Ace Your VMware Horizon 8 Interview with 50 Key Questions: Engineer & Architect Edition

1. What is VMware Horizon View 8, and how does it differ from its predecessors?

A: VMware Horizon View 8, also known as Horizon 8, introduces enhanced cloud connectivity, improved scalability, and more efficient management of virtual desktops and applications. Compared to its predecessors, it offers better integration with modern cloud services, a more streamlined administration experience, and advanced features like Instant Clone Technology and Dynamic Environment Manager.

2. Can you explain the role of Dynamic Environment Manager (DEM) in Horizon 8?

A: DEM in Horizon 8 manages user profiles and settings, providing a personalized and consistent user experience across devices and sessions. It allows for dynamic policy application and smarter profile handling, enhancing user experience and administrative control.

3. How does App Volumes work with Horizon 8?

A: App Volumes delivers applications to users on-demand through virtual disks, allowing for real-time application provisioning and updates without altering the base desktop image. This simplifies application management and enhances flexibility in delivering and updating apps.

4. Describe the process of setting up True SSO in Horizon 8.

A: True SSO in Horizon 8 requires setting up an Enrollment Server, integrating with a Certificate Authority for certificate issuance, and configuring SAML authentication. True SSO enables users to log into their Horizon desktops and applications without re-entering AD credentials, using certificates for authentication.

5. What is Cloud Pod Architecture, and how is it used in Horizon 8?

A: Cloud Pod Architecture (CPA) in Horizon 8 allows for the federation of Horizon Connection Servers across multiple data centers or cloud regions. This enables global entitlements, load balancing, and disaster recovery capabilities, allowing users to access their desktops and applications from any location within the federated environment.

6. How do Instant Clones differ from Linked Clones in Horizon 8?

A: In VMware Horizon 8, Instant Clones are the standard method for provisioning desktops quickly and efficiently. Unlike Linked Clones, which relied on a parent VM snapshot and required a Composer server for management, Instant Clones operate by cloning a running VM, which significantly reduces the time and storage resources needed to deploy and update virtual desktops. Instant Clones allow for faster logins and can be updated or recycled without impacting the underlying parent image, making them more flexible and efficient for managing VDI environments. As of Horizon 8, VMware has phased out Linked Clones in favor of Instant Clones, streamlining desktop provisioning and management processes.

7. Explain how Unified Access Gateway (UAG) enhances security in Horizon 8.

A: UAG provides secure remote access to Horizon desktops and applications by proxying connections without exposing the internal network. It supports multiple authentication methods, encrypts traffic, and can be deployed in DMZs, enhancing security for remote access scenarios.

8. What are the benefits of using the Blast Extreme display protocol in Horizon 8?

A: Blast Extreme is optimized for mobile and cloud-based networks, offering improved performance over low-bandwidth and high-latency connections. It supports H.264 hardware encoding, reducing server load, and provides a better user experience on a wide range of devices.

9. How does Horizon 8 support multi-cloud deployments?

A: Horizon 8 supports multi-cloud deployments by allowing administrators to manage virtual desktops and applications across on-premises data centers and various public clouds, including VMware Cloud on AWS and VMware Cloud on Azure, from a single console. This flexibility enhances business continuity, disaster recovery, and scalability by leveraging the strengths of different cloud providers to meet diverse organizational requirements.

10. Describe a scenario where you would use the Horizon Help Desk Tool.

A: The Horizon Help Desk Tool is used for real-time monitoring and troubleshooting of user sessions. In scenarios where a user experiences performance issues or cannot access their desktop, the Help Desk Tool allows administrators to view session details, such as connection health, active policies, and resource usage, to quickly diagnose and resolve the issue.

11. How do you optimize a Windows 10 image for use in a VDI environment with Horizon 8?

A: Optimizing a Windows 10 image involves removing unnecessary applications and services, disabling system tasks and features that are not needed in a VDI context, and applying performance tweaks such as optimizing the paging file and system visuals. VMware provides optimization tools and guidelines to assist with this process.

