You can install Horizon Client from the command line by typing the installer filename and specifying installation commands and properties. You can install Horizon Client silently from the command line.

The following table describes the Horizon Client installation commands.

Table 1. Horizon Client Installation Commands
Command Description
/? or /help Lists the Horizon Client installation commands and properties.
/silent Installs Horizon Client silently. You do not need to respond to wizard prompts.
/install Installs Horizon Client interactively. You must respond to wizard prompts.
/uninstall Uninstalls Horizon Client.
/repair Repairs Horizon Client.
/norestart Suppresses all restarts and restart prompts during the installation process.
/x /extract Extracts the installer packages into the %TEMP% directory.
/l or /log Specifies a folder and a naming pattern for installation log files.

For example, if you specify the following command, the Horizon Client installer creates log files that have the prefix Test in the folder named C:\Temp. 

/log "C:\Temp\Test"

The following table describes the Horizon Client installation properties.

Table 2. Horizon Client Installation Properties
Property Description Default
INSTALLDIR Path and folder in which Horizon Client is installed. For example:

INSTALLDIR=""D:\abc\my folder""

The sets of double quotes that enclose the path enable the installer to interpret the space as a valid part of the path.

%ProgramFiles%VMware\VMware Horizon View Client
VDM_IP_PROTOCOL_USAGE

IP (Internet Protocol) version that Horizon Client components use for communication. Valid values are as follows:

  • IPv4
  • IPv6
  • Dual

If you specify Dual, Horizon Client checks the current network and connects over IPv4 or IPv6 automatically.

IPv4
VDM_FIPS_ENABLED Determines whether to install Horizon Client with FIPS-compliant cryptography.

A value of 1 installs Horizon Client with FIPS-compliant cryptography. A value of 0 installs Horizon Client without FIPs-compliant cryptography.

Note: Before you set this property to 1, you must enable FIPS mode in the Windows client operating system. See Enabling FIPS Mode in the Windows Client Operating System.
0
VDM_SERVER Fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the Connection Server instance to which Horizon Client users connect by default. For example:

VDM_Server=cs1.companydomain.com

You can specify multiple server instances separated by semicolons. If you configure this property, Horizon Client users do not need to supply this FQDN.

None
LOGINASCURRENTUSER_DISPLAY Determines whether Log in as current user appears in the Options menu on the Horizon Client menu bar. Valid values are 1 (enabled) or 0 (disabled). 1
LOGINASCURRENTUSER_DEFAULT Determines whether Log in as current user is selected by default in the Options menu on the Horizon Client menu bar. Valid values are 1 (enabled) and 0 (disabled).

When log in as current user is the default login behavior, the identity and credential information that users provide when they log in to the client system is passed to the Connection Server instance and ultimately to the remote desktop. When log in as current user is not the default login behavior, users must provide identity and credential information multiple times before they can access a remote desktop or application.

Note: If you change this value for the user interface, Horizon Client ignores the related default group policy setting.
0
ADDLOCAL
Specifies the features to install. Valid values are as follows:
  • ALL - Installs all available features, except for URL Content Redirection.
  • TSSO - Installs the Log in as Current User feature.
  • USB - Installs the USB Redirection feature.

To specify individual features, enter a comma-separated list of feature names. Do not use spaces between names.

For example, to install Horizon Client with the USB Redirection feature, but without the Log in as Current User feature, type the following command:

VMware-Horizon-Client-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe ADDLOCAL=USB

None
INSTALL_SFB Determines whether the VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business feature is installed. A value of 1 installs the feature. A value of 0 does not install the feature. 1
INSTALL_HTML5MMR Determines whether the Support for HTML5 Multimedia Redirection and Browser Redirection feature is installed. A value of 1 installs the feature. A value of 0 does not install the feature. 1
REMOVE Specifies the features not to install. Valid values are as follows:
  • Scanner - Does not install the scanner redirection feature.
  • FolderRedirection - Does not install the folder redirection feature.
  • SerialPort - Does not install the serial port redirection feature.

