To use a Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2019 machine as an RDS host, you must perform certain steps before you install Horizon Agent in the virtual machine.

When the Remote Desktop Session Host (RDSH) role is not present, the Horizon Agent installer prompts you to install Horizon Agent in RDS mode or desktop mode. If RDS mode is selected, the installer will install the RDSH role as well as the Desktop Experience role for the supported operating systems and prompt you to reboot the system. At this time the installer has not yet installed Horizon Agent. After rebooting the system you must run the installer again to continue installing Horizon Agent in RDS mode.

When the Remote Desktop Session Host role is present, the Horizon Agent installer does not display these options. The installer treats the Windows Server machine as an RDS host instead of a single-session Horizon desktop and installs Horizon Agent in RDS mode. During this installation, the Horizon Agent installer will not automatically install the Desktop Experience role. If you need the Desktop Experience role, you must install the role manually. See Install Desktop Experience on Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, or 2019.
Note: The Desktop Experience Role is required for the following features:
  • HTML Access
  • Scanner redirection
  • Windows Aero
For Windows Server 2012 R2, if the Horizon Agent installer does not find an RDSH role and you select RDS mode, then the Horizon Agent installer will automatically install the Desktop Experience role with the RDSH role. You do not have to explicitly install the Desktop Experience role. Windows Server 2016 and later do not have a separate installable Desktop Experience role. The Desktop Experience option is available only during the OS installation, so the Horizon Agent installer installs the RDSH role on Windows Server 2016 and later.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that the RDS host is part of the Active Directory domain for the Horizon deployment.
  • Familiarize yourself with the steps to install the Desktop Experience feature on supported Windows Server operating systems. See Install Remote Desktop Services on Windows Server 2012 or 2012 R2 or 2016.
  • On Windows Server 2016 machines, familiarize yourself with the steps to configure the Windows Firewall service to restart after failures occur. See Configure the Windows Firewall Service to Restart After Failures in the Setting Up Virtual Desktops in Horizon document.
  • If the machine has the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package installed, verify that the version of the package is 2005 SP1 or later. If the package version is 2005 or earlier, you can either upgrade or uninstall the package.
  • Download the Horizon Agent installer file from the VMware product page at http://www.vmware.com/go/downloadview.

Procedure

  1. Log in as an administrator.
  2. To start the Horizon Agent installation program, double-click the installer file.
    The installer filename is VMware-Horizon-Agent-x86-YYMM-y.y.y-xxxxxx.exe, where YYMM is the marketing version number, y.y.y is the internal version number, and xxxxxx is the build number.
  3. Accept the VMware license terms.
  4. Select RDS mode to install the RDSH role and/or the Desktop Experience role. After it is installed, the installer will prompt you to restart the system. After the system is restarted, launch the installer again to continue installing Horizon Agent in RDS mode.
  5. On Windows Server 2012 R2 or Windows Server 2016 machines, configure the Windows Firewall service to restart after failures occur.

What to do next

Install Horizon Agent on the remote desktop services host. See Install Horizon Agent on a Remote Desktop Services Host .