VMware Horizon Suite

2017: VMware Horizon Cloud

On February 20, 2017 VMware and IBM announced joint product output of VMware Horizon Cloud — a cloud service of VMware for virtual desktops and applications of the next generation.

The VMware Horizon Cloud service will provide the virtual workstations and applications placed in a cloud of IBM Cloud and locally and to manage them through the certified hyper converged infrastructure that will allow the companies to expand number of use of "working table-as-service" technology (Desktops-as-a-Service, DaaS). VMware Horizon Cloud uses advantages of the latest Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) technology started in the environment of IBM Cloud, it helps to accelerate work of virtual desktop applications for computer simulation (CAD) and automated production (CAM), including AutoCAD.

VMware Horizon Cloud provides multifunction corporate Windows workstations and applications for the enterprises using a cloud or for special cases — for example, involvement of seasonal workers. Allows customers to select the solution from several models of implementation: own hyper converged infrastructure, cloud or their combination. Transactions and management are arranged through the centralized c-plane by a cloud and JMP technology.

Horizon Cloud helps the companies which do not have required examination on virtual workstations and applications to implement modern approach to calculations for end users and to pass to model of operating expenses with the predictable cost of services in a subscription and "pay in an opportunity in process of growth". The companies will be able flexibly to switch between models of implementation and to combine service with infrastructure at their choice within one license for a subscription. Horizon Cloud can be used in combination with VMware Workspace ONE and provide resources, crucial for business, to end users through the protected digital working space.

IBM continues to invest in strategic partnership with VMware and to expand it. Together we provide our clients with solutions of a corporate class. Having started the solution VMware Horizon Cloud in the environment of IBM Cloud, the enterprises can take advantages of virtual desktops and applications without costs and difficulties integrated to management or ownership of the corresponding infrastructure. This service represents a simple and convenient way to a cloud, flexible and cost-efficient. Zane Adam, vice president of IBM Cloud.

2013 - upgraded version

August, 2013: VMware Horizon View Desktop-as-a-Service

At the VMworld 2013 conference (on August 25 - 29, 2013) the VMware company provided new opportunities of the solution VMware Horizon View Desktop-as-a-Service on VMware vCloud Hybrid Service. According to the statement of the company, by the end of 2013 of the organization of any sizes will have an opportunity to deploy the solution Horizon View, using VMware vCloud Hybrid Service. Thereby IT departments receive the general platform by means of which they will be able to transfer jobs and data processing centers to "cloud", using the same tools and processes. New opportunities allow an opportunity to select - to develop desktop-as-a-service on VMware vCloud Hybrid Service independently or with the assistance of service provider.

For August 28, 2013 the updated product Horizon View Desktop-as-a-Service is available according to the vCloud Partners program.

February, 2013

On February 21, 2013 the VMware company announced a release of the updated VMware Horizon Suite platform.

VMware Horizon Suite is the complex platform for the organization of work of end users.

The platform allows users to get data access, to applications and desktop computers from any devices, at the same time without creating threats for information security. Upgraded versions of VMware Horizon View and VMware Horizon Mirage and also the new product VMware Horizon Workspace are a part of VMware Horizon Suite. The new platform will allow IT departments to create a safe and convenient working space for the users working from different devices.

The platform - the complete solution of a corporate class using which it is easy to expand possibilities of staff of the company, to help them to work more effectively.

VMware Horizon Workspace 1.5

On July 25, 2013 the VMware company released upgraded version of the solution VMware Horizon Workspace 1.5 of structure of a packet of VMware Horizon Suite.

VMware Horizon Workspace is a set of virtual modules (Virtual Appliances).

Components

Horizon Workspace consists of 5 key components:

• Configurator Virtual appliance (VA) is the module for solution deployment (setup of components, gateways, certificates).
• Connector VA is the module which is responsible for authentication of users, with integration with services AD (Master relation – slave), VMware Horizon View which is synchronized with pools and the Thinapp components.
• Proxy VA is the return proxy server redirecting requests to the necessary node.
• Management VA is an administration panel, the directory of applications, management of users and the rights, the Workspace groups groups and reports.
• Data VA is a file store, the politician of work of users with these files and also the end user interface.

These components implement three main services:

• Horizon Application Manager is means of consolidation of the SaaS-applications and VDI services in the uniform portal for users (detailed article here).
• Horizon Data (the former Project Octopus is the solution a la corporate Dropbox about which we wrote much here).
• VMware Blast is means of the organization of access to virtual PCs for the Blast protocol via the browser with support of HTML5 technology (in more detail here).