To specify multiple features, enter a comma-separated list of feature names. Do not use spaces between names.

For example, the following command does not install the scanner redirection feature:

VMware-Horizon-Client-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe REMOVE=Scanner

None
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT Determines whether to create a desktop shortcut for Horizon Client. A value of 0 does not create a desktop shortcut. A value of 1 creates a desktop shortcut. 1
STARTMENU_SHORTCUT Determines whether to create a Start menu shortcut for Horizon Client. A value of 0 does not create a Start menu shortcut. A value of 1 creates a Start menu shortcut. 1
URL_FILTERING_ENABLED Determines whether the URL Content Redirection feature is installed. A value of 1 installs the feature. A value of 0 does not install the feature.
When you set this property to 1 in an interactive installation, the URL Content Redirection check box appears under Additional features on the custom installation dialog box and is selected by default. The check box does not appear unless you set this property to 1.
Note: The ADDLOCAL=ALL property does not include the URL Content Redirection feature.
0
AUTO_UPDATE_ENABLED Determines whether the online update feature is enabled. A value of 1 enables the feature. A value of 0 disables the feature.

For more information, see Update Horizon Client Online.

1
KEYLOGGER_BLOCKING_ENABLED Determines whether keylogger blocking is enabled. A value of 1 enables the feature. A value of 0 disables the feature. The feature is disabled by default.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that the client system uses a supported operating system. See Hardware and Software Requirements for Windows Client Systems.
  • Verify that you can log in as an administrator on the client system.
  • Verify that the domain controllers have the latest patches, enough free disk space, and can communicate with each other.
  • If you plan to install Horizon Client with FIPS-compliant cryptography, enable FIPS mode in the client operating system. See Enabling FIPS Mode in the Windows Client Operating System.
  • Decide whether to use the feature that allows end users to log in to Horizon Client and their remote desktop as the currently logged in user. Credential information that the user entered when logging in to the client system is passed to the Connection Server instance and ultimately to the remote desktop. Some client operating systems do not support this feature.
  • Become familiar with the Horizon Client installation commands.
  • Become familiar with the Horizon Client installation properties.
  • Determine whether to allow end users to access locally connected USB devices from their remote desktops. If not, set the ADDLOCAL installation property to the list of features and omit the USB feature.
  • If you do not want end users to have to supply the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the Connection Server instance, determine the FQDN so that you can supply it during installation.

Procedure

  1. Log in to the client system as an administrator.
  2. Navigate to the VMware Downloads page at http://www.vmware.com/go/viewclients.
  3. Download the Horizon Client installer file, for example, VMware-Horizon-Client-YYMM-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe.
    YYMM is the marketing version number, y.y.y is the internal version number, and xxxxxx is the build number.
  4. Open a command prompt on the Windows client computer.
  5. Type the installer file name, installation commands, and installation properties on one line.
    VMware-Horizon-Client-YYMM-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe [commands] [properties]

Results

The installer installs Horizon Client according to the installation commands and properties that you specify. If you specify the /silent installation command, the wizard prompts do not appear.

The installer installs Windows services, including VMware Horizon Client (horizon_client_service) and VMware USB Arbitration Service (VMUSBArbService).

Example: Sample Installation Commands

The following command installs Horizon Client interactively and enables the URL Content Redirection feature. 

VMware-Horizon-Client-YYMM-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe URL_FILTERING_ENABLED=1

The following command installs Horizon Client silently and suppresses all restarts and restart prompts during the installation process. 

VMware-Horizon-Client-YYMM-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe /silent /norestart

What to do next

If you enabled the URL Content Redirection feature when you installed Horizon Client, verify that the feature is installed. See Verify URL Content Redirection Installation.

Start Horizon Client and verify that you can log in to the correct remote desktop or published application. See Connect to a Remote Desktop or Published Application.