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VMware View Client with Local Mode: How it works (2032741)

Purpose

This article describes the inner workings of VMware View with Local Mode.

Resolution

View Client with Local Mode is the VMware solution for offline virtual desktop use. Local Mode is the solution to these use cases:

  • Your users need to disconnect from the network, travel with their laptops, and use their virtual desktops offline

  • You have a bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) program and want to install a corporate virtual desktop on users
 
 

View Client with Local Mode allows the user to check out their virtual desktop to run on their local Windows computer while disconnected from the network. The user accesses their same View virtual desktop whether they are connected to the network or not.

Offline users can synchronize desktop changes back to the datacenter when they return to the network. All existing IT security policies for that virtual desktop continue to be applied and enforced regardless of network connection.

VMware View Client with Local Mode installs a Type 2 Hypervisor on top of the existing Windows operating system on a physical machine. View Client with Local Mode can run on the same Windows XP, Vista, and 7 operating system versions that the standard, connected Windows View Client runs on. Local Mode does not work on zero or thin clients. Local Mode is an optional component of VMware View and is included with View Premier.
 
Installing View Client with Local Mode on the endpoint device
 
A special View Client, Windows View Client with Local Mode, is required to enable this offline virtual desktop feature. After you set up your VMware View deployment, install the View Client with Local Mode on each Windows physical machine that will use the offline virtual desktop. Users can download this client from the View Client Download Center.
 
The View Clients have their own release schedule, separate from VMware View itself, and client release updates are posted on the Download Center. If you set up your own View Portal for client downloads, you can allow your users to download the latest clients.
 
Required: View Transfer Server and a Transfer Server repository
 
If you wish to run endpoint devices in Local Mode, you must install View Transfer Server. View Transfer Server is an optional component of the View Connection Server and is required for check-in, check-out, and replication of desktops that run in Local Mode. The View Transfer Server ensures that a user's offline copy of their desktop is synchronized with the original desktop in the datacenter. When you install the View Connection Server, select the installation option for View Transfer Server.
You also create a network file share as the Transfer Server repository for the View Composer base images for linked-clone desktops run in Local Mode; for example, \\Transfer\ImageRepository.
 
 
The shared storage with the desktop is within vSphere; the View Transfer Server mounts that shared storage.
 
Details on the operation of View Client with Local Mode
 
In order for a user with View Client with Local Mode to request an offline desktop, they must first open their online desktop. View Client requests to the View Connection Server or the View Transfer Server go through the View Security Server if the user is outside the firewall.
 
The following diagram illustrates the request for this online desktop.
 
 
 
  1. View Client with Local Mode requests the opening of its online desktop through View Security Server and View Connection Server, the broker. View Connection Server authenticates the user through Active Directory. Active Directory confirms the user to the View Connection Server. The View Connection Server requests the online desktop from vSphere.

  2. VMware vSphere returns the online desktop to the View Connection Server, which sends it to the View Client through the View Security Server.

To reiterate: The online desktop must be open for the View Client with Local Mode to be able to request the offline desktop.

Notice that the View Transfer Server is not involved when the View Client requests the online desktop.

After the View Client with Local Mode opens the online desktop, the user can request from the menu items a check-out of the offline desktop. The following diagram illustrates the request for a check-out of this offline desktop.
 
 
 
  1. View Client with Local Mode requests a check-out of the offline desktop. This request goes through the View Security Server to the View Connection Server, the broker. The View Connection Server does not need to authenticate the user through Active Directory because the user has already been authenticated and connected to the online desktop. The View Connection Server asks the View Transfer Server to mount the shared storage in vSphere, which contains the desktop. The View Transfer Server goes to vSphere to mount the shared storage directory that contains the desktop.

  2. VMware vSphere sends the address of the shared storage to the View Transfer Server. The View Transfer Server sends that address to the View Connection Server. The View Connection Server sends the address through the View Security Server to the View Client with Local Mode.

  3. The View Client with Local Mode requests the offline desktop by address. This request goes through the View Security Server to the View Transfer Server. The View Connection Server is not involved after the View Client receives the address for the offline desktop. The View Transfer Server goes to the address on shared storage in vSphere to get the offline desktop.

  4. The offline desktop is sent to the View Client through the View Transfer Server and the View Security Server. Again, the View Connection Server is not involved.

After the desktop is sent to the View Client, the View Transfer Server unmounts the directory that contains the desktop.

For more information about View Client with Local Mode, and for a hands-on exercise to give you practice using Local Mode, see the VMware View Evaluators Guide. Search for Local Mode.

See also the Managing Local Desktops chapter of the VMware View Administration guide.

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