Innovations of VMware Horizon Workspace 1.5

• support of devices on the Android platform is Samsung Galaxy S3, S4 and Droid Razr HD from Motorola.
• on Android devices there are integration tools of VMware Horizon Mobile
• for purpose of access rights mobile applications are supported
• new mechanism of management of politicians, their modeling and distribution.
• support DBMS Oracle.
• 2 separate applications for iOS are had. One for file management (Octopus), and the second for access to applications.
• localization in the French, German, Japanese and Chinese languages.
• performance improvements and bug fixes.

The single unified platform of calculations

VMware View is combined with the technologies developed by VMware from scratch that allows to provide support of mobile means of collective work. Project Octopus, Project AppBlast, Project AppShift, ThinApp®, VMware Horizon Application Manager and VMware Horizon Mobile are a part of the solution. Being the integrated platform, VMware Horizon Suite will transform data warehouses, applications and desktops to the centralized IT services which are easily controlled and provided to end users.

As a part of the solution:

• VMware Horizon Workspace is a new virtual working space

System administrators using VMware Horizon Workspace can select data, the applications and desktops to end users or groups, but not specific devices. Users, in return, can independently provide themselves with corporate applications and services, reducing load of IT department. It will allow IT department to provide without delays necessary data, applications and desktops in the order of any device. Horizon Workspace also allows to add easily new devices, the user accounts or applications without the need for repeated setup of devices or endpoints of access. Besides, centralized operation simplifies implementation and management of politicians of user rights. Thus, the solution will allow to increase security and reliability.

VMware Horizon View 5.2

VMware Horizon View 5.2 will transform traditional personal computers to the centralized IT services provided in a virtual working space, providing complete management and flexibility in work for users, administrators and service staff. The simplified access to remote desktops of Horizon View using any browser with support of HTML 5 will allow users to be connected to virtual computers and applications from any device, without setting the bulky client software.

Support of hardware acceleration 3D - diagrams will give the chance to start the applications saturated with graphics in virtual space. It offers prospects for implementation of such systems as a CAD (automated design engineering system) and ACSP (automated control systems for production), in virtual infrastructure. At last, Horizon View 5.2 in combination with Unity implements the new intuitive interface managed by gestures which ensures convenient functioning on tablet computers in the mobile Windows environment.

New opportunities of VMware Horizon View 5.2

Horizon View 5.2 offers:

• The innovation mode of work with mobile desktop computers: Clients of VMware Horizon View for iOS and Android with technology of virtualization Unity allow to use with ease desktop applications of Windows on mobile devices, transforming them to mobile applications which support management of gestures (scrolling by several fingers, change of scale and other elements of the user interaction), inherent in mobile devices.

• The improved abilities to manage large infrastructures of virtual work places: The increased performance of technology of creation and delivery of a virtual desktop allows to improve management in case of big infrastructure, having cut a set-up time to operation by half and also having lifted hardware and network constraints.

• The increased efficiency of storage and use of data: Use of the rarefied disks SE allowed to cut down storage expenses and administration by reduction of requirements to the power of desktop computers and need of permanent reorganization and recovery of images.

• Support of Windows 8: The flexible support system allows to use the latest operating systems for virtualization of desktop computers.

• Hardware acceleration 3D - diagrams: Ensures functioning of the most exacting applications to graphic performance on virtual computers. Supplements program acceleration of graphics, providing to clients big flexibility and a wide choice to satisfy requirements even of the most exacting users.

• Integration with VMware Horizon Suite: Allows to appoint the ThinApp applications to certain end users and groups in addition to dynamically distributed memory of the virtual machine. Integration with all products VMware Horizon Suite also provides simple authorization of applications and their installation for certain users and groups.

• Integration with VMware Horizon Workspace: Provides access to the Horizon View desktop computers by means of the system of a uniform input from a workplace of the user and also a possibility of convenient access to their virtual desktops from any device via the browsers supporting HTML5 or clients for viewing.

• Advanced services of work with multimedia for support of Corporate Communications (Unified Communications): Now, thanks to support of Microsoft Lync, Horizon View 5.2 provides to clients the bigger choice within the unified environment of communications interacting with solutions of Avaya, Cisco, Mitel and Vidyo.

VMware Horizon View 5.3

On October 18, 2013 the VMware company announced emergence new opportunities in products for end users who expand support of mobile employees.

