Introducing the VMware Horizon Documentation

For a quick overview of the VMware Horizon documentation, watch this introductory video.

How to Use the Documentation - For Administrators

Use the map above to follow a recommended path through the documentation based on your deployment scenario:

• Scenario: Horizon 8, Not Cloud-Connected
• Scenario: Horizon 8, Connected to Horizon Cloud Service
• Scenario: Horizon Cloud in Microsoft Azure

How to Use the Documentation - For End Users

To learn how to use Horizon Client, open the client guide for your device:

• If you have the Horizon Client or browser-based HTML Access app open, click Help in the client user interface.
  
  
  

• Or, use the table of contents (TOC) to go to your client guide. On a desktop browser, look for the TOC in the left pane of this page. On a mobile device, click the TOC button ( ).

For example, you can open pages in the Windows client guide that explain how to connect to a remote desktop or application and work in a remote session.

Scenario: Horizon 8, Not Cloud-Connected

Just want to deploy Horizon 8 with a perpetual or term license and don't need any cloud-based services? Follow this path through the documentation.

1. Get started with Horizon Overview and Deployment Planning and understanding Horizon Security.

   These guides show you how the VMware Horizon components fit together, how to create a rich user experience, and how to plan for security features such as security protocols and cipher suites for the Blast Secure Gateway.

2. Then use Horizon Installation and Upgrade as your guide to install the Horizon 8 server components. To learn about new features, fixed issues, and known problems, see the Horizon Release Notes.

3. Continue with the relevant guides to learn how to use the administration console for Horizon 8, install Horizon Agent on virtual machines, and create desktop and application pools.

4. Then follow the relevant guides to optimize the source VM for desktop pools, configure remote desktop features and GPOs, set up the web client for end users, and install Horizon Client for Windows or another client platform.

   The client guides also cover common procedures such as how to configure VMware Blast options, connect to a remote desktop or application, and work in a remote session. To learn about new features, fixed issues, and known problems in Horizon Client, see the release notes for your client platform.

Scenario: Horizon 8, Connected to Horizon Cloud Service

If you're deploying Horizon 8 and also want to take advantage of the cloud-based monitoring and management features offered by Horizon Control Plane services, use this documentation path.

1. Start with Horizon Overview and Deployment Planning and Horizon Security.

2. Follow Horizon Installation and Upgrade to install the Horizon 8 server components. To learn about new features, fixed issues, and known problems, see the Horizon Release Notes.

3. To activate the Horizon Universal Subscription or Horizon Plus Subscription license, follow the onboarding procedures to deploy Horizon Cloud Connector and activate the subscription license.

   You can also learn how to keep Horizon Cloud Connector automatically updated to the latest version.

4. Continue with the relevant guides to learn how to use the administration console for Horizon 8, install Horizon Agent on virtual machines, and create desktop and application pools.

5. Then follow the relevant guides to optimize the source VM for desktop pools, configure remote desktop features and GPOs, set up the web client for end users, and install Horizon Client for Windows or another client platform.

6. To explore day-two operations of Horizon Cloud administration and image management from a single console, consult the relevant guides:
   • See the administration guide to register Horizon Cloud with the Active Directory domain, start using the Cloud Monitoring Service, and set up Universal Broker for end-user resources.
   • Read all about new features in the latest Horizon Cloud Service Release Notes.
   • You can also learn how to use the Horizon Image Management Service.

Scenario: Horizon Cloud in Microsoft Azure

Deploying the next generation of Horizon Cloud or a Horizon Cloud pod in Microsoft Azure? Follow this documentation path.

1. Get started with Horizon Overview and Deployment Planning and understanding Horizon Security.

2. Consult the Horizon Cloud Service documentation for your deployment option:
   • Option A - To learn how to deploy a Horizon Cloud pod in Microsoft Azure, see the Horizon Cloud Service deployment guide. Read all about newly released features in the latest Horizon Cloud Service Release Notes.

     Then explore day-two operations of Administration and Image Management, which show you how to deploy and manage end-user resources from a single console.

     To understand the update process for existing deployments, see Updates and Your Horizon Cloud Pod and Horizon Cloud Pod Manifest Support Plans KB86476.

   • Option B - To learn how to deploy the next generation of Horizon Cloud into the latest cloud-first, multi-cloud, pod-less architecture, see Using VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen. Review the VMware Horizon Cloud Service - next-gen Release Notes for information about the current release.

3. Then follow the relevant guides to optimize the source VM for desktop pools, configure remote desktop features and GPOs, define feature policies using Active Directory group policy objects (GPOs), set up the web client for end users, and install Horizon Client for Windows or another client platform.

   The client guides also cover common procedures such as how to configure VMware Blast options, connect to a remote desktop or application, and work in a remote session. To learn about new features, fixed issues, and known problems in Horizon Client, see the release notes for your client platform.

More Resources

To learn more about Horizon 8 and Horizon Cloud Service, visit the following pages.