With Flash Redirection, if an end user uses Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11, Flash content is sent to the client system, which reduces the load on the ESXi host. The client system plays the media content in a Flash container window by using the Flash Player ActiveX version.

Although the name of this feature is similar to the feature called Flash URL Redirection, there are important differences, as described in the following table.

Table 1. Comparison of the Flash Redirection Feature and Flash URL Redirection
Item of Differentiation Flash Redirection Flash URL Redirection
Horizon Client types that support this feature Windows client only Windows client and Linux client
Display protocol PCoIP and VMware Blast. PCoIP
Browsers Internet Explorer 9, 10, or 11 for the remote desktop All browsers that are currently supported on Horizon Client and Horizon Agent
Configuration mechanism Use a Horizon Agent group policy setting to specify a white list or black list of websites that use or do not use Flash Redirection To embed the required JavaScript, modify the source code on the web page.

Feature Limitations

The Flash Redirection feature has the following limitations:

  • Clicking a URL link inside the Flash Player window opens a browser on the client rather than in the remote desktop (agent side).
  • Some websites do not work with Flash Redirection on some browser versions. For example, vimeo.com does not work if you use Internet Explorer 11.
  • Flash and Java scripting might not work as expected.
  • The Horizon Client window might freeze while playing Flash content, although you can set a Windows Registry key to work around this issue.

    On a 32-bit client, set HKLM\Software\VMware, Inc.\VMware VDM\Client\EnableD3DRenderer value to "FALSE" and on a 64-bit client, set HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\VMware, Inc.\VMware VDM\Client\EnableD3DRenderer to "FALSE".

  • YouTube no longer supports Flash media.
  • Flash Redirection does not work for redbox.com.
  • The Flash context menu (activated by a right click) is disabled.
  • If Horizon Client 4.1 connects to a remote desktop with PCoIP, Flash Redirection fails. Horizon Client either plays the Flash content in the remote desktop's native player, or the user sees a white screen.