TestDrive

Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure - Universal Console

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In this quick walkthrough we're going show you how to access and navigate the Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure Universal Console.

Overview

  • From a new incognito or private browser session from you favorite browser (We recommend Chrome), log in to TestDrive Portal.
  • Launch the Horizon Cloud Service from the Digital Workspace section of My Products in the portal.
  • Login to the console and explore the following:
    • Searching for Users and Virtual Machines.
    • Accessing the monitoring dashboard to see status and user activity.
    • Configuring desktop and application assignments.
    • Inventory for applications, virtual machines, and image publishing.

Before You Begin

In order to access the Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure Universal Console please ensure you have the following:

  • A valid account in the VMware TestDrive environment, sign up here if you don't yet have an account.
  • A valid VMware Cloud Services account, sign up here if you don't yet have an account.

Accessing the TestDrive Portal

Open a new Chrome Incognito browser window and navigate to the TestDrive Portal at https://portal.vmtestdrive.com and login with your TestDrive credentials.

Enable VMware Horizon Cloud Service Product Tile

Once you've logged in, select Digital Workspace under My Products. Then scroll down to VMware Horizon Cloud Service and click the Enable Product button.

Enabling Status

Allow a few minutes for the product to be enabled.  During this time, your VMware Cloud Services Console (CSP) Account is being added to the Cloud Services organization for the TestDrive environment.

After a few minutes, you will receive emails from VMware Cloud Services that confirm your roles have been added.

NOTE:  You must have your own VMware Cloud Services account before proceeding with the next steps.  This account is completely separate from your TestDrive account.

If you do not have a VMware Cloud Services account, the email you receive will contain a link named JOIN VMWARE CLOUD SERVICES.  Please follow the link to create your Cloud Services Account OR go to https://console.cloud.vmware.com/ and choose the option "Create Your VMware Account".

Also, your Cloud Services account will be active in the organization for 30 days.  If you receive an email that your account has been removed from the organization and you still need access, you can re-enable your access in the Horizon Cloud product tile, as mentioned in the the previous steps.

Expand Enabled Product Tile

After your Horizon Cloud Access has been enabled, click the product tile to expand it, then click on the Launch button.

On the pop up menu under Horizon Cloud v1 FedRamp, open Universal Console **in a new incognito window or private browser**

You will be directed to the Cloud Services Console.  **Make sure you are using an incognito or private browser session here**.

**(Please refer to the  2 sets of credentials below to complete the login properly)**

VMware Account Login

**Make sure you are using an incognito or private browser session here**.  You will first need to login with a VMware account.  DO NOT use your own My VMware account!

Enter the credentials for the [email protected] account using the password found in the TestDrive Portal > Digital Workspace > Horizon Cloud Service product tile expanded.

Active Directory Login

Next, on the second Horizon Cloud login screen, for Active Directory credentials, enter your own TestDrive credentials, making sure the domain is set to VMWDP

Dashboard

Once logged in you will land on the Dashboard page. The Dashboard displays the current Health status of the deployment, current Utilization, Sessions, and Connection Statistics.

Now, let's look at the Getting Started page, from the left navigation pane click on Settings > Getting Started.

Getting Started Page

This provides a step by step walk-through in setting up the Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure environment. Select the different sections such as Desktop Assignment and Application Assignment in order to see the applicable steps.

Let's try checking out the search and looking up some Users and VMs. Click on the Search here section.

Search and Select User

Ensure Users is selected, then start typing in your username.  Select your username from the results.

User Details

Your user account will display. Check out the different sections showing your Sessions, Assignments, etc.

Close the user details window and click search again, this time select the VMs option and search for a running VM by entering "fed-rds-dt".

VM Search Selection

The resulting VMs will be displayed. Click on one of the VMs.

Select Summary to see the Farm information.

Summary Page Details

The Summary page displays information about the current Farm, such as Preferred Protocol, Image Type, Model, Image, and Farm Size. From the left navigation pane, click on Assign Desktops & Apps.

RDSH Assignments

On the left navigation pane, go to Assign Desktops & Apps > RDSH.  This section lists the current RDSH Desktops and Apps Assignments. Select an Assignment, such as Fed-RDSH-DT, and click Edit.

RDSH Assignment Name

The settings page for the Assignment opens. Take a look at the Assignment Name that can be set, then click Next.

User Assignments

This page shows Users that are available to be entitled to the Assignment by searching Active Directory for Users/User Groups. The current entitlement is listed under the Selected Users/User Groups. Click Cancel.

Applications Assignments

Back on the RDSH Assignments, select an Applications assignment, such as FED-RDSH-APPS and click Edit.

Application Assignment Name

The settings page for the Assignment opens. Take a look at the Assignment Name that can be set. After reviewing it, click Next.

Applications Listing

This page shows the Applications that are available to be entitled and presented to end users. Click Next.

Applications User Assignment

This page shows Users that are available to be entitled to the Assignment by searching Active Directory for Users/User Groups. The current entitlement is listed under the Selected Users/User Groups. Click Cancel.

VDI & App Volumes Page

On the left menu, click on the VDI & App Volumes section.

This Assignments page lists the current VDI desktops and applications.  VDI is a great option when end-users require an isolated desktop to make independent changes on their individual machine, or when sensitive data is being accessed.

Hit the NEW button > Microsoft Azure.

New Desktop Assignment

The settings page for the New Desktop Assignment opens. In the VDI desktop assignment, both dedicated and floating desktops are supported. In the Assignment Name field, enter a desired name, then select the Pod at the bottom and hit the NEXT button.

Desktop Models Selection

Take a look at the desktop Models that can be set, then click CANCEL.

VDI Desktop Assignment

Select the current Win11 Floating Desktop Assignment then hit EDIT.

General Information

You can see the various settings that have been configured for this VDI assignment.

Hit NEXT to see the Desktops section.

Desktops Specs

This page shows more information on the specs of the desktops.

Click Cancel.

Remote Applications

Once you are finished exploring the Assignments section, from the left navigation pane, click on Inventory and then select Applications > Remote tab.

You will see this section auto populated from the Farm used to create the RDS desktops.

New Application

To create a new Application, specifically a Manual Application, select New > Manually from Farm.

New Remote Applications Definition

The New Application window opens. Take a look at the different configuration settings for creating a Manual Application.

Once done, click Cancel.

Images

From the left navigation pane, click on Inventory and then select Images.

The available images in the environment are displayed.

These could be images for RDS Desktop, VDI Desktop, and Application Farms.

End of Walkthrough

This wraps up the Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure Universal Console in TestDrive.

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