As a seasoned IT professional, I have had the opportunity to work with various virtualization platforms and solutions. One of my clients recently approached me with a unique request: to set up VMware Horizon in a multi-domain/forest environment. While I have experience with virtualization, I haven’t done this specific setup before, so I decided to test it out in my lab first. In this blog post, I will outline the steps I took to achieve this goal and provide some tips and tricks for those who may be facing similar challenges.

Step 1: Microsoft Windows – Setup Two-way Domain/Forest Trust

Before we dive into the VMware Horizon setup, it’s essential to establish a two-way domain/forest trust between the domains. This is necessary because VMware Horizon requires access to both domains to function properly. To set up the trust, follow these steps:

1. Open the Active Directory Users and Computers console on your domain controller.

2. Right-click on the domain you want to trust and select Properties.

3. In the Properties dialog box, click on the Trusts tab.

4. Click on the Add Trust button and select Domain/Forest Trust from the list.

5. Enter the name of the other domain and click Next.

6. Select two-way trust and click Next again.

7. Choose to automatically update the trust and click Finish.

8. Repeat these steps for the second domain, but this time select the other domain as the trusting domain.

Step 2: Microsoft Windows – Copy/Migrate GPO from one domain to another

Next, we need to copy or migrate the Group Policy Objects (GPOs) from one domain to another. This is necessary because VMware Horizon relies on GPOs to enforce policies and settings. To copy/migrate the GPOs, follow these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Editor on your domain controller.

2. Right-click on the GPO you want to migrate and select Edit.

3. In the Group Policy Management Editor, click on the Source tab and select the domain you want to copy the GPO from.

4. Click on the Destination tab and select the other domain you want to migrate the GPO to.

5. Click Copy and wait for the migration to complete.

Step 3: VMware Horizon – Multi Domain/Forest Setup

Now that we have established the two-way domain/forest trust and copied the GPOs, it’s time to set up VMware Horizon in the multi-domain/forest environment. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the VMware Horizon View console on your primary domain controller.

2. Click on the Configuration tab and select the Infrastructure button.

3. In the Infrastructure window, click on the Advanced button and select the Multi-Domain Support option.

4. Select the two domains you want to include in the multi-domain setup and click OK.

5. Repeat these steps for any additional domains you want to include.

6. Once all the domains are selected, click Apply and wait for the changes to take effect.

Tips and Tricks:

* Make sure VLANs, IP subnets, DNS, DHCP scopes, Firewall rules, etc. are properly configured before attempting this setup.

* Test the trust relationship between the domains by trying to access resources in one domain from the other domain.

* Use the VMware Horizon View console to monitor and manage the environment, including users, groups, and policies.

* Be prepared to troubleshoot issues that may arise during the setup process.

In conclusion, setting up VMware Horizon in a multi-domain/forest environment requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined in this blog post and using the tips and tricks provided, you can successfully deploy VMware Horizon across multiple domains and forests. Remember to properly configure VLANs, IP subnets, DNS, DHCP scopes, Firewall rules, etc., to ensure a smooth and successful deployment.