A Remote Desktop Services (RDS) host is a server computer that hosts applications and desktops for remote access.

In a Horizon 7 deployment, an RDS host is a Windows server that has the Microsoft Remote Desktop Services role, the Microsoft Remote Desktop Session Host service, and Horizon Agent installed. An RDS host can support View Agent Direct Connection (VADC) if it also has VADC Plug-In installed. For information on setting up an RDS host and installing Horizon 7 Agent, see “Setting Up Remote Desktop Services Hosts” in the Setting Up Published Desktops and Applications in Horizon 7 document. For information on installing VADC Plug-In, see Installing View Agent Direct-Connection Plug-In.

Note: When you install Horizon Agent, the installer asks for the hostname or IP address of Horizon Connection Server that Horizon Agent will connect to. You can make the installer skip this step by running the installer with a parameter.

VMware-Horizon-Agent-x86-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe /v "VDM_SKIP_BROKER_REGISTRATION=1"

After you set up an RDS host and install VADC Plug-In, you must entitle RDS desktops and applications. See Entitle Published Desktops and Applications.