When you configure Linux desktops, you must follow a different sequence of steps depending on whether you install 2D graphics or 3D graphics on the virtual machines.

2D Graphics - Overview of Configuration Steps

For 2D graphics, take the following steps:

  1. Review the system requirements for setting up a Linux desktop deployment. See System Requirements for Horizon Agent for Linux.
  2. Create a virtual machine in vSphere and install the Linux operating system. See Create a Virtual Machine and Install Linux.
  3. Prepare the guest operating system for deployment as a desktop in a VMware Horizon environment. See Prepare a Linux Machine for Remote Desktop Deployment.
  4. Configure the Linux guest operating system to authenticate with Active Directory. This step is implemented with 3rd-party software, based on the requirements in your environment. See Integrating Linux Desktops with Active Directory for more information.
  5. Install Horizon Agent on the Linux virtual machine. See Install Horizon Agent on a Linux Virtual Machine.
  6. Create a desktop pool based on the configured Linux virtual machine. See Create and Manage Linux Virtual Desktop Pools.

3D Graphics - Overview of Configuration Steps

You must complete the NVIDIA GRID vGPU configuration on the Linux virtual machines before you install Horizon Agent on the machines and deploy a desktop pool in Horizon Console.

  1. Review the system requirements for setting up a Linux desktop deployment in a VMware Horizon environment. See System Requirements for Horizon Agent for Linux.
  2. Create a virtual machine in vSphere and install the Linux operating system. See Create a Virtual Machine and Install Linux.
  3. Prepare the guest operating system for deployment as a desktop in a VMware Horizon environment. See Prepare a Linux Machine for Remote Desktop Deployment.
  4. Configure the Linux guest operating system to authenticate with Active Directory. This step is implemented with 3rd-party software, based on the requirements in your environment. See Integrating Linux Desktops with Active Directory for more information.
  5. Configure 3D capabilities on your ESXi hosts and the Linux virtual machine. For more information, see Configure Supported Linux Distributions for vGPU.
  6. Install Horizon Agent on the Linux virtual machine. See Install Horizon Agent on a Linux Virtual Machine.
  7. Create a desktop pool based on the configured Linux virtual machine. See Create and Manage Linux Virtual Desktop Pools.