Lab 6: Deploying Configuring and Managing Published Applications

Expand or collapse content Introduction to this lab

In this setup Remote Desktop Licensing services has already been deployed and associated Group policy licensing configuration has been completed.
On the gold image the following steps have already been completed:-

  • The gold image already has Windows in Audit Mode
  • VMware Tools is installed

Multiple steps are required to prepare the gold image

  1. Install RDS Host services
  2. Use the OS Optimization tool with the following processes
    • Optimize
    • Generalize
  3. Install the Horizon Agent
  4. Install the Dynamic Environment Manager FlexEngine
  5. Install the App Volumes Agent
  6. Run the OS Optimization tool Finalize process

To start off this Lab

  1. On the ControlCenter server desktop
    • Launch the Chrome browser
    • In the browsers Favorites bar select the vcenter-01a shortcut
  1. In the VMware vSphere login page
  1. Power on the RDS-Master VM
    • Under Hosts & Clusters expand the selections and choose BLRCapacity
      • Expand the inventory
    • Right-click on RDS-Master
      • from the pop-up select Power > Power On
  1. Open a Web Console to the VM
    • To the right, note you are view the RDS-Master details
    • Select the Summary tab
    • Select LAUNCH WEB CONSOLE
Expand or collapse content Part 1. Setting and configuring the Gold Image
Expand or collapse content Task 1. Deploying RDS Host Services
  1. On the RDS-Master server
    • In the Task Bar > Search area
      • Enter server
    • From the pop-up
      • Select Server Manager
  1. In the Server Manager window
    • In the right-corner select Manage
    • From the dropdown select Add Roles and Features
  1. In the Add Roles and Features Wizard
    • Before you Begin page
    • Click Next
  1. Confirm the Installation Type
    • Accept the default of Role-based or feature-based installation
    • Click Next
  1. Select destination server page
    • Accept the default selection of the local server
    • Click Next
  1. Select server roles page
    • Select the checkbox next to Remote Desktop Services
    • Click Next
  1. Select features page
    • Click Next
  1. Remote Desktop Services page
    • Click Next
  1. Select role services page
    • Select the checkbox next to Remote Desktop Session Host
    • Click Add Features in the Add Roles and Features Wizard pop up window
    • Click Next
  1. Confirm installation selections page
    • Select the checkbox next to Restart the Destination server automatically if required
    • Select Yes in the Add Roles and Features Wizard pop up window
    • Click Install
  1. On the RDS-Master
    • Click OK below Other user
    • User name = administrator
    • Click the Submit button

Note at this point no password is required

  1. Once login is complete
    • From the Start Menu > Server Manager
    • Finish the on-screen instruction to complete the role installation and close the window
    • Note: In some cases, the screensize is big, the Close button would be hidden. In that case, zoom out from the chrome browser to see the close button
Expand or collapse content Task 2. Using the OS Optimization tool for Windows Server RDS Desktop and Application Publishing
  1. On the ControlCenter server
    • Using the Chrome browser switch to the vSphere client tab
  1. Take a snapshot of the VM
    • Under Hosts & Clusters select and right- click RDS-Master
    • In the pop-up menu select Snapshots > Take Snapshot....
  1. In the Take snapshot window
    • Enter Pre-OS Optimization for for the Name
    • Uncheck the checkbox next to include virtual machine's memory
    • Click CREATE
  1. On the ControlCenter server
    • Using the Chrome browser switch to the RDS-Master tab
  1. On the RDS-Master desktop
    • Open Start > Run
    • Go to \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software
  1. In the Software folder
    • Open the Horizon > OSOptimization Tools folder
    • Select and right-click OmnissaHorizonOSOptimizationTool-x86_64-xxxx
      • Select Open
  1. Accept the Open File - Security Warning window
    • Click Run
  1. In the Windows OS Optimization Tool for Omnissa Horizon
    • Select the checkbox next to I accept the terms of the agreement
    • Click Next
  1. Analyze using the Windows OS Optimization Tool for Omnissa Horizon
    • Click the Analyze in the bottom right-hand corner
  1. Configure the Common Options settings
    • Click the Common Options button
  1. Configure the Visual Effect (Common Options) settings
    • Select Visual Effect in the side menu bar
    • Select the radio button next to Best performance
  1. Configure the Update (Common Options) settings
    • Select Update in the side menu bar
    • We will leave all options as default
  1. Configure the Background (Common Options) settings
    • Select Background in the side menu bar
    • In the Background settings area
      • Leave the default checkboxes enabled
      • In the color pane select a preferred color
    • Click OK to close the Common Options wizard
  1. Apply the optimizations
    • Click Optimize in the bottom right corner
  1. When the Optimize tasks complete, restart Windows
    • Click the Windows Start button
    • Click on the Power icon
    • Select the option to Restart
    • Once Windows has rebooted, login with
      • Username = administrator
      • Note: There is no password
  1. Open the file share and run the Windows OS Optimization Tool for Omnissa Horizon
    • On the RDS-Master desktop open Start > Run
    • Go to \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software
    • go to the Horizon > OSOptimization folder
    • Launch OmnissaHorizonOSOptimizationTool-x86_64-xxxx
  2. Open the Generalize option
    • Using the Windows OS Optimization Tool for Omnissa Horizon
    • Select Generalize on the menu bar
  1. Edit the the Generalize settings
    • Next to Time Zone select (UTC) Coordinated Universal Time
    • Enter Pa$$w0rd next to Password
    • Select the checkbox next to Automatic Restart
  2. Start the Generalize
    • Click the Generalize button in the the bottom right-corner
    • Note: This image is a clone of a working RDSH pool, so the Generalize pre-check will show as failed.
    • Click OK and restart Windows
  1. Once Windows has rebooted, login with
    • Username = administrator
    • Note: There is no password
Expand or collapse content Task 3. Installing the Horizon Agent

