab to
configure settings for a redirected COM port. For example, you can set the default baud rate and data
bits. However, the settings you configure in Device Manager are ignored if the application specifies the
port settings.
For end-user instructions for operating redirected serial COM ports, see the Using VMware Horizon Client for
Windows document.
Guidelines for Configuring Serial Port Redirection
Through the group policy settings, you can configure serial port redirection and control the extent to which
users can customize redirected COM ports. Your choices depend on the user roles and 3rd-party
applications in your organization.
For details about the group policy settings, see “Serial Port Redirection Group Policy Settings,” on page 173.
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If your users run the same 3rd-party applications and COM port devices, make sure that the redirected
ports are configured in the same way. For example, in a bank or retail store that uses point-of-sale
devices, make sure that all COM port devices are connected to the same ports on the client endpoints,
and all ports are mapped to the same redirected COM ports on the remote desktops.
Set the PortSettings policy setting to map client ports to redirected ports. Select the Autoconnect item
in PortSettings to ensure that the redirected ports are connected at the start of each desktop session.
Enable the Lock Configuration policy setting to prevent users from changing the port mappings or
customizing the port configurations. In this scenario, users never have to connect or disconnect
manually and cannot accidentally make a redirected COM port inaccessible to a 3rd-party application.
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If your users are knowledge workers who use a variety of 3rd-party applications and might also use
their COM ports locally on their client machines, make sure that users can connect and disconnect from
the redirected COM ports.
You might set the PortSettings policy setting if the default port mappings are incorrect. You might or
might not set the Autoconnect item, depending on your users' requirements. Do not enable the Lock
Configuration policy setting.
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Make sure that your 3rd-party applications open the COM port that is mapped to the remote desktop.
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Make sure that the baud rate that is in use for a device matches the baud rate that the 3rd-party
application is attempting to use.
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You can redirect up to five COM ports from a client system to a remote desktop.
Configuring Serial Port Redirection Group Policy Settings
You can configure group policy settings that control the behavior of serial port redirection on your remote
desktops. With these policy settings, you can control centrally, from Active Directory, the options that are
available in the Serial COM Redirection for VMware Horizon menu on users' desktops.
You do not have to configure these policy settings. Serial port redirection works with the default settings
that are configured for redirected COM ports on remote desktops and client systems.
These policy settings affect your remote desktops, not the client systems where the physical COM port
devices are connected. To configure these settings on your desktops, add the Serial Port Redirection Group
Policy Administrative Template (ADM) file in Active Directory.
Chapter 13 Configuring Remote Desktop Features
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