12. Can you explain the significance of Workspace ONE integration with Horizon 8?

A: Workspace ONE integration with Horizon 8 allows for a unified digital workspace, enabling seamless access to virtual desktops, applications, and mobile services through single sign-on (SSO). This integration enhances user experience, simplifies access management, and supports comprehensive endpoint management.

13. What strategies can be employed to ensure high availability in a Horizon 8 environment?

A: Ensuring high availability involves deploying multiple Connection Servers in a cluster, using load balancers, and implementing redundant network paths and storage. Additionally, leveraging Cloud Pod Architecture can provide fail-over capabilities across data centers.

14. How does Horizon 8 facilitate remote work and BYOD policies?

A: Horizon 8 facilitates remote work and BYOD by providing secure, remote access to corporate desktops and applications from any device, anywhere. Features like UAG, Blast Extreme, and integration with Workspace ONE enhance security and user experience, supporting diverse device policies.

15. Describe the process for migrating from Horizon 7 to Horizon 8.

A: Migrating from Horizon 7 to Horizon 8 involves a structured approach to ensure a smooth upgrade with minimal downtime:

1. Preparation: Assess your current Horizon 7 setup for compatibility with Horizon 8. Review VMware's documentation for new requirements.
2. Backup: Ensure all configurations, including Connection Server settings and databases, are backed up.
3. Upgrade Order:Upgrade Connection Servers: Begin with the Connection Servers, upgrading replicas before the primary server to update the management and brokering system.Upgrade Unified Access Gateway (UAG): Next, upgrade UAG appliances to maintain secure external access compatibility.Update VMware Tools and Horizon Agent: Upgrade VMware Tools and Horizon Agent on master VMs for full Horizon 8 feature support.Upgrade Additional Components: If using App Volumes, Dynamic Environment Manager (DEM), or other VMware products, upgrade these according to their compatibility with Horizon 8.
4. Testing: After each upgrade, perform tests to ensure functionality, including connection stability, desktop provisioning, and application delivery.
5. Optimization: Adjust configurations to leverage Horizon 8's new features and improvements.

16. How do you manage application updates in App Volumes?

A: In App Volumes, application updates are managed by creating a new AppStack with the updated version of the application, and then assigning it to users or groups. The old AppStack can be unassigned or deleted after ensuring the new version works as expected.

17. Describe the process for configuring SSO in Horizon View 8.

A: SSO in Horizon View 8 is typically configured by integrating with an identity provider using SAML 2.0. This involves setting up a trust relationship between Horizon and the identity provider, configuring SAML authenticators in Horizon Administrator, and ensuring users are directed through the identity provider for authentication.

18. What is the purpose of the Cloud Pod Architecture in Horizon View 8, and how is it configured?

A: Cloud Pod Architecture (CPA) allows for the federation of multiple Horizon pods across data centers or cloud regions to provide a single, large-scale Horizon deployment. It's configured through the Horizon Console by joining Connection Servers to a pod federation, setting up global entitlements, and configuring site and pod assignments.

19. How does Horizon 8 utilize Instant Clone Technology, and what are its benefits?

A: Instant Clone Technology in Horizon 8 allows for rapid provisioning of virtual desktops by cloning a running parent VM. Benefits include reduced storage costs, faster desktop provisioning, and the ability to quickly update and deploy desktop images.

20. Explain how DEM integrates with Horizon 8 for user environment management.

A: DEM integrates with Horizon 8 to manage user profiles and settings dynamically. It applies settings and policies based on user context, providing a personalized and consistent experience across sessions and devices without the overhead of traditional roaming profiles.

21. What are the key considerations when deploying Unified Access Gateway (UAG) for Horizon View 8?

A: Key considerations include determining the number of UAG appliances needed based on load, configuring SSL certificates for secure connections, setting up authentication methods, and ensuring proper network routing and firewall rules for secure external access.

