VMware Horizon 6 - part 1 install Connection Server

VMware Horizon 6 is a desktop virtualization solution that delivers virtual desktop services. To implement Horizon, several components need to be installed and configured. First step concerns the Connection Server installation.

Previously named VMware View then Horizon View, the new release is now just Horizon 6.

Blog series

VMware Horizon 6 - part 1 install Connection Server
VMware Horizon 6 - part 2 basic configuration
VMware Horizon 6 - part 3 setup RDS Host
VMware Horizon 6 - part 4 install View Composer
VMware Horizon 6 - part 5 setup Linked-Clone Desktop
VMware Horizon 6 - part 6 deploy RDS Desktops
VMware Horizon 6 - part 7 deploy RDS Application Pools
VMware Horizon 6 - part 8 connect View Desktop

Prerequisites

Provision a Windows 2008 R2 or Windows 2012 R2 Server to install Horizon (only with these versions installation will work) and join the domain.

Download Horizon files from VMware site and copy the Connection Server installer (VMware-viewconnectionserver-x86_64-6.0.0-1884746.exe) on the new provisioned server.

Install Connection Server

Double click the VMware-viewconnectionserver-x86_64-6.0.0-1884746.exe file to run the installer.

Click Next to start the setup wizard.

Accept EULA and click Next.

Leave default installation path and click Next.

Select the View Standard Server option since this is the first server installation in the network. Click Next to continue.

Type the password to protect data backups then click Next.

Select Configure Windows Firewall automatically option if the Windows firewall is used.

Specify what AD groups or user (i.e. G_View_Admins) will have access to View console. Click Next.

Enable this option if you want to share data with VMware. Click Next to continue.

Click Install button to start the installation.

Once the installation starts the progressive bar shows the ongoing status.

When installation completes click Finish to exit the wizard.

To access the Horizon administrator console, open your favorites browser and type the address:

http://server_IP/admin

Because the View console needs Adobe Flash player to run, you need to enable/install the program on the computers you want to access the console from.

From your browser access the admin console and type username and password then click on Login.

Main Horizon View Administrator screen is shown.

A valid license needs to be entered to activate Horizon View. Click Edit license button and type the license received from VMware. Click OK to confirm the license.

Horizon View is now enabled.

Installed the Connection Server, next step of the procedure will cover the basic configuration of the server.