Please read this Omnissa KB related to Agent installation requirements https://kb.omnissa.com/s/article/2118048

  1. On the RDS-Master desktop
    • Open Start > Run
    • Go to \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software
  1. Start the Horizon Agent installer
    • Using File Explorer browse to Horizon > 2503
    • Select and right-click the Horizon-Agent-x86_64-2503-8.14.0-x
    • Select Open
  1. Accept the Open File - Security Warning
    • Click Run
  1. In the Omnissa Horizon Agent deploy wizard
    • On the Welcome to the Installation Wizard for the Omnissa Horizon Agent page
    • Click Next
  1. Confirm the Network protocol configuration
    • Leave the default selection of IPv4
    • Click Next
  1. In the Custom Setup configuration enable the Instant Clone feature
    • Click on the Instant Clone Agent entry
    • From the dropdown
      • Select This feature, and all subfeatures, will be installed on local hard drive
  1. Enable the Horizon Performance Tracker feature
    • Click on the Horizon Performance Tracker entry
    • From the dropdown
      • Select This feature, and all subfeatures, will be installed on local hard drive
    • Select Next
  1. In the Omnissa Horizon Agent deploy wizard
    • On the Ready to Install the program page
    • Select the checkbox next to Automatically restart system on successful completion
    • Click Install

Once the Horizon Agent has completed installation an automatic reboot should occur.

