In certain situations, you might have to reinstall the current version of a Connection Server instance and restore the existing VMware Horizon 8 configuration by importing a backup LDIF file that contains the Horizon LDAP configuration data.

For example, as part of a business continuity and disaster recovery (BC/DR) plan, you might want to have a procedure ready to implement in case a datacenter stops functioning. The first step in such a plan is to ensure that the Horizon LDAP configuration is backed up in another location. A second step is to install Connection Server in the new location and import the backup configuration, as described in this procedure.

You might also use this procedure when you set up a second datacenter with the existing VMware Horizon 8 configuration. Or you might use it if your VMware Horizon 8 deployment contains only a single Connection Server instance, and a problem occurs with that server.

You do not have to follow this procedure if you have multiple Connection Server instances in a replicated group, and a single instance goes down. You can simply reinstall Connection Server as a replicated instance. During the installation, you provide connection information to another Connection Server instance, and VMware Horizon 8 restores the Horizon LDAP configuration from the other instance.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that the Horizon LDAP configuration was backed up to an encrypted LDIF file.
  • Familiarize yourself with restoring a Horizon LDAP configuration from an LDIF backup file by using the vdmimport command.

    See "Backing Up and Restoring VMware Horizon 8 Configuration Data" in the Horizon 8 Administration document.

  • Familiarize yourself with the steps for installing a new Connection Server instance. See Install Horizon Connection Server with a New Configuration.

Procedure

  1. Install Connection Server with a new configuration.
  2. Decrypt the encrypted LDIF file.
    For example: 
    vdmimport -d -p mypassword 
-f MyEncryptedexport.LDF > MyDecryptedexport.LDF
  3. Import the decrypted LDIF file to restore the Horizon LDAP configuration.
    For example: 
    vdmimport -f MyDecryptedexport.LDF
    Note: At this stage, the VMware Horizon 8 configuration is not yet accessible. Clients cannot access Connection Server or connect to their desktops.
  4. Uninstall the Connection Server from the computer by using the Windows Add/Remove Programs utility.
    Do not uninstall the Horizon LDAP configuration, called the AD LDS Instance VMwareVDMDS instance. You can use the Add/Remove Programs utility to verify that the AD LDS Instance VMwareVDMDS instance was not removed from the Windows Server computer.
  5. Reinstall Connection Server.
    At the installer prompt, accept the existing Horizon LDAP.

What to do next

Configure Connection Server and your VMware Horizon 8 environment as you would after you install a Connection Server instance with a new configuration.