Horizon 2406 License and Edge Gateway

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I have updated Horizon to 2406 and I see the following banner?

I upgraded Horizon to 2406 and have a subscription license, do I have to install the Edge Gateway to activate the licenses?

Well, I recommend you read this post of mine.

New features in Horizon version 2406 include changes to license management, including:

  • The ability to activate subscription Plus and HUL licenses even without deploying the EDGE Gateway (we will see the details in a future post)
  • The degraded mode

Activation without EDGE Gateway

we will have the following advantages:

  • Due to corporate or administrative policies, some customers cannot have production environments that send data to the cloud. With this new feature, they will be able to enjoy the benefits of subscription Plus licenses to HUL without sending data
  • They will not have to dedicate resources to the Edge Gateway (8 vCPUs and 32 GB RAM)

The only activity to do, if you do not have the EDGE gateway installed, is to remember to reactivate the license every 105 days in a very simple way by clicking on the button on the licenses page

Degraded Mode

When Horizon console switch to degraded mode?

  • When there are no Horizon licenses installed (see first-time installation)
  • When a perpetual customer upgrades their connection server to version 2406
  • When the term/subscription license expires

What does it involve?

Entering the degraded state involves the following situations:

  • In the Inventory -> Desktops – Add button will be disabled
  • In the Inventory -> Farms – Add button will be disabled
  • In the Inventory -> Desktops -> Automated Desktop Pool -> Edit -> Provisioning Settings -> Desktop Pool Sizing – Maximum Machines input field will be disabled
  • In the Inventory -> Farms -> Automated Farms -> Edit -> Provisioning Settings -> Farm Sizing – Maximum Machines input field will be disabled
  • In the Inventory -> Desktops -> Pools Summary -> Maintain -> Schedule button will be disabled
  • In the Inventory -> Farms -> Farms Summary -> Maintain -> Schedule button will be disabled
  • In the Inventory -> Desktops -> Duplicate button will be disabled.

The features will be re-enabled when you adjust the license

So you ask me, what happens if we upgrade the version of Horizon to version 2406 and have perpetual licenses?

The following banner appears on the first access (the status is degraded mode with the restrictions indicated above)

You will need to reactivate your license by opting for one of the following options:

In the case of perpetual licenses, select Term or Perpetual license and enter the code

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The inclusion of the degraded mode also changes the management of the expiration of the so-called TERM licenses from version 2406:

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While for subscription HUL or Plus licenses it is also necessary to think about the failure to verify licenses through the EDGE or manual reactivation without the EDGE.

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Horizon 2406 License and Edge Gateway

App Volumes 2406

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As anticipated in my previous posts, version 2406 of Omnissa’s EUC products (the company that took over VMware’s EUC products) has been released. New versions of the following are present:

  • App Volumes
  • Horizon
  • Unified Access Gateway
  • Dynamic Environment Manager

In the next posts I present some of the most interesting new features that are present in these new releases.

Let’s start with App Volumes and talk about:

  • Volumes App for Persistent Desktop
  • Extending the App Volumes solution to other platforms
  • Assign different versions of the same application to a user

Volumes App for Persistent Desktop

  • The solution until the version before 2406 was only available for non-persistent desktops (Instant Clone)
  • From the 2406 it is also possible to use it with persistent desktops

The main difference is present in the installation of the agent where it is asked on which type of desktop we are installing the App Volumes agent

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In its nature of profile management, the use of App Volumes on a persistent machine is only possible with App Stacks and not with Writable Volumes

Extending the App Volumes solution to other platforms

The ability to use App Volumes with VDI is not only of Horizon infrastructure, from version 2406 it is possible to use with Windows 365 and with Amazon WorkSpaces

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Assign different versions of the same application to a user

Leveraging Apps on Demand, end users can now select from multiple packages of an application at launch, providing flexibility to try out new versions or launch specific ones

Other assignment options: “Marker,” and “Package,”, now we are the “Multiple,” option enhancing application management and deployment flexibility.

