Upgrading from Horizon 2106 to Horizon 2111: A VMware Engineer’s Experience

As a VMware engineer, I recently had the opportunity to upgrade my lab environment from Horizon 2106 (8.3) to Horizon 2111 (8.4). This was an exciting experience for me, as it allowed me to explore the new features and improvements that have been made in the latest version of Horizon. In this blog post, I will share my experience with the upgrade process, highlighting the key steps and considerations that you should keep in mind when upgrading your own environment.

Before Beginning the Upgrade

Before beginning the upgrade, it is essential to ensure that your servers are backed up or snapshots have been taken. This will provide a safety net in case of any issues during the upgrade process. Additionally, I recommend that you read the Horizon 2111 release notes () prior to any upgrades. This will help you understand the new features, improvements, and any potential issues that may arise during the upgrade process.

Upgrading the Connection Server

The first step in upgrading my lab environment was to upgrade the connection server. To begin the upgrade, I clicked on the “Next” button and accepted the terms of the license agreement. I then unticked the box next to “Join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement Program.” Once I had completed these steps, I clicked on the “Next” button again, and the installation began.

The screen status changed a couple of times as the various stages of the installation progressed. After a few minutes, the installation was complete, and I was prompted to click on the “Finish” button.

Upgrading Horizon Agents and Other Items

After completing the upgrade of the connection server, the next step was to upgrade the Horizon agents and any other items that were needed. To do this, I logged back into my connection server and checked the admin console to ensure that no issues were present.

I then upgraded the Horizon agents and any other items that were required. This involved clicking on the “Next” button and following the prompts to complete the upgrade.

Conclusion

Upgrading from Horizon 2106 to Horizon 2111 was a straightforward process that provided me with the opportunity to explore the new features and improvements in the latest version of Horizon. By taking the necessary precautions, such as backing up my servers or taking snapshots, I was able to complete the upgrade without any issues.

I hope that this blog post has provided you with a useful insight into the upgrade process from Horizon 2106 to Horizon 2111. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.