Remain on your RDS-Master session to complete next task

  1. On the RDS-Master login again
    • Username = administrator
    • Leave the password blank
Expand or collapse content Task 4. Deploying the Dynamic Environment Manager FlexEngine in NOAD Mode
  1. In the RDS-Master window
    • In the taskbar click on the Folder icon
  1. Create a folder to store the installer and configuration file
    • In the Quick access bar, select This PC > Local Disk (C:)
      • Right-click in the Local Disk (C:) area (right-hand of screen)
      • From the dropdown select New > Folder
      • In the folder name enter DEM
      • Double-click on the DEM you just created to open it
  1. Open the network share where the installer file is stored.
    • Open Start > Run
    • Go to \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software
  1. Copy the Dynamic Environment Manager installer file
    • Open the DEM > 2503 > Omnissa -DEM-Enterprise-2503-10.15 folder
    • Select and right-click Omnissa Dynamic Environment Manager Enterprise 2503 10.15 x64
    • From the dropdown select Copy
  1. Paste the Dynamic Environment Manager installer file to the C: drive
    • Switch to your DEM folder you created on the C: drive
    • Right-click
    • From the dropdown select Paste
  1. Open the NOADCMD text file
    • Switch back to the Network Share folder \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software\DEM
    • Select and right-click NOADCMD
    • From the dropdown select Open
  1. In the Notepad window, copy the command
    • Using your keyboard,
      • select CTRL+A
      • select CTRL+C
  1. Open a Command Prompt as an Administrator
    • In the Taskbar > Search area enter Command
    • From the pop-up select and right-click the Command Prompt shortcut
    • From the dropdown select Run as Administrator
  1. In the Administrator: Command Prompt window change to the DEM folder
 cd c:\dem
  1. Install the Dynamic Environment Manager
    • Using the Administrator: Command Prompt window paste the copied command
      • Press CTRL+V
      • Press ENTER
  1. Open the InstallDEM text file
    • Switch to your DEM folder you created on the C: drive
    • Select and right-click the InstallDEM file
    • Select Open
  1. In the Notepad window
    • Scroll down to the bottom of the window
    • Note that the Dynamic Environment Manager has installed successfully
Expand or collapse content Task 5. Deploying the App Volumes Agent
  1. Open the file server share
    • On the RDS-Master desktop select and right-click the Start button
      • Select Run
      • Enter \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software
      • Click OK
  1. Start the App Volumes installer
    • Using File Explorer browse to App Volumes > 2503 > Install > Installation
    • Right-click on Setup and select Install
    • Click Run on the Open File -Security Warning
  1. On the Welcome to the App Volumes Installer Setup Wizard page
    • Click Next
  1. On the App Volumes Install Screen
    • Note that App Volumes Agent is the default
    • Click Install
  1. On the Welcome to the App Volumes Agent Setup Wizard page
    • Click Next
  1. On the Deployment Configuration page
    • Select Connect to App Volumes Manager
    • Click Next
  1. On the Server Configuration page
    • App Volumes Manager Address = appvol-01a.techseals.co
    • Leave the default selections for port and certificate validation
    • Click Next
  1. On the Machine Type page
    • Next to Non-persistent or multi-session machines
      • Ensure the check Box is selected (default)
    • Click Next
  1. On the Ready to Install App Volumes Agent page
    • Click Install
  1. When the App Volumes Agent Setup wizard completes
    • Click Finish
  1. Allow the App Volumes Agent Setup to restart Windows
    • Click Yes
  1. On the RDS-Master login again
    • Username = administrator
    • Leave the password blank
Expand or collapse content Task 6. Finalize the RDS Host
  1. On the RDS-Master desktop open the file server share
    • Select and right-click the Start button
    • Select Run
    • Enter \\horizon-01a.techseals.co\software
    • Click OK
    • Browse to the Horizon > OSOptimization folder
  2. Run the OS Optimization Tool
    • Select and right-click OmnissaHorizonOSOptimizationTool-x86_64-xxxx
    • From the dropdown select Open
    • Click Run on the Open File -Security Warning
  1. Select the Finalize option in the Windows OS Optimization Tool for Omnissa Horizon
    • Select Finalize from the menu bar
  1. Deselect jobs to be run (for speeds sake in the lab environment)
    • Uncheck the following options:
    • Native Image Generator (NGEN)
    • Side by side Component Cleanup (DISM)
    • Compact
    • Disk Cleanup
    • Clear system event logs
    • Zero empty disk space
    • Create Local Group Policies
  1. Run the Finalize tasks
    • Click Finalize in the bottom right corner
    • When completed, click OK on the Information dialog that appears
  1. Restart Windows
    • Select and right-click the START button
    • Select Shut down or sign out > Restart
Expand or collapse content Part 2: Setting up an RDS Farm