22. How can you optimize the performance of a Horizon View 8 environment?

A: Performance can be optimized by using resource allocation policies, optimizing desktop and application images, leveraging load balancing across Connection Servers and UAGs, and monitoring system performance to adjust resources as needed.

23. What strategies are employed for securing a Horizon View 8 deployment?

A: Security strategies for a Horizon View 8 deployment encompass a comprehensive approach to protect both the infrastructure and the virtual desktops. Key strategies include:

• Multi-factor Authentication (MFA): Enhancing user authentication processes to ensure secure access.
• SSL Certificates: Using SSL certificates to secure communications between clients and servers.
• Role-based Access Controls (RBAC): Defining user roles and permissions to limit access to sensitive resources and data.
• Regular Patching and Updates: Keeping Horizon View components and underlying infrastructure up to date to mitigate vulnerabilities.
• VMware NSX Integration: Leveraging NSX for micro-segmentation and advanced network security features to protect data center traffic.
• Local Antivirus Scanning and Exclusions: Implementing antivirus solutions on virtual desktops and RDS hosts, with specific attention to configuring scanning exclusions for Horizon View components and processes. Properly setting exclusions is critical to avoid performance degradation and operational issues, as scanning Horizon View processes and temporary files can interfere with the normal operation of virtual desktops and applications.

24. How do you troubleshoot connection issues in Horizon View 8?

A: Troubleshooting involves checking network connectivity, verifying Connection Server and UAG configurations, reviewing Horizon Client and agent logs, and ensuring authentication services are operational.

25. Can you describe how to use the Horizon Help Desk Tool for user session management?

A: The Horizon Help Desk Tool is used to view and manage user sessions. It provides detailed information on session performance, connected desktops, and active applications, allowing administrators to troubleshoot issues, reset sessions, or send messages to users.

26. What is the role of Workspace ONE with Horizon View 8?

A: Workspace ONE integrates with Horizon View 8 to provide a unified digital workspace, enabling seamless access to virtual desktops, applications, and mobile services through a single portal, enhancing user experience and simplifying access management.

27. How do you implement load balancing for Horizon Connection Servers?

A: Load balancing for Connection Servers is implemented using a third-party load balancer. The load balancer distributes incoming user connections among the Connection Servers, ensuring high availability and even load distribution.

28. Describe the process of setting up a new desktop pool in Horizon View 8.

A: Setting up a new desktop pool involves defining the pool type (automated, manual, RDS), configuring pool settings (provisioning settings, pool size, desktop assignment mode), selecting the VM template or snapshot for desktop creation, and configuring user access settings.

29. How does Horizon 8 support graphics-intensive applications?

A: Horizon 8 supports graphics-intensive applications through virtual GPU (vGPU) solutions from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. These solutions allocate GPU resources to virtual desktops, enabling high-performance graphics rendering.

30. What are the benefits of using the Blast Extreme display protocol?

A: Blast Extreme is designed for mobile and cloud-based deployments, offering low bandwidth consumption, high performance over WAN, and a better user experience across various network conditions and client devices.

31. How do you manage licensing in Horizon View 8?

A: Licensing in Horizon View 8 is managed through the Horizon Console, where licenses can be added, removed, or updated. Horizon licenses are typically based on named users or concurrent connections.

32. What considerations should be made for Horizon View 8 disaster recovery planning?

A: Considerations include replicating critical components (e.g., Connection Servers, UAGs), ensuring desktop and application availability across sites, and implementing data replication and backup strategies for user data and profiles.

33. How can administrators monitor the health and performance of a Horizon View 8 environment?

A: Administrators can use built-in monitoring tools in the Horizon Console, VMware Aria Operations for Horizon (formerly vRealize Operations for Horizon), and third-party monitoring solutions to track system health, and user experience metrics, and identify potential issues.

34. Describe the process for updating an application packaged in an AppStack in App Volumes.

A: Updating an application involves creating a new AppStack with the updated application version, assigning it to users or groups, and optionally unassigning or deleting the old AppStack after verifying the new version functions correctly.

