Understanding RDSH Farm Power Management Modes in VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure

These days due to Pandemic, whole world is struggling to support remote workforce. In this case there is Cloud based VDI solution available from VMware which is VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure, in this you can Bring your own Azure Infrastructure and use it for running the workloads for remote workers with the help of Horizon Cloud on Azure. You need Few Subscriptions needed for this setup:

1. Azure Subscription (BYO Subscription)

2. Horizon Cloud on Azure Subscription (Get it from VMware)

3. Windows Licenses (Check Microsoft Website)

In this post, i will discuss about if you have created RDSH Farm in Horizon Cloud on Azure then what are the power management modes available and how these are helping organizations to minimize the cost of running Desktops in the Cloud.

Workflow of Publishing Apps and Desktops in VMware Horizon Cloud on Azure

RDSH Farm is basically the collection of RDS Servers with similar configuration

Power Management Modes

There are three power management modes available in Horizon Cloud on Azure

Low Threshold = This is used to Power off the RDS Server in RDS Farm

High Threshold = This is used to Power on the RDS Server in RDS Farm

Example Scenario

RDS Farm Setting

• Min VMs = 1
• Max VMs = 2
• Session per VM = 20
• Power Management Mode = Optimized Performance

Serveral Users to whom RDS Farm is Assigned

Now as soon as this farm is created it will create 2 RDS VM's upfront, out of these two VMs one will be powered on as Min VMs is one. If Min VMs is Zero, no RDS VM will be powered on

Formula to Calculate Load

Active Sessions on RDS Server / Max Sessions Per VM * 100

When New Server Is Powered On?

In this example i have RDS Server with 12 Sessions and RDS 2 is Powered Off

12/20*100 =  i have 60% load on RDS1, which is beyond optimized performance high threshold. Now RDS 2 will be Powered on and all new sessions will start on RDS 2.

If Both the servers usage is above the high threshold, New session is placed in round robin manner. Server which has less number of active connections will be selected, like in this example RDS2 will be selected.

When Existing Server Is Powered Off?

Now both the Servers usage is below high threshold as number of active sessions are reduced, lease loaded server will be quiesced and no new session will be placed on that server like in this example lease loaded server is RDS 2.

As soon as all the users will logout from RDS 2, RDS 2 will be powered off

This example is based on Optimized Performance mode. You can set any mode out of three modes, the only difference is different thresholds. Now you can notice the benefit of Power Management Modes is servers will be Powered off and Powered on automatically to help you in minimize the cost of running Desktops in cloud.

Source - VMware Whitepaper

VMware Digital Workspace Topology Design Tool - Hidden Gem

The VMware Digital Workspace Topology Tool allows you to create a logical architectural diagram by selecting the Workspace ONE and Horizon components. It generates a diagram that shows the selected networking requirements

How to Use VMware Digital Workspace Topology Design Tool?

1. Open https://techzone.vmware.com/

2. Click on Mastering Horizon 7

3. Click on Architect and Integrate > Launch Digital Workspace Topology Tool

4. Login with your My VMware or Partner Portal Credentials

5. Configure Profile Name > Next

6. Select required Workspace One Products as per your use-case > Next

7. Select required Horizon Products as per your use-case > Submit

8. Here is the Result in the form of 3Diagram with all the network requirements details

VMware Horizon Integration with VMware Workspace ONE

The Unified Catalog capability of Workspace ONE includes integration with VMware Horizon. This enables access to Horizon-based published applications, published desktops, and virtual desktops within the same catalog as device native and SaaS applications. This provides a simple and seamless user experience regardless of the device type or resource needed by the user.

Configuration Steps

Note : Assuming vIDM, UAG and Other Horizon Components are already deployed.

1.  Open Horizon Admin UI > View Configuration > Servers > Connection Server > Edit > Authentication tab > Add SAML Authenticators > Provide vIDM Server name in Metadata URL > Ok

2. Click on OK

3. Click on OK

4. Click on OK

5. Now login to vIDM UI > Catalog > Select Virtual Apps > Add Virtual Apps > Select the Virtual App Source Horizon View On Premises

6. Provide Horizon Connection Server Details and Save this Configuration

7. Click on Refresh and Wait for Completion Status to be updated as Completed

8. After this login to vIDM Console with user account to whom Desktops and Apps are Entitled. Now Open Desktop or App as per your requirement and Desktop and App will be launched.

Unauthenticated access for Published Applications in VMware Horizon

Scenario

Enable Users to access RDSH application without using authentication

Use Case

Popular in healthcare environments or where the application is in Kiosk mode or application has its own security and user management

Benefits

Remove unnecessary double authentication

Simplify User Experience

Requirements

Horizon Connection Server 7.1 or above

Horizon Client Version 4.4 or above

Configuration Workflow

Configuration Steps

Step 1:  Add Users in Horizon for Unauthenticated Access

1. In this example my Active Directory Users Name is User 1

2. Now Connect with Horizon Admin UI and Add Users to Enable Unauthenticated access

Users and Groups > Unauthenticated Access > Add > Search for User 1 > Select User 1 > Click on Next

3. Configure User Alias and Description as Needed > Finish

4.  User is added now

Step 2: Enable Default User for Unauthenticated Access at Connection Server

1. View Configuration > Servers > Connection Server > Select Connection Server > Edit > Authentication Tab > Enable Unauthenticated Access > Select Default User out of multiple unauthenticated users > ok

Step 3: Entitle the Published Applications to Unauthenticated Users

1. Catalog > Select Application Pool > Add Entitlement > Add

2. Select Unauthenticated Access Check Box > Search User  > Find > Select User > Ok

3. Click on OK

Step 4: Enable Unauthenticated Access in Horizon Client

1. Launch Horizon Client > Click on Help Icon > Select Log in anonymously using Unauthenticated Access

2. Double Click on Connection Server > It will start authenticating automatically without prompting for username and password

3. As per Entitlement configuration, entitled apps will be listed in Horizon Client > Double Click on Application to launch it

4. Now application is launched

Automate Actions Execution in VMware vRealize Operations Manager Alerts

If you have Alert Definition, where the recommendation added in the alert has associated action, You can execute these actions either manually from triggered alert or either execute it automatically as soon as alert is triggered. In this post i will discuss how one can configure execution of actions automatically with triggered alert.

Steps:

1. You must have alert definition with recommendation and recommendation must have action associated.

2. Then edit the vROPS Policy

3. Now Enable Automation of Action for this alert definition as described in this screenshot > Save the Policy

Note :- This setting is only available if Alert has Actionable Recommendation

4. Now whenever this alert definition will be triggered actions will be triggered automatically. You can check this from Administration Page > History Tasks