When you install and configure Horizon 7 for Linux desktops, you must follow a different sequence of steps depending on whether you install 2D graphics or 3D graphics on the virtual machines.

2D Graphics - Overview of Configuration Steps

For 2D graphics, take the following steps:

  1. Review the system requirements for setting up a Horizon 7 for Linux deployment. See System Requirements For Horizon 7 for Linux.
  2. Create a virtual machine in vSphere and install the Linux operating system. See Create a Virtual Machine and Install Linux.
  3. Prepare the guest operating system for deployment as a desktop in a Horizon 7 environment. See Prepare a Linux Machine for Remote Desktop Deployment.
  4. Configure the Linux guest operating system to authenticate with Active Directory. This step is implemented with 3rd-party software, based on the requirements in your environment. See Integrating Linux with Active Directory for more information.
  5. Install Horizon Agent on the Linux virtual machine. See Install Horizon Agent on a Linux Virtual Machine.
  6. Create a desktop pool that contains the configured Linux virtual machines. See Create a Manual Desktop Pool for Linux.

3D Graphics - Overview of Configuration Steps

You must complete the NVIDIA GRID vGPU or vDGA configuration on the Linux virtual machines before you install Horizon Agent on the machines and deploy a desktop pool in Horizon Console.

  1. Review the system requirements for setting up a Horizon 7 for Linux deployment. See System Requirements For Horizon 7 for Linux.
  2. Create a virtual machine in vSphere and install the Linux operating system. See Create a Virtual Machine and Install Linux.
  3. Prepare the guest operating system for deployment as a desktop in a Horizon 7 environment. See Prepare a Linux Machine for Remote Desktop Deployment.
  4. Configure the Linux guest operating system to authenticate with Active Directory. This step is implemented with 3rd-party software, based on the requirements in your environment. See Integrating Linux with Active Directory for more information.
  5. Configure 3D capabilities on your ESXi hosts and the Linux virtual machine. Follow the procedures for the 3D feature you intend to install.
  6. Install Horizon Agent on the Linux virtual machine. See Install Horizon Agent on a Linux Virtual Machine.
  7. Create a desktop pool that contains the configured Linux virtual machines. See Create a Manual Desktop Pool for Linux.

Bulk Deployment

With Horizon Console, you can only deploy Linux virtual machines in a manual desktop pool. With vSphere PowerCLI, you can develop scripts that automate the deployment of a pool of Linux desktop machines. See Bulk Deployment of Horizon 7 for Manual Desktop Pools.