When you plan to deploy a Horizon Cloud environment using OpenStack (customer deployment or Platform9 Private Cloud Director (PCD)) as your capacity provider, the process begins with deploying a Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge. A Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge defines the connection point between the cloud-managed Horizon Cloud Control Plane and your OpenStack-based infrastructure, where desktop and application workloads run.
Note: Horizon Cloud on OpenStack is currently available in Limited Availability (LA) mode only.
This introductory topic explains the purpose of a Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge deployment, introduces key concepts, and outlines the preparation required before you proceed with the requirements checklist, networking validation, and OpenStack configuration topics that follow.
What a Horizon Cloud on Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge Deployment Provides
Integration with Existing OpenStack Environments - You can use your existing OpenStack infrastructure to deliver virtual desktops and applications through Horizon Cloud while maintaining control over where workloads run.
Centralized Cloud Management - Although compute, storage, and networking resources remain in your OpenStack environment, lifecycle management, monitoring, and orchestration are handled through the Horizon Cloud Control Plane, providing consistent operations and visibility.
Flexible Growth Model - You can start with a single Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge and expand over time by adding additional capacity, supporting multiple clusters, or deploying additional Edges as your environment grows.
Key Concepts
Capacity Provider - For this deployment model, your OpenStack environment acts as the capacity provider that supplies compute, storage, and network resources to the Horizon Edge.
Infrastructure - A Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge relies on a properly prepared OpenStack environment.
Horizon Edge - The Horizon Edge is a virtual appliance deployed into your OpenStack environment. It establishes secure communication with the Horizon Cloud Control Plane and enables cloud-based management, monitoring, and lifecycle operations.
Gateways and Networking - A Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge deployment can include Unified Access Gateway instances to provide secure user access. Network connectivity, routing, firewall rules, load balancing, and required ports and protocols must be planned to ensure reliable communication between components.
Identity and Permissions - Horizon Cloud requires appropriate credentials and permissions to discover resources, deploy Edge components, and perform ongoing management operations.
What to Expect
Before deploying a Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge, be prepared to address the following areas:
A Functional OpenStack Environment - A deployed and operational OpenStack environment that meets the minimum version, feature, and configuration requirements for Horizon Cloud, including required cluster settings and datastore availability.
Permissions and Access - OpenStack accounts and roles with sufficient privileges to allow Horizon Cloud to deploy and manage Edge components, Unified Access Gateways, and desktop workloads.
Plan Your Networking Topology
- Identify Management, Desktop, and Gateway networks.
- Ensure routing and firewall rules allow communication between the Horizon Edge, OpenStack components, identity services, and the Horizon Cloud Control Plane.
- Validate that all required ports and protocols are open for deployment and ongoing operations.
Prepare DNS, Domain, and Identity Services - If your deployment includes domain-joined desktops or single sign-on, verify that Active Directory and DNS services are reachable from the OpenStack environment. This includes preparing domain bind and domain join accounts with the required permissions.
How This Getting Started Section Is Structured
The topics that follow this introduction guide you through the prerequisites required to prepare your environment for deployment, including:
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A requirements checklist for deploying a Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge at Requirements Checklist for Deploying a Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge.
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Network port and protocol requirements for deployment and steady-state operations at Port and Protocol Requirements for Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge.
After you complete these preparatory steps, you can begin the Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Edge deployment workflow that is described in the Using and Managing Horizon Cloud publication at Configuring Resources for Horizon Cloud on OpenStack Provider
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