Summary:

In this part, we are going to install Horizon 7 connection server and then configure View Administrator, which is the web-based platform to perform all desktops operations.

This is part 9 out of 12 of the VDI LAB series. Check out the introduction first.

The ultimate VDI deployment guide (from scratch) with VMware vSphere 6.5 and Horizon View 7.3 – 2018. 😉

1. Prerequisites

• Windows Server 2016 template, previously created in part 4 of this series
• Horizon View Connection Server 7.3 installer.

2. Preparing the VM

1. Deploy the VM from the template previously created.
2. Configure a static IP address.
3. Change computer name and add the server to the domain.

If you go to your domain controller, the server should be added in the default Computers folder. Move it to the Computers OU created during the domain controller set up.

3. Horizon 7 Connection Server 7.3 installation

1. Double-click the View Composer 7.3 installer.

2. Click Next.

3. Accept EULA and click Next.

4. Leave the destination folder as default. Click Next.

5. Select Horizon 7 Standard Server and IPv4. Click Next.

6. Select a data recovery password and click Next.

7. Select Configure Windows Firewall automatically. Click Next.

8. Specify the administrator user to access the Horizon administrator platform.

Note: For the sake of simplicity, I am using the Domain Controller server user. Any desired users could be used or created form the Active Directory.

9. Use the domain credentials to authenticate the (same) user.

10. Click Next to VMware Customer Experience.

11. Click Install.

12. After the installation is complete, click FInish.

4. Configuring Horizon 7 Administrator

@Connection Server

Type https://localhost/admin/# in the web browser to access the Horizon Administrator console.

If you are located anywhere in VDI network (like the Client PC used in this lab), type the domain name of the connection server instead of “localhost”: https://vconnection.vm.local/admin/.

@Horizon Administrator

1. Type username and password (domain admin in our case) and select the domain from the drop-list. Click Log In.

4.1 VMware Horizon License

1. The first thing to add VMware license. It is possible to get a 3 months trial when the VMware Horizon suite.

4.2 Add vCenter server VMware Horizon License

1. From the left-panel, go to View Configuration / Server and click Add...

2. Enter vCenter Server credentials. Follow the format of the image below.

3. A warning message will indicate that a certificate is needed. Click View Certificate…

4. Review and accept certificates.

5. Add View Composer. Select Standalone View Composer Server, enter the credentials following the format of the image below. View and accept certificates.

6. Add View Composer Domain.

7. Leave Storage Settings as default.

8. Review the configuration and click Finish.

9. The vCenter and the Horizon Composer server will be added to the list.

4.3 Add Event database

1. From the left-panel, go to View Configuration / Event Configuration and click Edit…
2. Input credentials following the format of the image below (this one is different from vCenter and Composer users, due to use SQL server authentication).

Note: Make sure that the event database was configured as was instructed in part 6 (section 5.3 and section 6) of this series, otherwise won’t be possible to add this database.

3. The event database will be added to the Event Configuration panel.