To connect to a remote desktop or published application, you must provide the name of a server and supply credentials for your user account. The connection procedure is slightly different for administrators and end users, so refer to the section that applies to your role.

Note: Use the following procedures to connect to a Horizon Connection Server. To connect to the VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen portal, refer instead to Launch a Desktop with VMware Horizon Client and Launch an Application with VMware Horizon Client in the VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen documentation.

Procedure for End Users

Before you begin, get the following information from your administrator:

  • Instructions about whether to turn on a VPN (virtual private network) connection.
  • Server name to use for connecting to the server.
  • If the port is not 443, the port number to use for connecting to the server.
  • Credentials to log in, such as an Active Directory user name and password, RSA SecurID user name and passcode, RADIUS authentication credentials, or smart card personal identification number (PIN).
  • Domain name for logging in.

If you are using smart card authentication, see Smart Card Authentication Limitations.

  1. Log in to the Chrome device.
  2. If a VPN connection is required, turn on the VPN.
  3. Open the VMware Horizon Client app.
  4. If you are prompted to grant access to the Smart Card Connector, click Allow.

    This prompt appears the first time you start Horizon Client if smart card authentication is configured on the device.

  5. Connect to a server.
    Option Action
    Connect to a new server Click the plus sign (+), enter the name of the server as instructed by your administrator, enter a description of the server (optional), and click Connect.
    Connect to an existing server Click the server shortcut.

    Connections between Horizon Client and servers always use TLS. The default port for TLS connections is 443. If the server is not configured to use the default port, use the format shown in this example: view.company.com:1443.

  6. If a smart card is required or optional, select the smart card certificate to use and enter your PIN.
  7. If you are prompted for RSA SecurID or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the credentials, and click Login.

    The passcode might include both a PIN and the generated number on the token.

  8. If you are prompted a second time for RSA SecurID or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the next generated number on the token.

    Do not enter your PIN, and do not enter the same generated number that entered previously. If necessary, wait until a new number is generated. If this step is required, it is required only when you mistype the first passcode or when configuration settings in the RSA server change.

  9. If you are prompted for a user name and password, supply your Active Directory credentials.
    1. Enter your user name and password as instructed by your administrator. You must be entitled by your administrator to use at least one desktop or application pool.
    2. Select a domain as instructed by your administrator.

      If you cannot select a domain, you must enter your user name in the format username@domain or domain\username.

    3. Tap Login.
  10. (Optional) To mark a remote desktop or published application as a favorite, click the gray star inside the icon for the remote desktop or published application.

    The star icon turns from gray to yellow. The next time you log in, you can click the star icon in the upper-right part of the browser window to show only favorite items.

  11. To connect to a remote desktop or published application, do one of the following in the desktop and application selector window.
    Option Action
    Connect from the desktop/application icon Click the desktop or application icon.
    Connect from the desktop/application context menu Right-click the desktop or application icon or click the […] button next to the icon, and select Connect.
  12. If you are using smart card authentication, enter the smart card PIN again inside the remote session.

If, soon after connecting to a remote desktop or published application, you are disconnected and see a prompt that asks you to click a link to accept the security certificate, select whether to trust the certificate. See Trust a Self-Signed Root Certificate.

If the time zone in the remote desktop or published application does not use the time zone set in the client device, set the time zone manually. See Setting the Time Zone.

Note: By default, Horizon Client displays a notification message in the session window if your network connection become unstable, as described in Detect Unstable Network Connections.

What to do next - Horizon Client provides navigation aids to help you use remote desktops and published applications. For information, see Using Remote Desktops and Using Published Applications.

Procedure for Administrators

Before you have end users access their remote desktops and applications, test that you can connect to a remote desktop or application from a client device.

First, verify that you have completed the following prerequisites:

  • Get test login credentials, such as a user name and password, RSA SecurID user name and passcode, RADIUS authentication credentials, or smart card personal identification number (PIN).
  • Get the NETBIOS domain name for logging in. For example, you might use mycompany rather than mycompany.com.
  • If you are using smart card authentication, make sure that all smart card authentication requirements are met and that you are familiar with the limitations. For information, see Smart Card Authentication Requirements and Smart Card Authentication Limitations.
  • If you are outside the corporate network and require a VPN connection to access remote desktops and published applications, verify that the client device is set up to use a VPN connection and turn on that connection.
  • Verify that you have the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the server that provides access to the remote desktop or published application. Underscores (_) are not supported in server names. If the port is not 443, you also need the port number.
  1. Log in to the Chrome device.
  2. If a VPN connection is required, turn on the VPN.
  3. Open the VMware Horizon Client app.
  4. If you are prompted to grant access to the Smart Card Connector, click Allow.

    This prompt appears the first time you start Horizon Client if smart card authentication is configured on the device.

  5. Connect to a server.
    Option Action
    Connect to a new server Click the plus sign (+), enter the name of the server, enter a description of the server (optional), and click Connect.
    Connect to an existing server Click the server shortcut.

    Connections between Horizon Client and servers always use TLS. The default port for TLS connections is 443. If the server is not configured to use the default port, use the format shown in this example: view.company.com:1443.

  6. If a smart card is required or optional, select the smart card certificate to use and enter your PIN.
  7. If you are prompted for RSA SecurID or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the credentials, and click Login.

    The passcode might include both a PIN and the generated number on the token.

  8. If you are prompted a second time for RSA SecurID or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the next generated number on the token.

    Do not enter your PIN, and do not enter the same generated number that entered previously. If necessary, wait until a new number is generated. If this step is required, it is required only when you mistype the first passcode or when configuration settings in the RSA server change.

  9. If you are prompted for a user name and password, supply the appropriate Active Directory credentials.
    1. Enter the test user name and password. The user must be entitled to use at least one desktop or application pool.
    2. Select a domain.

      If you cannot select a domain, you must enter the user name in the format username@domain or domain\username.

    3. Tap Login.
  10. (Optional) To mark a remote desktop or published application as a favorite, click the gray star inside the icon for the remote desktop or published application.

    The star icon turns from gray to yellow. The next time you log in, you can click the star icon in the upper-right part of the browser window to show only favorite items.

  11. To connect to a remote desktop or published application, do one of the following in the desktop and application selector window.
    Option Action
    Connect from the desktop/application icon Click the desktop or application icon.
    Connect from the desktop/application context menu Right-click the desktop or application icon or click the […] button next to the icon, and select Connect.
  12. If you are using smart card authentication, enter the smart card PIN again inside the remote session.

If, soon after connecting to a remote desktop or published application, you are disconnected and see a prompt that asks you to click a link to accept the security certificate, select whether to trust the certificate. See Trust a Self-Signed Root Certificate.

If the time zone in the remote desktop or published application does not use the time zone set in the client device, set the time zone manually. See Setting the Time Zone.

Note: By default, Horizon Client displays a notification message in the session window if your network connection become unstable, as described in Detect Unstable Network Connections.