Add an Image with vSphere Edge

There are two ways to add images to Vsphere. Choose the best method for your needs and ensure all prerequisites are met before proceeding

After you have added and deployed a Horizon Edge for vSphere, you can add and publish an image for the vSphere provider.

You will use the base VM that you prepared as part of the prerequisites to register as an image or create a custom Image. You’ll use this image in the next step for creating a pool.

Methods to Add Images

There are two ways you could use to add images to vSphere:

1. Add an Image to register in vSphere: Use this option to register an image using an existing vSphere VM template or snapshot from your vCenter inventory.

2. Add an Image with Custom VM: Use this option if you have a custom template preparation workflow in vSphere that generates base VMs for imaging.

Prerequisites

Prior to creating the image, create the vSphere Edge deployment and generate a Golden image (base VM).

For information about creating the vSphere Edge, see Add and Deploy a Horizon Edge for vSphere.

For information about creating the Golden image, see Managing Images for vSphere Provider Deployments.

Add an Image with a Basic vSphere template

1. Log in to Horizon Cloud.

2. In the Horizon Universal Console UI, click Images.

3. Click Add and from the drop-down menu, select Horizon Cloud > vSphere.

4. Complete the General Information page and then click Next.

   • Image Name – Enter a name for the image.
   • Description – Enter a description for the image.
   • Markers – Enter a value for the marker (tag) or leave it as default.

5. On the Image Source page, select Basic vSphere template and then click Next.

6. On the Image Details page, complete the Source VM area.

   • vSphere – Select the Edge Gateway where you want to register the image.
   • vCenter – Select the vCenter in the Edge where you want to register the image.
   • GPU Type - Select the GPU type where you want to register the image. Ensure that the selected host is compatible with the chosen GPU type.
   • Pool Type - Select the Pool type either single or multi session where you want to register the image.
   • VM Type - Select Template for creating a full clone pool image and select the vSphere VM Template that you want to use. Select Snapshot for creating an instant clone pool image and select the vSphere VM and Snapshot combination that you want to use.

7. On the Image Details page, complete the Admin Credentials for VM area and then click Add.

   • User Name – Enter the username for the desktop administrator account.
   • Password – Enter the password for the desktop administrator account.
   • Confirm Password – Confirm the password for the desktop administrator account.

Add an Image with a Customized vSphere template

1. Log in to Horizon Cloud.

2. In the Horizon Universal Console UI, click Images.

3. Click Add and from the drop-down menu, select Horizon Cloud > vSphere.

4. Complete the General Information page and then click Next.

   • Image Name – Enter a name for the image.
   • Description – Enter a description for the image.
   • Markers – Enter a value for the marker (tag) or leave it as default.

5. On the Image Source page, select Customized vSphere template and then click Next.

6. On the Image Details page, complete the Source VM area.

   • vSphere - Select the Edge Gateway where you want to register the image.
   • vCenter - Select the vCenter in the Edge where you want to register the image.
   • GPU Type - Select the GPU type where you want to register the image. Ensure that the selected host is compatible with the chosen GPU type.
   • VM Type - Select Template for creating a full clone pool image and select the vSphere VM Template that you want to use. Select Snapshot for creating an instant clone pool image and select the vSphere VM and Snapshot combination that you want to use.

7. On the Image Details page, complete the Admin Credentials for VM area and then click Add.

   • User Name – Enter the username for the desktop administrator account.
   • Password – Enter the password for the desktop administrator account.
   • Confirm Password – Confirm the password for the desktop administrator account.

Replication Storage Requirements

Replication storage is required for the replication of resources across multiple Horizon Edges. This configuration is used to create storage using the details provided by the chosen storage platform. It is also used to store the files which are uploaded from the source which are then used for further processing, such as downloading onto the destination edges.

When managing Horizon 8 images with Image Management Service (IMS) and replicating images to multiple edges, you can use Azure Blob Storage or Network File System (NFS) as the replication storage. Azure Blob Storage supports cloud-based replication, while NFS enables fully on-premises replication without a cloud dependency.

For information about storage replication, see Tenant System Requirements.