If you are planning for the VMware EUC Stack migration or upgrade and are in the middle of uninstalling the existing agents, look no further and here is the script that will allow you to uninstall all the agents and reboot the golden image towards the end. There is no need to remove individual agents one by one from the “Program and Features”; instead, sit back, relax and have a coffee!
VMware EUC Agents:
VMware App Volumes Agent (Works on 2.x and 4.x/YYMM)
VMware Horizon Client (Optional)
VMware Dynamic Environment Manager Agent (Works on 9.x and YYMM)
VMware Horizon Agent (Works on 7.x and 8.x/YYMM)
VMware Tools (Works on 11.x)
Note – All the above testing is carried out on Windows 10 1909/Windows Server 2016 with PowerShell 5.1. The PowerShell module Uninstall-Package suppresses individual reboot and we perform the final reboot towards the end using the Restart-Computer module. (Reboot is required to complete the uninstallation operations.)
#################################################################################
# Un-Install EUC Agents in the proper order for Golden Image
# App Volumes Agent, Horizon Client(Optional), DEM, Horizon and VMware Tools
# Suppressed auto Reboot the OS towards the end after un-installing all Agents.
# Comment or Un-comment the Agent that does not apply to your environment
# Author - Aresh Sarkari (Twitter - @askaresh)
#################################################################################
#Un-installing VMware App Volumes Agent
Write-Host "Un-installing the App Volumes Agent" -ForegroundColor Green
Get-Package -Name 'App Volumes **' | Uninstall-Package
sleep -Seconds 60
#Un-installing VMware Horizon Client
#Write-Host "Un-installing the VMware Horizon Client" -ForegroundColor Green
#Get-Package -Name 'VMware Horizon Cli**' | Uninstall-Package
#sleep -Seconds 60
#Un-installing VMware Dynamic Environment Agent
Write-Host "Un-installing the Dynamic Environment Agent" -ForegroundColor Green
Get-Package -Name 'VMware Dynamic **' | Uninstall-Package
sleep -Seconds 60
#Un-installing VMware Horizon Agent
Write-Host "Un-installing the VMware Horizon Agent" -ForegroundColor Green
Get-Package -Name 'VMware Horizon Ag**' | Uninstall-Package
sleep -Seconds 60
#Un-installing VMware Tools Agent
Write-Host "Un-installing the VMware Tools Agent" -ForegroundColor Green
Get-Package -Name 'VMware Tools' | Uninstall-Package
sleep -Seconds 60
# Restart the computer
Write-Host "Restarting the computer post the VMware EUC Agents Un-install" -ForegroundColor Green
Restart-Computer -Force
Thanks to Hilko and Joel for reviewing the script and providing valuable feedback.
I hope you will find this script useful to uninstall the VMware EUC agents and never look back to remove individual programs under “Programs and Features”. A small request if you further enhance the script or make it more creative, I hope you can share it back with me?
We are in the middle of automating the VMware Horizon Agent 8.x installer for the golden images. To undertake such a task, it’s essential to understand all the MSI Switches that come along with the installer. If you had already automated the Horizon Agent 7.x install it’s also important to check which MSI switches have been removed in Horizon Agent 8.x/YYMM. The below details will show you the switches and highlight the removed/deltas MSI Switches and Properties.
Enables Hybrid logon which allows an unauthenticated user access to network resources without the need to enter credentials.
HelpDesk
Help Desk Plugin for Horizon Agent
Help Desk Plugin for Horizon Agent.
RDP
Enable RDP (hidden)
BlastUDP
Core
Core
Core
[ProductName] core functionality
INSTALLDIR
VMWMediaProviderProxy
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business
This feature will enable optimization for Skype for Business in remote desktop
ClientDriveRedirection
Client Drive Redirection
Allow Horizon Clients to share local drives with remote desktops and applications. If not installed, copy/paste and drag and drop files and folders features will be disabled.
RTAV
Real-Time Audio-Video
Real-Time Audio-Video enables users to redirect locally connected audio and video peripherals back to the remote desktop for use.
GEOREDIR
Geolocation Redirection
Enables redirection of client’s geolocation to the remote desktop
PerfTracker
Horizon Performance Tracker
Enables Horizon Performance Tracker
Horizon Agent 8.x/YYMM Release MSI Features
Horizon Agent 7.x version (Features available within the agent)
Feature (s38)
Feature_Parent (S38)
Title (L64)
Description (L255)
Directory_ (S72)
URLRedirection
Core
URL Content Redirection
Redirects URL content from a server session to a client device and vice versa.
PSG
Core
VmVideo
Core
VmwVdisplay
Core
VmwVidd
Core
SmartCardSingleUserTS
Core
FlashURLRedirection
Flash URL Redirection
Enables Flash URL Redirection for internal company controlled web pages.
RDSH3D
3D RDSH
This feature enables hardware 3D acceleration in RDSH sessions.
SVIAgent
VMware Horizon View Composer Agent
VMware Horizon View Composer Agent RDSH installs: This machine can be used as the parent image for provisioning Automated Farms
NGVC
VMware Horizon Instant Clone Agent
Horizon Instant Clone Agent should only be installed on a virtual machine running on VMware vSphere 6.0/2015 U1 or later. It cannot be co-installed with Horizon View Composer Agent.
ScannerRedirection
Scanner Redirection
Enables the Scanner Redirection feature.