App Volumes 2406

Use PostgreSQL for Horizon DB events

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In most Horizon infrastructure Microsoft SQL is used to host the event DB. It is possible to use Oracle and also PostgreSQL, this last possibility allows us to reduce the costs by using a free Linux version as OS (See Oracle Linux) and not add costs for the DB. 

Requirements

Horizon Connection Server infrastructure

Oracle Linux v9 virtual machine

PostgreSQL Installation on Oracle Linux

On Oracle Linux

#Check last version of all packages

sudo dnf update

#Install PostgreSQL

sudo dnf install postgresql-server postgresql-contrib

sudo postgresql-setup –initdb

sudo systemctl start postgresql

sudo systemctl enable postgresqls

#Create PostgreSQL User and DB

sudo -u postgres createuser horizonuser –pwprompt

sudo -u postgres createdb -O horizonuser HorizonEvent

#Enable remote access to PostgreSQL

netstat -nlp | grep 5432

cd /var/lib/pgsql/data/

vi postgresql.conf

Access with postgres user

su – postgres

cd data

cat pg_hba.conf

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Modify the pg_hba.conf file and add the Connection Server IP address. Follow this documentation

Prepare a PostgreSQL Database for Event Reporting in Horizon Console (omnissa.com)

vi pg_hba.conf

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firewall-cmd –zone=public –add-port=5432/tcp –permanent

firewall-cmd –reload

PostgreSQL Service restart

systemctl restart postgresql.service

#Configure the Horizon infrastructure to use the PostgreSQL DB for the event

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Use PostgreSQL for Horizon DB events

App Volumes 2406 and Unified Access Gateway 2406

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All of VMware’s EUC products were continuously updated (in recent years almost always every 3 months) to add new features, fix bugs and mitigate security vulnerabilities.

The move to Broadcom and the subsequent sell of EUC products in Omnissa has brought a few months of stabilization… but I’m happy to announce that versions 2406 of the App Volumes and Unified Access Gateway products are out.

What do we find new?

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App Volumes

Persistent Desktop Support

Expanded Use Cases: New support for classic Windows desktop environments, a significant enhancement to our Apps Everywhere strategy. This new feature extends our efficient one-to-many provisioning model, previously available only for non-persistent desktops, to persistent virtual desktop environments.

And more…

Replicate Application Packages in Specific Stages

We are excited to introduce the Replicate Application Packages in Specific Stages feature, designed to enhance the life cycle management of applications across multiple instances of App Volumes Manager

And more…

Select a specific Package Version when Launching an App (Technology Preview)

Writable Volumes Performance Improvements

Here the Release Notes

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Unified Access Gateway

Added support for Horizon Connection Server’s Home Site Redirection feature (associated with Cloud Pod Architecture)

Added support for Basic and NTLM authentications in outbound proxy configuration.

Added support in PowerShell script to enable/disable monitoring of unrecognized sessions using the new field unrecognizedSessionsMonitoringEnabled.

And more..

Here the Release Notes 

 

The 2406 version of the Connection Server ……..stay tuned!

App Volumes 2406 and Unified Access Gateway 2406

VMware vSphere Foundation for VDI (VVF for VDI)

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The exit of EUC services from Broadcom (after the acquisition of VMware by the US giant) has brought a situation of uncertainty for all those who have been appreciating for years the features of the VDI/Applications published with Horizon and all the products of the EUC ecosystem that were from VMware.

The birth of Omnissa (effective from the beginning of July) bodes well for the future (more information in this post of mine from a few weeks ago).

Of the many synergies that were natural when vSphere and Horizon were children of the same mother, the first uncertainty was the licensing issue.

