VMware

VMware Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM) 2.0
System Requirements & Prerequisites

The following sections describe the hardware requirements for the VDM connection server, supported thin client devices for the VDM client, and supported operating systems for the VDM Connection Server, the VDM Client, and the VDM Agent.

VDM Connection Server

The VDM Connection Server requires the following hardware and software.

Connection Server Hardware Requirements

The VDM Connection Server requires the following hardware:

  • Dedicated physical or virtual server with following specifications for running VDM.
  • As a minimum, a Pentium IV 2.0Ghz processor. Dual processors are recommended.
  • As a minimum 2GB RAM. 3GB RAM is recommended for deployments of 50 or more desktops.
  • A minimum of one 10/100Mbps NIC. 1Gbps NIC is recommended.

For DMZ deployments, VDM requires an additional dedicated server with similar specifications. For more information about DMZ deployments, refer to topic “VDM DMZ Deployment” in the VDM 2.0 Installation and Administration Guide.

For high availability deployments, each VDM Connection Server requires a dedicated server with similar specifications.

NOTE: VDM Connection Server is not supported on servers that have the Windows Terminal Server role installed. Remove the Windows Terminal Server role from any server on which you will be installing VDM Connection Server.

Connection Server Supported Operating Systems

The VDM Connection Server supports the following operating systems (English only):

  • Windows Server 2003 R2 Standard Edition, SP2
  • Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, SP2
  • Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition, SP2
  • Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, SP2

VDM Client

The VDM Client supports the following operating systems and devices:

VDM Client Supported Operating Systems

The VDM Client supports the following operating systems:

  • Windows 2000 Professional, SP4
  • Windows XP Professional, SP1, SP2
  • Windows XP Home, SP2
  • Windows Vista Home
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Ultimate

Supported Thin Client Devices

The VDM Client supports the following thin client devices:

  • Wyse S10 VDI Edition
  • Wyse V10L
  • Wyse V90
  • Wyse V90L
  • Neoware c50 (XPe)

NOTE: For information about configuring Wyse thin client devices, see the VMware tech note.

VDM Web Access

VDM Web Access supports the following operating systems:

  • Windows XP Professional SP1, SP2 (requires IE6 SP1 or higher)
  • Windows XP Home SP2 (requires IE6 SP2 or higher)
  • Windows Vista Home (requires IE7)
  • Windows Vista Home Premium (requires IE7)
  • Windows Vista Business (requires IE7)
  • Windows Vista Ultimate (requires IE7)
  • RHEL 4.0, Update 4 (requires Java JRE 1.5.0 or 1.6.0 and Firefox 1.5 or 2.0)
  • SLES 10 (requires Java JRE 1.5.0 or 1.6.0 and Firefox 1.5 or 2.0)
  • Ubuntu 7.04 (requires Java JRE 1.5.0 or 1.6.0 and Firefox 2.0)
  • Mac OS/X Tiger (experimental, requires Java JRE 1.5.0, RDC 1.0, and Safari)
  • Mac OS/X Panther (experimental, requires Java JRE 1.5.0, RDC 1.0, and Safari)

VDM Agent Virtual Desktop

The VDM Agent supports the following operating systems for virtual desktops:

  • Windows XP Professional, SP2 (32‐bit)
  • Windows Vista Business Edition (32‐bit)
  • Windows Business Ultimate Edition (32‐bit)

VMware Virtual Desktop Manager (VDM) 2.0
Prerequisites

VDM Connection Server has the following prerequisites:

  • VMware Infrastructure 3 (ESX 3.0.1 and above, VirtualCenter 2.0.1 and above) with at least one ESX host and one VirtualCenter instance
  • Servers running VDM Connection Server standard or replica instances that are joined to an Active Directory domain

    NOTE: VDM Connection Server does not make nor require any schema or configuration updates to Active Directory.

  • If you are using VI3 guest customization, Microsoft Sysprep tools installed on your VC Server
  • A customization specification that permits cloned virtual machines to join the AD domain (optional)
  • A valid license key for VDM

The VDM Agent, VDM Client, and VDM Web Access have the following prerequisites:

  • For Windows guest desktops and Windows clients, you must have administrative privileges to install the VDM Client and the VDM Agent.
  • The use of ActiveX controls and Internet Explorer 6 or above are required for Windows client users who access their desktops using VDM Web Access.
  • Web Access using Linux or Mac OS X requires Java JRE version 1.5.0 or 1.6.0.
  • Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection 6.0 recommended (not required)

    It is recommended that you upgrade VDM Client machines to use Microsoft Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) 6.0. This recommendation applies to machines running Windows XP and Windows XPe. Windows 2000 does not support RDC 6.0. Windows Vista comes with RDC 6.0 installed. Download RDC 6.0 here.

  • If connecting to a Windows Vista desktop using a Linux client, you must install the rdesktop remote desktop protocol client version 1.5.0

    After you download rdesktop, follow the instructions in the readme file.

  • VDM Web Access requires that you install the full VDM Client to use the USB redirection feature.
  • If using USB redirection, make sure you install the USB redirection feature when you install the VDM Client.