35. How does Horizon 8 facilitate remote work and BYOD policies?

A: Horizon 8 facilitates remote work and BYOD by providing secure, remote access to corporate desktops and applications from any device, anywhere, with features like UAG for secure connectivity and support for a wide range of client devices.

36. Describe a method for automating desktop pool management in Horizon View 8.

A: Desktop pool management can be automated using Horizon PowerCLI cmdlets or REST APIs to create, update, and manage desktop pools, streamlining administrative tasks and enabling integration with other automation tools.

37. How does Horizon 8 handle user authentication and directory services integration?

A: Horizon 8 integrates with Active Directory for user authentication, supporting various authentication methods including smart cards, biometrics, and SSO solutions to ensure secure and flexible access control.

38. What is the significance of using Instant Clone Technology in Horizon View 8?

A: Instant Clone Technology allows for rapid provisioning and customization of desktops without the ongoing dependency on a parent VM after creation, reducing storage costs and enabling quick updates and deployments.

39. How do you configure and manage user environment settings using Dynamic Environment Manager (DEM) in Horizon 8?

A: DEM is configured by setting up a management console, creating Flex configuration files for personalized settings, and applying these settings through Group Policy or directly within the DEM console to manage user environments dynamically.

40. What are the key considerations when deploying Unified Access Gateway (UAG) for Horizon View 8?

A: Key considerations include determining the number of UAG appliances needed based on load, configuring SSL certificates for secure connections, setting up authentication methods, and ensuring proper network routing and firewall rules for secure external access.

41. How can you optimize the performance of a Horizon View 8 environment?

A: Performance can be optimized by using resource allocation policies, optimizing desktop and application images, leveraging load balancing across Connection Servers and UAGs, and monitoring system performance to adjust resources as needed.?

42. What strategies are employed for securing a Horizon View 8 deployment?

Administrators can use built-in monitoring tools in the Horizon Console, VMware Aria Operations for Horizon (formerly vRealize Operations for Horizon), and third-party monitoring solutions to track system health, user experience metrics, and identify potential issues.

43. How do you troubleshoot connection issues in Horizon View 8?

A: Troubleshooting involves checking network connectivity, verifying Connection Server and UAG configurations, reviewing Horizon Client and agent logs, and ensuring authentication services are operational.

44. Can you describe how to use the Horizon Help Desk Tool for user session management?

A: The Horizon Help Desk Tool is used to view and manage user sessions. It provides detailed information on session performance, connected desktops, and active applications, allowing administrators to troubleshoot issues, reset sessions, or send messages to users.

45. What is the role of Workspace ONE with Horizon View 8?

A: Workspace ONE integrates with Horizon View 8 to provide a unified digital workspace, enabling seamless access to virtual desktops, applications, and mobile services through a single portal, enhancing user experience and simplifying access management.

46. How do you implement load balancing for Horizon Connection Servers?

A: Load balancing for Connection Servers is implemented using a third-party load balancer. The load balancer distributes incoming user connections among the Connection Servers, ensuring high availability and even load distribution.

47. Describe the process of setting up a new desktop pool in Horizon View 8.

A: Setting up a new desktop pool involves defining the pool type (automated, manual, RDS), configuring pool settings (provisioning settings, pool size, desktop assignment mode), selecting the VM template or snapshot for desktop creation, and configuring user access settings.

48. How does Horizon 8 support graphics-intensive applications?

A: Horizon 8 supports graphics-intensive applications through virtual GPU (vGPU) solutions from NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel. These solutions allocate GPU resources to virtual desktops, enabling high-performance graphics rendering.

49. What are the benefits of using the Blast Extreme display protocol?

A: Blast Extreme is designed for mobile and cloud-based deployments, offering low bandwidth consumption, high performance over WAN, and a better user experience across various network conditions and client devices.

50. How do you manage licensing in Horizon View 8?

A: Licensing in Horizon View 8 is managed through the Horizon Console, where licenses can be added, removed, or updated. Horizon licenses are typically based on named users or concurrent connections.