To connect to a remote desktop or published application, you must provide the name of a server and supply credentials for your user account.

Prerequisites

Obtain the following information from your system 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).
  • Domain name for logging in.
  • Instructions about whether you can use Touch ID authentication.

If your administrator instructs you to configure the certificate checking mode, see Set the Certificate Checking Mode.

If you use smart card authentication, you can configure Horizon Client to use a local certificate automatically, or to use the certificate on your smart card. See Configure Horizon Client to Select a Smart Card Certificate.

Procedure

  1. If a VPN connection is required, turn on the VPN.
  2. In the Applications folder, double-click VMware Horizon Client.
  3. Click Continue to start the remote USB services, or click Cancel to use Horizon Client without the remote USB services.
    If you click Continue, you must provide system credentials. If you click Cancel, you can enable the remote USB services later.
    Note: The prompt to start the remote USB services appears the first time you start Horizon Client. It does not appear again, regardless of whether you click Cancel or Continue.
  4. Connect to a server.
    Option Description
    Connect to a new server

    Click the New Server icon on the Horizon Client Home window, enter the server name and port number (if necessary) as instructed by your system administrator, and click Connect. An example of using a non-default port is view.company.com:1443.

    Connect to an existing server Double-click the server shortcut on the Horizon Client Home window.
  5. If you are prompted for RSA SecurID credentials or RADIUS authentication credentials, enter the credentials and click Login.
  6. If you are prompted for a user name and password, supply Active Directory credentials.
    1. Type the user name and password as instructed by your system administrator.
    2. Select a domain as instructed by your system administrator.
      If the Domain drop-down menu is hidden, you must type the user name as username@domain or domain\username.
    3. (Optional) Select the Remember this password check box if this feature is enabled and if the server certificate can be fully verified.
    4. (Optional) Select the Enable Touch ID check box to enable Touch ID authentication.
      If Touch ID is enabled and you are logging in for the first time, your Active Directory credentials are stored securely on your Mac for future use.
    5. Click Login.
      You might see a message that you must confirm before the login dialog box appears.
  7. If you are prompted for Touch ID authentication, place your finger on the Touch ID sensor.
  8. (Optional) If multiple display protocols are configured for a remote desktop, select the protocol to use.
    VMware Blast provides better battery life and is the best protocol for high-end 3D and mobile device users.
    Option Description
    Select a display protocol for a remote desktop Select the remote desktop name, press Control-click, and select the display protocol from the context menu.

    Alternatively, you can select Settings from the context menu and select the display protocol from the Connect Via drop-down menu in the Settings dialog box.

    Select a display protocol for a published application Select the published application name, press Control-click, select Settings from the context menu, and select the display protocol from the Preferred protocol drop-down menu in the Settings dialog box.
  9. Double-click a remote desktop or published application to connect to it.
    If you are connecting to a published desktop, and if the published desktop is already set to use a different display protocol, you are prompted to either use the protocol that is set or have the system log you off the remote operating system so that a connection can be made with the protocol that you selected.
    Note: If you are entitled to only one remote desktop on the server, Horizon Client connects to that remote desktop automatically.

Results

If a Horizon administrator has enabled the client drive redirection feature, the Sharing dialog box might appear. From the Sharing dialog box, you can allow or deny access to files on your local system. For more information, see Share Access to Local Folders and Drives with Client Drive Redirection.

After you connect to a server for the first time, Horizon Client connects to that server automatically the next time you start Horizon Client. To disable this feature, see Connecting to a Server When Horizon Client Starts.