We will now prepared the RDS server Farm environment for future labs

Expand or collapse content Section 1. Taking a vSphere snapshot
  1. On the ControlCenter server
    • Using the Chrome browser switch to the vSphere client tab
  1. Shut down the RDS-Master VM
    • Under Hosts & Clusters
    • Select and right-click RDS-Master
    • Select Power > Shut Down Guest OS
  1. In the Confirm Guest Shut Down window
    • Click YES
  1. Take a VM snapshot
    • Select and right-click RDS-Master
    • Select Snapshots > Take Snapshot...
  1. In the Take snapshot window
    • For Name enter Production Ready version 1.0
    • For the Description
      • enter VMware tools, Horizon & Dem agents installed
      • enter OS Optimization Complete
      • enter App Volumes agents installed
    • Next to include virtual machine's memory
      • Ensure the check the checkbox is not selected
    • Click CREATE
Expand or collapse content Section 2. Setting up the RDS Farm
  1. Open the Horizon 8 Admin console on your ControlCenter server
    • From the Chrome browser select the Horizon-01A shortcut from the Favorites bar
    • Username = Administrator
    • Password = Pa$$w0rd
    • Click SIGN IN
  1. Start the Add a Farm wizard
    • Expand Inventory
    • Select Farms
    • In the Farms area select ADD
  1. Select the Type of farm
    • Leave the default of Automated Farm
    • Click NEXT
  1. Select the clone type and the vCenter Server to use
    • Leave the default clone type of Instant Clone
    • Note: There is only one vCenter Server in this environment
    • Click NEXT
  1. Confirm the Storage Optimization configuration
    • Accept the defaults
    • Click NEXT
  1. Enter the Identification and Settings
    • Under ID
      • Enter RDSFarm_BLR
  1. Still in the Identification and Settings
    • Under Pre-launch Session Timeout (Applications Only)
      • Select Never
    • Under Empty Session Timeout (Applications Only)
      • Select Immediate
    • Under When Timeout Occurs
      • Select Log Off
    • Under Logoff Disconnected Sessions
      • Select Immediate
    • Under Max Sessions Per RDS Host
      • Select No More Than enter 3
    • Click NEXT
  1. Configure Load Balancing Settings
    • Accept the defaults
    • Click NEXT
  1. Define the Provisioning Settings
    • Under Naming Pattern
      • Enter RDSH-
    • Under Maximum Machines
      • Enter 2
    • Under Minimum Number of Ready (Provisioned) Machines ...
      • Enter 1
    • Click NEXT
  1. In the vCenter Settings, select the golden image to use
    • Click the BROWSE button next to Golden Image in vCenter
    • Select the RDS-Master Golden Image
    • Click SUBMIT
  1. Select the Snapshot to use (still in the vCenter Settings)
    • Click the BROWSE button next to Snapshot
    • Select the snapshot called Production Ready version 1.0
    • Click SUBMIT
  1. Select the VM Folder Location to use (still in the vCenter Settings)
    • Click the BROWSE button next to VM Folder Location
    • Select RegionA01
    • Click SUBMIT
  1. Select the Cluster to use (still in the vCenter Settings)
    • Click the BROWSE button next to Cluster
    • Select the BLRCapacity
    • Click SUBMIT
  1. Select the Resource Pool to use (still in the vCenter Settings)
    • Click the BROWSE button next to Resource Pool
    • Select the BLRCapacity
    • Click SUBMIT
  1. Select the Datastores to use (still in the vCenter Settings)
    • Click the BROWSE button next to Datastores
    • Select the CorpLun-01a
    • Click SUBMIT
    • In the Warning window, click OK
  1. Review the VM Compute Profile Settings
    • Leave the VM Compute Profile Settings as the default values
    • Click NEXT
  1. Configure the Guest Customization
    • AD Container
      • To the right of AD Container select BROWSE
      • In the AD Container window
      • Expand OU=Corp
      • Select OU=Computers,OU=Corp
      • Click SUBMIT
    • Ensure the Use ClonePrep radio button is selected
  1. Continue configuring the Guest Customization area
    • Scroll down
    • Select the checkbox next to Allow Reuse of Existing Computer Accounts
    • Click NEXT
  1. Review the Ready to Complete summary of your input
    • Click SUBMIT
  1. In the Horizon Admin Console
    • Under Farms
    • Select RDSFarm_BLR
  1. Review the Summary information of the Farm
    • You will notice that the Summary tab is the default
    • Scroll down and observe the status of the provisioning of the Farm
  1. Refresh the Summary information for the Farm
    • Scroll UP in the Summary pane for the Farm
    • Click on the REFRESH icon In the top right corner
  1. Use the Summary tab to look at the status
    • Scroll down and observe the status of the provisioning of the Farm
    • Eventually the State will say Published
  1. Review the RDS Hosts status
    • Select the Machines entry from the Inventory section of the left-hand menu
    • Select the RDS Hosts tab
    • Scroll to the right
    • If necessary select the Refresh icon until the Status is Available
Expand or collapse content Part 3: Setting up an application pool
  1. Start the Application Pool wizard
    • On the ControlCenter server using the Horizon Admin console
    • Navigate to and expand Inventory and select Applications
    • Click the Add button under Application Pools
    • Select Add from Installed Applications
  1. In the Select Applications page
    • In the Select installed applications area
      • Select Snipping Tool
    • Select the checkbox in front of Pre-Launch
    • Leave all other settings as default
    • Click NEXT
  1. On the Edit Applications page
    • Leave all configurations as the defaults
    • Click Submit
  1. In the Add Entitlements window
    • Click ADD
  1. Add a group entitlement to the application pool
    • In the row Name/User Name, in the box to the right of Starts with
      • Enter Developers
    • Click FIND
    • Select the checkbox next to Developers
    • Click OK
  1. Close the Add Entitlements window
    • Click OK
  1. In the Application Pools area
    • Note the status of your application Snipping Tool
Expand or collapse content Part 4: Testing RDS published applications
  1. On your ControlCenter server,
    • Select and launch the Omnissa Horizon Client shortcut
    • Double-click on Horizon-01a.techseals.co
  1. In the Horizon Client sign-in window
  1. launch the Snipping Tool application
    • Double-click on the Snipping Tool tile.
    • When done close your Snipping Tool window

You now have launched your first Horizon Published application

This is the end of the lab

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