With the serial port redirection feature, end users can redirect locally connected serial (COM) ports, such as built-in RS232 ports or USB to Serial adapters, to their remote desktops and published applications. To support serial port redirection, your VMware Horizon deployment must meet certain software and hardware requirements.

Virtual desktops

Horizon Agent must be installed with the Serial Port Redirection setup option selected. This setup option is deselected by default.

The following operating systems are supported on virtual desktops.

  • 64-bit Windows 10
  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2019

Serial port device drivers do not need to be installed in the virtual desktop.

Published desktops and published applications
RDS hosts must have Horizon Agent installed with the Serial Port Redirection setup option selected. This setup option is deselected by default.

The following operating systems are supported for published desktops and published applications.

  • Windows Server 2016
  • Windows Server 2019

Serial port device drivers do not need to be installed in the RDS host.

Serial port redirection is supported for published remote applications in both nested and non-nested modes for:
  • Windows client 5.1/HZE 7.9
  • Linux client 4.10/HZE 7.7and later
Note: For Linux clients you cannot use serial port redirection for published remote applications in non-nested mode. You can only use serial port redirection for published remote applications in the hop1 agent in nested mode.
Horizon Client computer or client access device
For Horizon Client for Windows, serial port redirection is supported on Windows 10 client systems. Any required serial port device drivers must be installed and the serial port must be operable.
Display protocols
  • PCoIP
  • VMware Blast

Serial port redirection is not supported in RDP desktop sessions.