Changes

In the version of VMware Horizon View 5.3 user interaction is improved, management is optimized and there are possibilities of use of virtual desktops.

• User interaction is improved. Virtual desktops of Horizon View can be applied as replacement of workstations with 3D - graphics. Improvements for the remote desktops delivered using the browsers supporting HTML5 give the chance to play video with higher quality, accelerate reaction to keyboard input and provide high scalability with support to 250 simultaneous connections. Support Windows 8.1, Apple iOS 7 and Google Chromebooks is added to the new version of Horizon View.

• Management is optimized and costs are reduced. The new beta of VMware Virtual SAN for Horizon View allows to reduce significantly a capital expenditure and total ownership cost infrastructure of virtual desktops. VMware vCenter Operations Manager for View included in Horizon Suite gives the chance to increase performance, to conduct operational monitoring of large-scale infrastructure of virtual desktops, to warn beforehand problems and to quickly eliminate faults.

• Support of new delivery patterns of desktops. The new plug-in of Horizon View Agent Direct Connect provides safe remote connection to a virtual desktop even if the server of connections Horizon View is unavailable. It gives more flexible opportunities for the organization of work of remote offices and branches and also deployments of desktops as services (DaaS). Besides, support of Windows Server 2008 R2 as operating system of desktops in Horizon View for deployment of public and private clouds allows to reduce the costs and difficulties connected with a subscription of Microsoft Virtual Desktop Access (VDA).

VMware Horizon Mirage 4

The VMware Horizon Mirage 4 software product is a part of the complex VMware Horizon Suite platform, providing to IT departments all advantages of centralized operation by physical jobs, and to end users — all power of local computing resources.

VMware Horizon Mirage 4 will ensure optimal functioning in a network and standalone mode, reducing at the same time costs for IT and providing automatic control of the desktop computer of services. Horizon Mirage is the solution for multilevel management of images. It separates the computer into several logical layers which owns and either the administrator, or the end user manages. Horizon Mirage 4 gives the chance to manage separate layers, without mentioning the others that helps to support applications and data of users in current status.

Besides, integration with the system of virtualization of the VMware ThinApp applications accelerates formation of application packages, providing smoother migration from one operating system on another and allowing to roll away changes in emergency situations. VMware Horizon Mirage 4 also expands support of virtual environments of Windows on Mac computers and allows to increase performance of users thanks to a free packet of VMware Fusion Professional.

Specific Features

Horizon Mirage 4 offers new ways for accomplishment of critical transactions without physical presence in workplaces and with the minimum downtime of end users. In Horizon Mirage multilevel approach to management of images of Windows is implemented. The computer is separated into several logic levels, some of which the administrator owns and manages, and others — end users.

The product allows system administrators to update the separate levels which are at their disposal, without mentioning those which are selected to end users. It helps to save with inviolability user applications and data even when installing new software, updates and corrections. Horizon Mirage 4 applies all updates directly to Windows, without organizing any hidden and special sections thanks to what computers of end users continue to work as normal Windows PC.

Pictures of the file system of computers of end users (the backup copies which are temporarily stored in data center) together with a multi-tier architecture of Horizon Mirage do by more effective processes of management of images of Windows and their deployment, simplify migration of OS, allow to recover completely jobs in emergencies and to do rollback of a system at emergence of failures in operation of the computer. All this considerably improves IT administration process (both local, and deleted), reduces a downtime and provides the maximum capacity of work of users.

Advantages of VMware Horizon Mirage 4

• Multilevel organization of applications. IT specialists can operate usual each separate application, without interfering on the system levels and levels selected to end users. It allows to save time and to reduce costs for administration of operating systems and applications.

• Virtualization of applications using ThinApp. VMware ThinApp excludes the conflicts between applications and optimizes the procedure of their packaging performed before creation of separate level for each application.

• Implementation of policy of BYO (Bring your own device - bring the device). An opportunity to start on different devices and platforms, such as Mac, corporate identities of Windows OS in virtual environment.

Images of Windows are delivered through Horizon Mirage to VMware Fusion® virtual machines that considerably raises degree of compliance of IT infrastructure to regulatory requirements and helps users to try to obtain higher performance.

VMware Horizon Mirage 4.3

On October 18, 2013 VMware announced new opportunities in the version of VMware Horizon Mirage 4.3.

Horizon Mirage gives enhanced capabilities of transition to Windows 7 and centralized operation via the web console.

