Archive for the ‘View Client’ Category
VMware View iPad Client with VGA Out
The View Client for the iPad was released last week by VMware with a huge buzz on all social media platforms. I’ve had the chance to test it in several circumstances and I’m really happy. It works pretty well and the PCoIP performance was always good enough to watch video streams or just work with my virtual desktop hosted at Terremark.. Today I’ve checked the VGA Out option for the first time. This is just awesome! The iPad screen is mirrored on the monitor and gives you the opportunity to give Powerpoint presentations from your virtual desktops running in the datacenter. Unfortunately I’ve no iPad with 3G option what means that I’ve a huge demand for an iPad 2. 
Go and get the VMware View iPad Client now!
Are you owning an iPad? Yes? Ok, go and get the brand new VMware View iPad Client now. It’s available for IOS 4.2 and newer versions in the Apple AppStore.
Here’s the direct link to iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vmware-view-for-ipad/id417993697?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4
Link to the release notes and documentation: http://3url.de/7v
Just noticed. The View Client in the Windows Startmenu
Maybe you’ve already seen it but I just noticed now. If you open the Windows Startmenu and you click on the little arrow on the right side of the View Client option, you can easily access the last used servers and desktops. I really like that!
Unable to connect from the View Client on Windows 7
Some customers have reported issues with the VMware View Client connecting to a Windows 7 Desktop after installing a specific Microsoft Patch. In the VMware Knowledge Base you’ll find the resolution for this issue. Check the article 1034262. The problem occurs after installing one of these Microsoft patches, 2482017 or 2467023.
Booting View 4 Desktops from SSD
Wow! That’s a fast booting Windows desktop. Check it out.
Location based Printing in View 4.5
A great enhancement in VMware View 4.5 is the Location based Printing feature. With Location based Printing you can always print on a network printer, which is located nearest to you. The feature can be enabled via a Microsoft Windows Group Policy option and is computer specific. The functionality is relatively easy. There is a translation table which contains rules e.g. Map printer NP54621 if the client’s IP address is in the range 192.168.178.10-192.168.178.40. If the user logs on from a client device which is in the given IP address range, the network printer will automatically be mapped into the virtual desktop session. This is great for people who often change their workplace as seen in the healthcare or financial areas but there are a lot more good use cases for that.
PCoIP support for the iPad
VMworld TV shows an interview with Warren Ponder, Product Manager at VMware. He and Douglas are talking about the upcoming VMware View Client for iPad. A lot of great features are coming and it will support PCoIP. Check the video.
Kiosk Mode and automated USB redirection
VDI can be used for several use cases including call centres, standard workplaces, high security desktops and much more. With VMware View 4.5 you can also use your virtual desktops for kiosk mode purposes. The most popular kiosk mode use case is a Internet surf station but you could also think about other self service terminals like the ticket machines at the airport. The kiosk mode can be fully automated that it directly connects to the View broker and the desktop when the end users device is turned on. The authentication is done via MAC address verification.
Virtual Printing to the native printer driver in VMware View
Printing in a VMware View environment does almost look like printing on a physical desktop for the user. For example the user works with some office application and wants to print the document on his local connected Canon iP5300 printer. This is an ink jet printer and it does have some special features integrated with the original Canon printer driver. The user does press the print button and wants to set some properties for printing the document.
USB Redirection with RDP
Back in the days of View 3.0 the USB redirection was done over a virtual channel in the RDP protocol. This changed with View 3.1 as of this release there were a second way of USB data transportation added. You can still use the RDP virtual channels and it is used as a fallback if the preferred option, a TCP connection is not available. The TCP connection is listening on port 32111 in the guest. The configuration can be seen in the virtual desktops Windows Registry at HKLM\Software\VMware, Inc.\VMware VDM\Agent\Configuration\Listener. The parameter FRAMEWORKCHANNEL defines the port number which is 32111 as default. Both connections, the virtual channels and also the TCP connection can be tunnelled via the VMware View Security Server. With the USB Redirection you can use USB device filters on a class, hardware ID a specific device basis. The Registry keys for those are:
HKLM\Software\Vmware, Inc.\VMware VDM\USB\ClassFilters
HKLM\Software\Vmware, Inc.\VMware VDM\USB\ HardwareIDFilters
HKLM\Software\Vmware, Inc.\VMware VDM \USB\AllowHardwareIDs
The format of each entry in HEX is: Vid_xxxx&Pid_xxxx -> xxxx. If a device is excluded by the class, you can specifically include it again by the hardware ID. The ClassGUID’s and hardware ID’s ca be found in the machine log file on each client.
To learn more about HID devices with VMware View please check one of my older articles. This article also gives you a quick overview of the USB log file entries.