VMware gave the possibility, once a specific Horizon license was purchased, to have the vSphere virtualization infrastructure licenses, practically a solution ready to be only implemented. (I remind you that Horizon also goes on other Hypervisors… obviously exploits 10% of the potential… on this issue. I expect news from Omnissa since vSphere and Horizon are no longer brothers). The only limitation of the vSphere license included in Horizon was the need to run on the vSphere platform, licensed with Horizon, only VDI environments and the servers necessary for operation (Connection Server ,,, App Volumes Manager etc ..)

Now that vSphere and Horizon no longer have the same mother, what happens to these licenses? Will I still be able to buy a bundle with Horizon and vSphere together?

This link explains that the best of the matter:

Setting the record straight: EUC to continue to offer Horizon with vSphere and vSAN (omnissa.com)

Where it is indicated that there will be a collaboration between Omnissa and Broadcom to allow the presence of a bundle with Horizon and vSphere.

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So it is still possible to purchase one of the following licenses:

  • Horizon Enterprise term
  • Horizon Universal,
  • Horizon Enterprise Plus
  • Horizon Standard Plus
  • Horizon Apps Universal

What is the name of the vSphere package included in Horizon Solutions?

VMware vSphere Foundation for VDI (VVF for VDI)

What does it include?

• vSphere Enterprise Plus

• vCenter Standard

• vSAN Enterprise (100 GB) (licensed per Core)

So how much space have I included in vSAN?

Well, the game is quite simple: for each core of my vSphere cluster on which I host VDI and on which I have the VVF for VDI licenses, just multiply 100GB by the number of CORES. (there are no restrictions on the number of cores)

Let’s focus on the vSAN Enterprise license… what difference do we have from the previous Bundle?

  • vSAN Enterprise includes the same features as vSAN Advanced plus all those of vSAN Enterprise which are:
    • Data-at-rest and data-intransit encryption
    • File services
    • VMware HCI Mesh™2

In this link more information:

VVF_VDI_SPD_July2024.pdf (broadcom.com)

VMware vSphere Foundation for VDI (VVF for VDI)

Nested ESXi Virtual Appliances

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In the field of home labs, nested virtualization is the must to be able to create vSphere environments in a short time to test or try new features even in the EUC environment.

To help those who want to use nested virtualization, William Lam has been providing Nested ESXi Virtual Appliances for some years now.

Until a few days ago nested ESXi virtual appliances were available to download from William’s website (https://williamlam.com/) and since yesterday they have been available on the VMware Flings Community (Accessible with a free Broadcom community account that can be created here)

The convenience of using these virtual appliances is the ability to also create automatic scripts to be able to create nested environments such as vSphere clusters, vSAN and VCF (VMware Cloud Foundation) environments in a short time, which can then be used to test Omnissa’s EUC solutions as well.

Here is William’s official post

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Nested ESXi Virtual Appliances

EUC, un futuro luminoso per Horizon

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In questi giorni c’è molto fermento nel mondo dell’EUC (‘End-User Computing) in merito alla comparsa sul mercato di un nuovo nome.

Ma partiamo con ordine, nel lontano 2008 mi avvicino al modo delle VDI (Virtual Desktop Infrastructure) inizialmente con l’automatizzazione di aule corsi, grazie a VMware e al suo prodotto che allora era stato appena rinominato in Horizon View (se non sbaglio precedentemente si chiama VMware VDM….. ancora oggi, nelle installazioni dei Connection Server, troviamo una cartella VDM sotto c:\ProgramData).

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Col tempo le soluzione VDI di VMware sono evolute in maniera importante con l’aggiunta prima della tecnologia linked clones e poi con le instant clone (tecnologie che permettono di semplificare notevolmente la vita dell’amministratore delle postazioni di lavoro).

Abbiamo visto l’affiancare a Horizon soluzioni che permettono di sfruttare al meglio le VDI come App Volumes, DEM (Dynamic Environment Manager), Workspace One ecc.…

Poi dall’on-premise è stato portato anche sul Cloud con soluzione come Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure.

Anche per la mia carriera lavorativa il mondo delle VDI ha lasciato un solco importante dal 2021 sono vEXPERT (Con specificità nel mondo EUC) e dal 2024 sono EUCExpert e collaboro con VMware/Broadcom nel deploy.