New opportunities

• Integrated approach to physical and virtual desktops is implemented. Horizon Mirage in combination with Horizon View gives to IT administrators more flexible opportunities and provides the high performance of management of the mobile and distributed desktops for different user groups in the organization. The integrated solution allows to set and update basic layers and layers of applications for complete cloning of virtual machines in the permanent pools of desktops similar to physical PCs that administrators could update layers on virtual machines, without influencing set by users of the application and data.

• Possibilities of transition to Windows 7 are expanded. Horizon Mirage supports two most popular approaches to transition to Windows 7: local transfer of the operating system and updating of the hardware. The possibility of creation of several layers of applications with a basic layer allows IT administrators to reduce a downtime and to reduce costs and also to accelerate process of deployment of applications on the PC of users.

• Management using the web console is improved. With adding of a new role of Protection Manager there was an opportunity to perform more IT transactions on the console of web management. This role helps to manage mobile and distributed by the PC from one window providing information on the status of centralization of endpoints and errors.

2012: VMware Horizon Suite

On August 29, 2012 at the VMworld 2012 conference the VMware company submitted the alpha of the software package VMware Horizon Suite – the new platform providing a flexible corporate working environment in a cloud to which highly mobile employees can be connected from any device. VMware also showed how the tandem of VMware View and Wanova Mirage allows clients to translate the working computers to cloud computing.

The problem of device management, by applications, data and users therefore the solutions providing transition from device management to the organization of work of the user on a set of devices are necessary for them is assigned to IT departments. VMware submitted the alpha of the software package VMware Horizon Suite, having shown the approach to the organization of a universal working space and providing secure access to end users to applications and data from any device.

VMware Horizon Suite integrates Project Octopus, Project AppBlast, ThinApp, VMware Horizon Application Manager™ and VMware Horizon Mobile™ technologies in really integrated platform of management and access for mobile collective. VMware Horizon Suite provides flexible base which it is unique combines the principles of identifiability, a context and the politician, allowing to separate a personal IT environment from the worker and providing access to necessary data and applications from any personal device.

Thanks to the central web management console VMware Horizon Suite allows IT specialists to include in the directory of services any corporate data and applications. Horizon Suite can distinguish attributes and the circle of the user (the device, location and type of connection) and to provide accomplishment the IT politician of the company for all applications, data and desktops. It allows IT to service to integrate Windows, Android, iOS, web services and the SaaS applications in a uniform working space and provides to end users universal access to applications and data. The alpha of Horizon Suite also gives to users an opportunity for work and data exchange and files on any device.

VMware View and Wanova Mirage: the centralized jobs for mobile employees As the staff of the companies becomes more and more mobile, before IT departments there is a problem of ensuring access to a standard working environment of Windows at any time and from any place. Thanks to recent acquisition of Wanova the VMware company and community of her partners are capable to provide now the centralized solutions on management of a workplace which help the IT companies to transform their existing classical working environment on the Windows platform to "a desktop as service":

• Management of a virtual and physical workplace. Placement of jobs in data center using VMware View gives a set of advantages, including the simplified systems management and applications, the raised security level and control, complete availability and high-speed performance. Wanova Mirage expands possibilities of "cloud" jobs, providing accomplishment of local programs on physical computers and notebooks. Mirage clones images for "termination points" in data center and transfers them to local computers (notebooks and the PC). Clients get all advantages of centralized operation and recovery, saving at the same time an opportunity for work in a standalone mode. These two solutions taken together are capable to satisfy requirements of the organizations with any combination of exit and office employees.
• The View Rapid Desktop program purchases the increasing popularity. Cisco companies, HP, X and Y join the growing ecosystem of OEM, the technology and commercial partners helping with development and sales of the hardware and software systems VMware View. On these simple VDI complexes in deployment it is possible to place from 50 to 1000 virtual work places. Hundreds of jobs become effective less than for an hour that does such structure ideal for small and medium-sized companies (SMB) though it can be scaled also under requirements of larger organizations.
• New solutions of VMware. At the VMworld 2012 VMware conference presented two new solutions which will help IT administrators to develop optimal architecture of a working environment and also will ensure harmonious functioning of the selected components at the fast managed deployment. VMware View Business Process Desktop and Branch Office Desktop were tested in laboratories regarding compatibility and high-speed performance and are supported by architecture, tools and services from VMware and technology partners of VMware. It minimizes randomnesses during the work with infrastructures of virtual PCs.