This article will walk you through the steps to access and utilize the Horizon Help Desk Tool in the Horizon Console.
Overview
- Login to the Horizon Console.
- View information about active sessions.
- Initiate Remote Assistance for an active session.
Before You Begin
In order to complete this walkthrough, the following will be required:
- A valid account in the VMware TestDrive environment, sign up here if you don't have one.
- Network access from your device and TCP ports 80, 443, 4172, 8443 and UDP ports 443, 4172, 8443 enabled.
- Ensure you have the latest Horizon Client installed on your local machine.
- Launch two or more VDI or RDSH sessions. See the walkthrough guide Launching Virtual Desktops from Horizon Client.
Launch the Horizon Console
Within one of your VDI sessions, launch the desktop shortcut named Horizon Console.
Horizon Console Login
Enter your TestDrive credentials on the VMWDP domain, then hit Sign in.
Horizon Console Interface
After successful login, you will be presented with the Horizon Console interface.
Access Help Desk Tool
Go to Monitor > Help Desk which will display a page with instructions for using the Help Desk Tool.
User Search
In the User Search field, type in a username that is currently logged in to a VDI or RDSH session. Hit the Enter button on your keyboard and a list of matching username(s) appears. Click on the desired username to choose it.
User Search Sessions Results
A list of active VDI and/or RDSH sessions will appear. The Sessions tab will display some info about active sessions such as hostname of the desktop, connection protocol, and session duration.
User Search Desktops Results
The Desktops shows the pool names and desktop types that have been entitled to the user.
User Applications Entitled
The Applications tab will show the RDSH applications that have been entitled to the user.
Active User Sessions
Go back to the Sessions tab and click the Computer Name of one of the active sessions.
Active User Session Details
The Details of the session will be presented. Here you can see info about the Client that is connected to it, connection protocol, session duration, and VDI performance info.
User Experience Metrics
The info under User Experience Metrics may be helpful when troubleshooting a session that is reported as being slow.
User Processes
The Processes section provides some other info about the VDI session. This may help you determine what is using up the resources in the VDI.
User Applications
Similar to the Processes section, the Applications section also provides some other info about the VDI session, which may also help you determine what is using up the resources in the VDI.
Remote Assistance Button
Back on the Details section, the Horizon Console also provides the ability to manage a session with commands Send Message, Remote Assistance, Restart, Disconnect, Logoff, and Reset. Note that TestDrive users have been provide a Read-Only role for the Horizon Console, so all buttons will be greyed out with the exception of Remote Assistance.
Remote Assistance Invitation File
If there is a separate VDI session, repeat the steps above to bring up the Details of that session and click the Remote Assistance button which will prompt you to download the Remote Assistance Invitation file.
Open Remote Assistance Invitation File
Click on the downloaded file to open it.
Remote Assistance Approval
There will be a prompt in the other user's session, asking them to allow the Remote Assistance. Have the user hit Yes.
Connected Remote Assistance Session
Their desktop session will now be visible to you.
This concludes the Horizon Help Desk Tool walkthrough.
More detailed info on the Horizon Help Desk Tool can be found in the VMware Horizon 8 documentation under the Using Help Desk Tool section.