This post is also available in: Italian

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Probably you have already notice that copy & paste operation in a VMware View session are limited for security reasons and is discussed in the View admin guide:

Configure clipboard redirection

Determines the direction in which clipboard redirection is allowed. You can select one of these values:

  • Enabled client to server only  (That is, allow  copy and paste only from the client system to the View desktop.)
  • Disabled in both directions
  • Enabled in both directions
  • Enabled server to client only (That is, allow  copy and paste only from the View desktop to the client system.)

Clipboard  redirection is implemented as a virtual channel. If virtual channels  are disabled, clipboard redirection does not function. When this setting is disabled or not configured, the default value is “Enabled client to server on”.

So the default behavior is the you can paste the clipboard from you client to your virtual desktop, but not on the other side… Of course clipboard still works usually between client applications and also between virtual desktop applications.

This applies to PCoIP sessions with almost all recent version of VMware View and is, as written previously a security feature implemented on networks channels. It isn’t implemented at VM properties side, like the console protection using some .vmx file options (isolation.tools.copy.disable and isolation.tools.paste.disable).

To manage this security options you have to use AD GPO templates and apply the policies to the virtual desktop objects (note that is a “server side feature” and you cannot control by the client side). The required policy can be found in the pcoip.adm template. It’s called Configure clipboard redirection and, to work, virtual channels must not be disabled (you can read more about View PCoIP General Session Variables on the official guide).

As written by Jason Boche, forcing the GPO updates on the VDI session is not enough. You have to wait for a reboot of the VDI session.

For more information see also:

Share

Virtualization, Cloud and Storage Architect. Tech Field delegate. VMUG IT Co-Founder and board member. VMware VMTN Moderator and vExpert 2010-24. Dell TechCenter Rockstar 2014-15. Microsoft MVP 2014-16. Veeam Vanguard 2015-23. Nutanix NTC 2014-20. Several certifications including: VCDX-DCV, VCP-DCV/DT/Cloud, VCAP-DCA/DCD/CIA/CID/DTA/DTD, MCSA, MCSE, MCITP, CCA, NPP.