View Composer Server is a VMware Horizon 6 service that enable the management of desktop pools called linked-clone desktops by creating master images that share a common virtual disk.
View Composer can be installed on a dedicated Windows Server or co-located with the vCenter Server.
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
Create ODBC DSN
From the SQL Server, open Microsoft SQL Sever Management Studio, right click Databases item and select New Database.
Enter a Database name then click OK to create the new database.
The new database has been created to be used by View Composer. Grant the access to the DB for the service account used.
From the vCenter Server, access ODBC Data Source Administrator and select System DSN tab. Click Add button to create a New Data Source, select SQL Server Native Client 10.0 driver then click Finish.
Enter a Name, a Description then select the SQL Server to connect to. Click Next.
Select With Integrated Windows authentication option then click Next.
Change the default database to the new one just created then click Next.
Leave default and click Finish.
Now click Test Data Source button to run the connectivity tests. Click OK to exit the wizard.
The new System Data Source has been created. Click OK to continue.
Install View Composer
Copy the installation file to the vCenter Server and run the installer.
Click Next to start the configuration.
Accept the EULA then click Next.
Leave default path and click Next.
Enter the Data Source Name previously created, the username and password entered in the ODBC. In this configuration the Horizon View service account created during the configuration of the View Connection Server. Double check the account has Local Administrator rights in vCenter Server.
Leave default SOAP Port and click Next.
Click Install button to begin installation.
The application is being installed.
When installation completes, click Finish to exit the wizard.
Click Yes to restart the system to apply changes made.
Once server has restarted, go to Start > Administrative Tools > Services and configure the VMware Horizon View Composer service to run with a dedicated account. In this example the Horizon View service account has been used.
Restart the service to apply changes.
Connect Horizon View with Composer
Open VMware Horizon View Administrator and navigate to View Configuration > Servers. Highlight the vCenter Server already configured and click Edit button.
In View Composer Server Settings, click on Edit button.
Since View Composer has been installed in the same server as vCenter, select View Composer co-installed with vCenter Server option. Click Verify Server Information to specify the domain.
A self-signed certificate was used during the installation. Click View Certificate to continue.
Click Accept button to accept the proposed certificate.
Click Add button under Domains and fill the requested fields. Click OK to save entries.
The specified domain is added to the list. Click OK to save changes.
The View Composer Server has been configured. Click OK to finish.
The new icon indicates that both vCenter and View Composer servers have been configured in the system.
Connect the vCenter Server and assign the View Composer privileges required for the vCenter Server user.
View Composer permissions required.
The installation of View Composer is now complete. Next step is the deployment of the Linked-Clone Desktops.
