Tag Archives: Horizon Cloud

Mindmap – Part 2 – Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure (HCoA) – Configuration of Images – Desktops – Farms – Assignments

13 Apr

This post is in continuation of my part 1 – Mindmap – Part 1 – Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure (HCoA) – Quick start guide where we look at pre-requisites and the initial deployment of the HCoA solution. In this post, I want to share my learnings about the configuration of Images, Virtual Desktops, Farms and Assignments. We shall take a look into the following topics:

  • Mind map for Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure – Part 2 – Configuration of Images – Desktops – Farms – Assignments
    • Creating a Virtual Desktop or RDSH Image
      • Import VM
      • Create Image (Converting VM to Image)
    • Farms (Published Applications)
      • Create Desktop Farm
    • Add Applications to the Farms
      • New Applications – Auto-Scan from Farm
    • Create an Application Assignment
    • Create an Assignment for Multi-session or Hosted Shared Desktop
    • Create a Virtual Desktop Assignment (Persistent – Full Clone)
    • Create a Virtual Desktop Assignment (Non-Persistent – Floating)
    • AppStacks

In the second part of this series, the mindmap acts as an visual representation of all the configurations to be performed post the initial deployment of the Horizon Cloud Pod. It also helps during customer discussions and allows everyone to be on the same page. You can figure out in advance the pre-requisites, deployment details, and requirements for performing the next steps in your HCoA journey.

HCoA – Part 2

Disclaimer – This guide is a deployment/configuration guide, and the production settings, configuration, and use-cases might be different. Please make sure you change the settings appropriate for production workloads. Here is the PDF version if you would like to download and zoom in (Don’t stress your eyes!) –

Screenshots from my deployment

Horizon Cloud POD Managers + Unified Access Gateways

Note everything is deployed keeping in mind High availability.

  • 2 x Horizon Cloud Pod Managers
  • 2 x External Unified Access Gateways (Public IP)
  • 2 x Internal Unified Access Gateways (Internal on-premise network)
Azure – Virtual Machines

Azure Load Balancers

  • 1 x Horizon Cloud Pod Managers
  • 1 x Public UAG Appliances
  • 1 x Internal UAG Appliance
Azure – Load Balancers

Azure Virtual Network

I have created the vNet as part of pre-requisites in Part 1 series

  • 1 x Subnet for DMZ (Unified Access Gateway)
  • 1 x Subnet for Mgmt (Pod Managers)
  • 1 x Subnet for Workload (Desktop/Farms)
Azure – vNet

Azure Resource Groups

Note these are auto-created during the Pod deployment.

Azure – Resource Groups

I hope you will find this helpful information on your HCoA journey. Please let me know if I have missed any steps in the mindmap, and I will be happy to update the post.

Thanks,
Aresh Sarkari

Mindmap – Part 1 – Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure (HCoA) – Quick start guide

7 Apr

This will be a two part blog series on VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure (HCoA). My aim is to get you started off the ground on HCoA, and I have a fair understanding of Azure due to my past certifications on AZ-140 and AZ-104(prep). I high recommend acquiring the Azure skills to make your life easier.

In part one, we shall take a look into the following topics:

  • Mind map for Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure – Part 1 – Getting started
    • Getting Started
      • Azure pre-requisites
      • Horizon Cloud Account
    • Configure the Azure Pod
      • Subscription
      • Pod Setup
      • Gateway Settings
    • General Setup
      • Domain Bind
      • Domain Join
      • Administrative Group
      • Universal Broker

The idea here is that the mindmap acts as an excellent visual representation of what to do during the end-2-end cycle of the project. It also helps during customer discussions and allows everyone to be on the same page. You can figure out in advance the pre-requisites, deployment, and requirements for the initial setup.

HCoA – Part 1

Disclaimer – This guide is a get you started guide, and the production settings, configuration and usecases might be different. Please make sure you change the settings appropriate for production workloads. Here is the PDF version if you would like to download and zoom in (Don’t stress your eyes!) –

The useful links to get you quickly started on Horizon Cloud on Azure:

DescriptionLinks
Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure Architecture (Techzone)Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure Architecture | VMware
Evaluation Guide for VMware Horizon Cloud Service on Microsoft Azure (Techzone)https://techzone.vmware.com/quick-start-tutorial-vmware-horizon-cloud-service-microsoft-azure
Horizon Cloud on Azure Evaluation YouTube playlist – Awesome stuff by Caroline Arakelian(14) VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure: Deploying a Cloud Manager–Based Pod – YouTube
Our local Oz hero – Shane Fowler – 0 to hero on HCoAFrom Zero to Hero: A Step by Step Guide How To Deploy Horizon Cloud Service on Azure – YouTube
Horizon Cloud on Azure Cost CalculatorPathfinder (vmware.com)

I hope you will find this helpful information on your HCoA journey. Please let me know if I have missed any steps in the mindmap or reference links, and I will be happy to update the post.

Thanks,
Aresh Sarkari