After logging in to a server, you can connect to the remote desktops and published applications that you are authorized to use. The connection procedure is slightly different for administrators and end users, so refer to the section that applies to your role.

Procedure for End Users

Before you begin, get the following information from a Horizon 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 for logging 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).
  • The NETBIOS domain name for logging in. For example, you might use mycompany rather than mycompany.com.

If you are connecting to the VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen portal, verify that a web browser is installed on your client machine. VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen requires the use of a web browser to complete user authentication.

If an administrator has allowed it, you can configure the certificate checking mode for the TLS/SSL certificate presented by Connection Server. To determine which mode to use, see Setting the Certificate Checking Mode in Horizon Client.

If you want to use an account configured with unauthenticated access to start published applications, see Connect to Published Applications Using Unauthenticated Access for information.

  1. If your organization requires a VPN connection, turn on the VPN.
  2. Either open a terminal window and enter vmware-view or search the applications for VMware Horizon Client, and double-click the icon.
  3. Connect to a server.
    Option Action
    Connect to a new server Double-click the + Add Server button, or click New Server on the menu bar, enter the name of a server, and click Connect.
    Connect to an existing server Double-click the server icon, or right-click the server icon and select Connect.

    Connections between Horizon Client and the server 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 servername:port, for example, view.company.com:1443.

    You might see a message that you must confirm before the login dialog box appears.

  4. If you are prompted for RSA SecurID credentials or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the credentials and click Login.
  5. If you are prompted for a user name and password, supply Active Directory credentials.
    1. Type your user name and password.

      If the Domain drop-down menu is deactivated, you must type your user name as domain\username or [email protected].

    2. (Optional) Select a domain value from the Domain drop-down menu.
    3. Click Login.
  6. (Optional) To configure display settings for a remote desktop, right-click the remote desktop icon and select Settings.
    Option Action
    Select a display protocol If a Horizon administrator has allowed it, use the Connect Via drop-down menu to select the display protocol.
    Select a display layou Use the Display drop-down menu to select a window size or to use multiple monitors.
  7. (Optional) To mark the remote desktop or published application as a favorite, right-click the remote desktop or published application icon and select Mark as Favorite from the context menu that appears.

    A star icon appears in the upper-right corner of the remote desktop or published application name. The next time you log in, you can click the Show Favorites button to find this application or desktop quickly.

  8. Double-click a remote desktop or application to connect to it.
    Note: If you are connecting to a session-based remote desktop hosted on a Microsoft RDS host, and if the desktop is already set to use a different display protocol, you cannot connect immediately. You are prompted to either use the protocol that is set or have the system log you off the remote operating system so that you can establish a connection with the protocol you selected.

After you are connected, the client window appears.

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. You must specify a server and supply credentials for a user account.

First, verify that you have completed the following prerequisites:

  • Perform the administrative tasks described in Preparing Connection Server for Horizon Client.
  • To enable users to connect to the VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen portal, install a web browser on the client machine. VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen requires the use of a web browser to complete user authentication.
  • 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.
  • If you plan to use the RDP display protocol to connect to a remote desktop, verify that the AllowDirectRDP agent group policy setting is enabled. For information, see the Horizon Remote Desktop Features and GPOs document.
  1. If your organization requires a VPN connection, turn on the VPN.
  2. Either open a terminal window and enter vmware-view or search the applications for VMware Horizon Client, and double-click the icon.
  3. Connect to a server.
    Option Action
    Connect to a new server Double-click the + Add Server button, or click New Server on the menu bar, enter the name of a server, and click Connect.
    Connect to an existing server Double-click the server icon, or right-click the server icon and select Connect.

    Connections between Horizon Client and the server 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 servername:port, for example, view.company.com:1443.

    You might see a message that you must confirm before the login dialog box appears.

  4. If you are prompted for RSA SecurID credentials or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the credentials and click Login.
  5. If you are prompted for a user name and password, supply Active Directory credentials.
    1. Type the user name and password of a user who has entitlements to use at least one desktop or application pool.

      If the Domain drop-down menu is deactivated, you must type the user name as domain\username or [email protected].

    2. (Optional) Select a domain value from the Domain drop-down menu.
    3. Click Login.
  6. (Optional) To configure display settings for a remote desktop, right-click the remote desktop icon and select Settings.
    Option Action
    Select a display protocol If a Horizon administrator has allowed it, use the Connect Via drop-down menu to select the display protocol.
    Select a display layout Use the Display drop-down menu to select a window size or to use multiple monitors.
  7. (Optional) To mark the remote desktop or published application as a favorite, right-click the remote desktop or published application icon and select Mark as Favorite from the context menu that appears.

    A star icon appears in the upper-right corner of the remote desktop or published application name. The next time you log in, you can click the Show Favorites button to find this application or desktop quickly.

  8. Double-click a remote desktop or application to connect to it.
    Note: If you are connecting to a session-based remote desktop hosted on a Microsoft RDS host, and if the desktop is already set to use a different display protocol, you cannot connect immediately. You are prompted to either use the protocol that is set or have the system log you off the remote operating system so that you can establish a connection with the protocol you selected.

After you are connected, the client window appears.

If authentication to Connection Server fails or if the client cannot connect to the remote desktop or application, perform the following tasks:

  • Verify that the security certificate for Connection Server is working properly. If it is not, in Horizon Console, you might also see that Horizon Agent on desktops is unreachable. These symptoms indicate connection problems caused by certificate problems.
  • Verify that the tags set on the Connection Server instance allow connections from this user. See the Windows Desktops and Applications in Horizon document.
  • Verify that the user has entitlements to access this desktop or application. See the Windows Desktops and Applications in Horizon document.
  • If you are using the RDP display protocol to connect to a remote desktop, verify that the remote operating system allows remote desktop connections.