Reading Time: 4 minutes

VMware Horizon version 7.8 was released on March 2019, with a lot of new features, and now VMware has just released the new version of VMware Horizon 7: version 7.9, and of course the new other components, like ew Horizon Client 5.1.

VMware Horizon 7.9 provides the several new features and enhancements in different infrastructural components as well described in the product release notes.

The VMware Horizon 7 version 7.9 release includes many new features and enhancements to Horizon Connection Server and Horizon Agent including continuing to build on the feature parity of Horizon Console, the HTML5-based web console that will eventually replace Horizon Administrator.

Yes… an HTML5 UI, finally also on Horizon that was still one piece of VMware’s software using a Flash based client. Of course the new UI is not yet fully ready, but it’s an important step.

For example, see the new UI in action during desktop application publishing:

New hardware it’s also supported, for example, NVIDIA Tesla T4 GPUs are now validated and supported with Horizon 7 across Windows 10 VDI, Windows Server 2016 and 2019. Blast Extreme can offload H.264, H.265, and graphics to the T4 GPUs.

NVIDIA T4

For more information see also: 3D Graphics like never before with VMware Horizon and NVIDIA T4 GPUs.

Definitely VDI is not dead, and maybe 2019 it’s not the year of VDI… just because each year is an important year for VDI and EUC.

It’s very easy upgrade to Horizon 7.9, if you aready have a 7.x version (I’ve tested from 7.4 and was quite fast and simple). Just follow the Upgrade Guide.

Check also the product interoperability, but for vSphere (and vSAN), usually you have to upgrade Horizon first.

OS support (Connection Server and Composer)

The Connection Server and the Composer components are still based on Windows Server and there are no rumors of a possible appliance version.

Windows Server 2016 support was added with Horizon Connection Server 7.1 and newer.

Windows Server 2019 support was added with Horizon Connection Server 7.8 and newer.

There is a great guide on how install and configure the VMware Horizon 7.9 Connection Server.

OS support (Horizon Agent)

There is an upgrade article with all the OS supported in the virtual desktop: VMware KB 2149393 Supported versions of Windows 10 on Horizon Agent Including All VDI Clones (Full Clones, Instant Clones, and Linked Clones on Horizon 7).

Note that the OS supported are the same of Horizon 7.8:

  • Windows 10 supported: Win 10 1607 LTSB (Enterprise), Win 10 1703 CBB / Semi-Annual Channel (broad deployment) (Enterprise, Professional, Education), Win 10 1709 Semi-Annual Channel (broad deployment) (Enterprise, Professional, Education), Windows 10 1803 Semi-Annual Channel, Windows 10 1809 Semi-Annual Channel, Windows 10 1809 LTSC, Windows 10 1903 SAC
  • Windows 10 not supported: Win 10 1507 LTSB (Enterprise), Win 10 1607 CBB (Enterprise, Professional),
  • Windows 10 not supported (EOL’ed): Win 10 1507 CBB (Enterprise, Professional), Win 10 1511 CBB (Enterprise, Professional)

See also Production Support for VMware Horizon 7.4, 7.3.2, and 7.2 with windows 10 1709 Semi-Annual Channel (SAC) Guest OS.

Horizon 7 version 7.9 supports smart card redirection on Linux desktops running the following distributions:

  • Ubuntu 18.04 and 16.04
  • SLED 12 SP3 and SLES 12 SP3 and SLED 11 SP4

Horizon Client improvements

VMware Horizon Client for Windows makes it easy to access your remote desktops and published applications with the best possible user experience on the Local Area Network (LAN) or across a Wide Area Network (WAN).

  • Support for Windows 10, Windows 8.1, and Windows 7
  • Unmatched performance – The adaptive capabilities of the PCoIP display protocol and the VMware Blast display protocol are optimized to deliver the best user experience, even over low-bandwidth and high-latency connections. Your remote desktops and published applications are fast and responsive, regardless of where you are.
  • Simple connectivity – Horizon Client for Windows is tightly integrated with VMware Horizon 6 and Horizon 7 for simple setup and connectivity.
  • Secure from any location – At your desk or away from the office, your data is delivered securely to you wherever you are. SSL/TLS encryption is always used to protect user credentials, and enhanced certificate checking is performed on the client device. Horizon Client supports optional RADIUS and RSA SecurID authentication. You can also install Horizon Client so that it runs in FIPS mode.
Share

Related Posts

  • VMware Horizon version 7.6

    VMware Horizon version 7.4 was released at the begin of this year, and now VMware has just released the new version of VMware Horizon: version 7.6 has several improvements as documented in the release notes. So a really active year for EUC and VDI. VMware has also…

  • VMware Horizon version 7.4

    VMware has just released the new version of VMware Horizon: version 7.4 has several improvements as documented in the release notes. Some improvements are related to the connection servers: Cloud Pod Architecture The Cloud Pod Architecture feature now supports one-way Active Directory trust domains. Horizon…

  • VMware Horizon Suite

    VMware has announced the new VMware Horizon Suite: the platform for workforce mobility. Core of the VMware's End User Computing (EUC) vision it is based on this point: Transform: Simplify desktops, diverse apps and data into centralized services Broker: Manage & Secure centrally and broker…

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.