SerialPortRedirection
Serial Port Redirection
Enables the Serial Port Redirection feature.
SmartCard
Smartcard Redirection
Enables the Smartcard Redirection feature.
TSMMR
TSMMR
Terminal Services Multimedia Redirection. Does not support IPv6 configuration.
ThinPrint
Virtual Printing
Virtual Printer Support
PrintRedir
VMware Integrated Printing
VMware Integrated Printing Redirection.
USB
USB Redirection
USB Redirection. Refer to the VMware Horizon 7 Security document for guidance on using USB redirection securely.
V4V
vRealize Operations Desktop Agent
vRealize Operations Desktop Agent. Does not support IPv6 configuration.
This feature allows remote connections to Internet Explorer to use the Client’s IP address instead of this machine’s. Does not support IPv6 configuration.
HybridLogon
Hybrid Logon
Enables Hybrid logon which allows an unauthenticated user access to network resources without the need to enter credentials.
HelpDesk
Help Desk Plugin for Horizon Agent
Help Desk Plugin for Horizon Agent.
RDP
Enable RDP (hidden)
BlastUDP
Core
Core
Core
[ProductName] core functionality
INSTALLDIR
VMWMediaProviderProxy
VMware Virtualization Pack for Skype for Business
This feature will enable optimization for Skype for Business in remote desktop
ClientDriveRedirection
Client Drive Redirection
Allow Horizon View Clients to share local drives with their remote desktops and applications. Does not support IPv6 configuration.
RTAV
Real-Time Audio-Video
Real-Time Audio-Video enables users to redirect locally connected audio and video peripherals back to the remote desktop for use.
FLASHMMR
Flash Redirection
Flash Redirection
GEOREDIR
Geolocation Redirection
Enables redirection of client’s geolocation to the remote desktop
PerfTracker
Horizon Performance Tracker
Enables Horizon Performance Tracker
Horizon Agent 7.x Release MSI Features
If you want to download the spreadsheet version of the table above/below you can find it below. Note there is a bonus within the spreadsheet: MSI Property comparision between Horizon Agent 7.x and Horizon Agent 8.x and two MSI Properties have been removed VDM_FLASH_URL_REDIRECTION and INSTALL_VDIDISPLAY_DRIVER (Part of the Core in 8.x).
Deprecated/Delta Features between 7.x and 8.x/YYMM release
From the table above, we know all the switches of the Horizon Agent 7.x and 8.x versions. Once we compare the above two tables, we are left with the following delta, and I have commented on whether each feature exists or is removed. Please make sure to remove them from your existing scripts or silent installers if you had added them during your Horizon 7.x installs.
Feature (s38)
Title (L64)
Description (L255)
Additional Comments
FlashURLRedirection
Flash URL Redirection
Enables Flash URL Redirection for internal company controlled web pages.
Flash come to EOL in 2020. Feature has been deprecated
SVIAgent
VMware Horizon View Composer Agent
VMware Horizon View Composer Agent RDSH installs: This machine can be used as the parent image for provisioning Automated Farms
VMware Compose was replaced by Instant Clones
ThinPrint
Virtual Printing
Virtual Printer Support
ThinPrint is replaced by VMware Integrated Printing
VPA
VMware Horizon 7 Persona Management
VMware Horizon 7 Persona Management
Persona is replaced by App Volumes or DEM or FSLogic
DeviceBridgeBAS
Device Bridge BAS Plugin
Enables finger scanners supported by BAS system
Feature has been deprecated
CIT
VMware Client IP Transparency
This feature allows remote connections to Internet Explorer to use the Client’s IP address instead of this machine’s. Does not support IPv6 configuration.
Feature has been deprecated
FLASHMMR
Flash Redirection
Flash Redirection
Flash come to EOL in 2020. Feature has been deprecated
Delta or Deprecated feature list after comparing the above two tables
I hope you will find this post useful to perform silent installs on Horizon Agent. My request is if you find any additional delta or enhancements, please make sure to share it back with me.
If you have desktops deployed via Horizon View 6.x/7.x Instant Clones technology it can get very difficult to collect the Horizon View Agent logs from the desktop VM for troubleshooting/analysis purposes. The moment the end-user logs-off from the desktop it gets into the Status = Disconnected –> Deleting.
vCenter Task for log-in and log-off of the desktop
vCenter Task for Deleting –> Customizing –> Available
The above operations happen very quickly. Suppose in our scenario the desktop was failing on the Status=Customizing (View Administrator). The desktops status would change into the Error state and after couple of seconds get into delete will remain in a loop until the desktop becomes available. This is by design as the Instant Clone is trying to re-create the desktop There was no way to capture the logs for analysis or troubleshooting.
Resolution:Now you can disable the recovery of the Instant Clone desktop VM if they are in the Status=Error (Strictly for troubleshooting purposes). This setting can be enabled at Desktop Pool Level
Desktop Pool Setting (disable autorecovery):
Open the Horizon View ADAM – (DC=vdi,dc=vmware,dc=int)
Go to OU=Server Groups – on you right select OU=DesktopPoolName (this is the name of your desktop pool)
Search for pae-RecoveryDisabled and click Edit
Enter Value =1 and click Add – OK
Now whenever your desktop within the Pool will be in Status=Error it will not delete the VM and keep it in the Error state for you to capture the logs and perform troubleshooting. Please revert the changes of this settings once you have finished analysis. I hope these steps would be helpful leave a comment down below
Recent Comments