Install VMware Horizon 6 View Composer ServerMustBeGeek

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View Composer server is an optional component of VMware Horizon 6. It is used to deploy linked clone virtual desktops which can greatly reduce storage costs. The linked clone is based on parent base snapshot of virtual machine. We will use Windows 8 as base OS. You can install View Composer server in same instance where vCenter is installed or you can also install it separately in separate virtual/physical machine. You can install View Composer in Server 2008 R2 or Server 2012 R2. In this post, I will show steps to install VMware Horizon 6 View Composer server.

Hardware requirements of View Composer server are:

Install VMware Horizon 6 View Composer Server

View Composer server requires database server. If you are already running database server for vCenter then you can use same database server for View Composer but you must create new/separate database instance. You can setup Oracle or Microsoft SQL database for View Composer. In our case, dedicated SQL Server 2012 has been installed in Windows Server 2012 R2 already. The View Composer database stores all the information about linked clone virtual desktops deployed by View Composer.

The diagram below shows the scenario we have been working on.

1. Log on to View Composer (vCOMP01) as domain Administrator. Before you start installation of View Composer, you need to setup database server and create ODBC database connection to SQL server. Download View Composer server installation file and start the installation.

2. Run the installer now. Go through the welcome screen and click Next.

3. Accept License Agreement and click Next.

4. Choose installation location. Click Next.

5. Enter the DSN name and ODBC username that we created earlier. Click Next.

6. Review SOAP port and click Next.

7. Verify the installation location and click Install button to begin the installation.

8. After few seconds, the installation will complete. Click Finish and reboot the server.

Now go to View Admin console and add View Composer server. To do so, login to View Admin console. Expand View Configuration from the Inventory pane. Click Edit.

As you can see in the vCenter Server tab, vCenter has already been added. Under the View Composer server settings, click Edit.

Choose Standalone View Composer server option. Type server IP address, username and password. Click verify Server Information.

Accept the certificates. You can always install certificates later. Now you can see the option to add domain. Click Add and add your active directory domain. Click OK two times.