Mi direte ok sono cose che ormai conosciamo ma quindi che cosa è successo??

Bene, sappiamo tutti che VMware è stata acquisita da Broadcom e una delle prime dichiarazioni della nuova proprietà è stata quella di non volere investire sull mondo EUC.

Ma quindi che succede?

Tutto i prodotti EUC di VMware sono riconosciuti tra i leader del mercato dei prodotti VDI e Desktop as a Service sono stati comprati da KKR (Fondo Americano nato nel 1977) per cui nasce Omnissa

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Nata con persone VMware per garantire la stessa qualità e lo stesso sviluppo in innovazione che è stato garantito in questi anni.

In cui continua o parte una nuova vita (scegliete voi) per tutti i prodotti EUC che molti noi conosciamo e apprezziamo  (Horizon ecc…)

Ne vedremo sicuramente delle belle e ci aspetta un futuro luminoso!

EUC, un futuro luminoso per Horizon

VMware Horizon takes a long time to provision Desktop virtual machines

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VMware Horizon takes a long time to provision the Desktop virtual machines

We detected a strange situation when changing the sizing (number of desktop VMs) or publishing a new image on the Instant clone Desktop Pool.

The highlighted situation is a very long time in creating one or more VMs from the Gold Image. Following investigation we found that the problem is also present when cloning a VM that is present in the same vSphere environment where the instant clone VDIs are allocated.

In our case it was a vSAN environment, having carried out the first routine checks where no network, disk or compatibility problems were found, we went into the details of the logs and in the case of the clone we found this error message in the logs of the VM that was being cloned.

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We have found a workaround and a permanent resolution:

Workaround:

Restart the vCenter service

VMware vService Manager

Resolution:

Check this KB https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/96049 where the problem is fixed on vCenter 8.0 U2b.

VMware Horizon takes a long time to provision Desktop virtual machines

VMware App Volumes 4, version 2312.2

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The 28 March VMware released a new version of App Volumes (it is a minor version) to fix some known Issues of previous versions.

VMware App Volumes 4, version 2312.2 Release Notes

In this case, it’s a relief for me because I just happened to find a bug in version 2312 on a customer with vSAN and App Volumes storage group. This version should fix the following issue: In the next few days, I will install the update and possibly update the post.

VMware App Volumes 4, version 2312.2

Approach to updating a horizon infrastructure

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When approaching the upgrade of an infrastructure in the EUC world (as with most technologies in the IT world) it is necessary to define a roadmap of activities and follow it carefully. In many cases, IT technology vendors already have update procedures in place that should be followed carefully. When I started working as a consultant, the documentation was very scarce (we are talking about the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st…) and the procedures were poorly documented and only those who took courses or had experience could approach with a certain “tranquility” updates of production environments.

Going back to EUC infrastructures and focusing on the VMware by Broadcom world (still for a while….given the transfer of the technology in question) we have a precise update sequence, especially if we talk about + technologies that interact with each other, and the need to verify the interoperability between the various technologies.

For example, we have this KB that gives us the upgrade sequence of a Horizon 8 infrastructure:

Update sequence for Horizon 7, Horizon 8, and compatible VMware products (78445)

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And the ability to use the interoperability portal:

https://interopmatrix.vmware.com/Interoperability

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In my ten-year experience in updates and maintenance of vSphere and Horizon infrastructures, it has often happened that I have had to intervene and manage post-upgrade problems, where in most cases the problems were generated by the fact that I did not perform the update in the correct order or even did not complete all the upgrade steps.

For example, I have experienced situations where, following upgrades, the copy and glue to and from VDI sessions no longer worked correctly in a Horizon infrastructure.

In the end, the problem was solved by also performing the update step of the Horizon ADMX templates in Active Directory, something that the customer or whoever had done the update for him had not done.

Approach to updating a horizon infrastructure