The Power of VMware Horizon Viewer: Unleashing Remote Access to VMs and Physical Machines

VMware Horizon Viewer is a powerful tool that enables users to access virtual machines (VMs) and physical devices remotely. One of the key benefits of Horizon Viewer is its ability to run on any machine with Windows 10 (circa 4) installed, making it a versatile solution for remote access. In this article, we'll explore the capabilities of VMware Horizon Viewer, including its integration with vCenter and its benefits in terms of remote access to VMs and physical machines.

Running VMware Horizon Viewer without vCenter

While it is possible to run VMware Horizon View without vCenter, doing so can be quite limited. However, this doesn't mean that there are no benefits to running Horizon Viewer without vCenter. For instance, users can power on a desktop VM that has been shut down by the end user. Additionally, the integration between Horizon Viewer and vCenter supports certain processes, such as cloning and configuration of VMs.

Benefits of using vCenter with VMware Horizon Viewer

On the other hand, using vCenter with Horizon Viewer has numerous benefits. One of the most significant advantages is that a vCenter license is included in the Horizon Suite, regardless of the number of licenses or type of license. This means that deploying a Horizon environment without vCenter doesn't make sense.

Graphical Acceleration and Physical GPU Support

Another benefit of using vCenter with Horizon Viewer is its support for graphical acceleration if a physical GPU is present. This feature allows users to take advantage of improved graphics performance when accessing VMs remotely.

Remote Access to Physical Machines

VMware Horizon Viewer is not just limited to providing remote access to VMs; it also enables users to connect to physical machines remotely using Blast Extreme. This feature is particularly useful for IT professionals who need to manage and maintain physical devices remotely.

In conclusion, VMware Horizon Viewer is a powerful tool that offers numerous benefits when used with vCenter. While it is possible to run Horizon View without vCenter, the limitations of this approach make it less desirable. With its support for graphical acceleration, remote access to VMs and physical machines, and inclusion of a vCenter license in the Horizon Suite, VMware Horizon Viewer is an essential tool for anyone looking to streamline their virtual desktop infrastructure.

Vmware horizon viewer