Method 2: AWS WorkSpaces Core Custom Image Import

This method describes importing an Amazon WorkSpaces Core custom image into Omnissa Horizon Cloud.

In this approach, image preparation and customization are performed within Amazon WorkSpaces, and the finalized image is then imported into Horizon Cloud for use with Amazon WorkSpaces Core. This method is appropriate when an image is created and managed in the Amazon WorkSpaces image catalog, rather than originating from a standard Amazon EC2 AMI-based workflow.

Begin You Begin

Before starting this method, complete all required image preparation tasks described in Common Preparation Steps for Image Import.

Workflow Overview

Using the AWS WorkSpaces Core custom image import method involves the following workflow:

• 1 - Import a Windows operating system ISO and create a Workspaces-compatible image
• 2 - Create a custom WorkSpaces bundle from the image
• 3 - Create a WorkSpace from the custom bundle
• 4 - Connect to the WorkSpace and install the Horizon Cloud Agent
• 5 - Create a Workspaces Core custom image from the configured WorkSpace
• 6 - Import the WorkSpaces core custom image into Horizon Cloud

1 - Import a Windows ISO and Create a WorkSpaces Compatible Image

This section describes how AWS converts a Windows installation ISO into a WorkSpaces-compatible image for use with Amazon WorkSpaces Core. The process involves importing a Windows ISO into AWS, converting it into an Amazon Machine Image (AMI), and then creating a WorkSpaces-compatible (BYOL) image that appears in the Amazon Workspaces Image catalog.

Procedure

AWS provides a supported workflow for importing a Windows ISO and creating a WorkSpaces-compatible image. Complete the steps in the following AWS documentation: Introducing an Improved BYOL Image Import Process for Amazon WorkSpaces.

2 - Create a Custom WorkSpaces Bundle

After a Windows image is available in the Amazon Workspaces image catalog, the next step is creating a custom Workspaces bundle. A WorkSpaces bundle is a combination of an operating system, compute type, storage, and software resources. When you launch a WorkSpace, you select a bundle that defines these resources.

In this method, you create a custom bundle from an existing WorkSpaces image so it can be used to provision WorkSpaces that will later be imported into Horizon Cloud. For detailed instructions on creating a custom bundle, see the AWS documentation: Create a custom WorkSpaces image and bundle for WorkSpaces Personal.

Procedure

To create a custom bundle from an existing WorkSpaces image, complete the following steps:

1. From the AWS WorkSpaces Console, navigate to WorkSpaces and select Images.

2. Select the image from which you want to create the bundle.

3. Choose Create bundle.

   

4. Provide a Name and Description for the bundle.

5. Select the appropriate Bundle hardware type.

   

6. Select the appropriate storage configuration under Storage settings.

   

7. Click Create bundle.

8. Verify that the bundle is created successfully by navigating to Bundles and confirming that the status is Available.

   

3 - Create a WorkSpace from a Custom Bundle

This section describes how to create an AWS WorkSpace from a custom WorkSpaces bundle as part of preparing an image for use with Horizon Cloud. An AWS WorkSpace is a cloud-hosted virtual desktop that provides a standardized Windows environment, including operating system, storage, and software configurations, which can later be captured as a reusable image.

After creating a custom Workspaces bundle, you must launch a WorkSpace using that bundle. This WorkSpace is used to install the Horizon Cloud Agent and prepare the environment before the image is converted into a custom WorkSpaces image and imported into Horizon Cloud.

For detailed information, see AWS documentation: Create a WorkSpace in WorkSpaces Personal.

Procedure

To create a WorkSpace from a custom bundle, complete the following steps.

1. Open the AWS WorkSpaces console, navigate to WorkSpaces > Personal, and choose Create WorkSpaces.

   

2. (Optional) Under Onboarding, choose Recommend options to me based on my use case to receive recommendations on the type of WorkSpace to use. You can skip this step if you already know that you want to use personal WorkSpaces.

   

3. Choose Next. Amazon WorkSpaces registers your AD Connector.

4. Under Configure WorkSpace, enter the required configuration details.

   

5. Under Select directory, choose the directory that you created.

   

6. To create a directory, choose Create directory. For detailed information about creating personal directories, see AWS documentation: Register an existing Directory Service directory with WorkSpaces Personal.

7. Select the users from the directory for whom you want to provision personal WorkSpaces:

   1. Choose Create users.
   2. Enter the Username, First name, Last name, and Email.
   3. To add additional users, choose Create additional user and enter their information.

8. (Optional) Under Customization, configure bundle options, root and user volume encryption, and user volume settings for all users or specific users.

9. Choose Create WorkSpaces. When the creation is complete, verify that the WorkSpace status is Available.

4 - RDP to WorkSpace and Configure Horizon Cloud Agent Pairing

This section walks you through the steps required to prepare a WorkSpace for use with Horizon Cloud.

The process includes:

• Installing the Horizon Cloud Agent on the WorkSpace
• Downloading the agent pairing specification from the Horizon Cloud console
• Configuring agent pairing on the WorkSpace

To connect to a WorkSpace using RDP, ensure that RDP access is allowed in the security group associated with the WorkSpace network interface. For detailed information, see AWS documentation: How do I connect to my WorkSpaces Personal with RDP?.

Procedure

To prepare a WorkSpace for use with Horizon Cloud, complete the following steps:

1. Install the Horizon Cloud Agent on the WorkSpace

   1. Launch the newly created WorkSpace and connect to it using RDP.

   2. Download and install the Horizon Cloud Agent on the WorkSpace. Follow the instructions in Install Horizon Agent on a Windows Virtual Machine.

      While downloading the agent, select Omnissa Horizon Service for Horizon Cloud.

      

   3. Reboot the WorkSpace after the installation completes.

   4. After the reboot, reconnect to the WorkSpace using RDP.

2. Download the Agent Pairing Specification from the Horizon Cloud Console

   To obtain the agent pairing spec required for image preparation, follow the steps described in Copy an Agent Pairing Spec for Image Preparation.

3. Configure Agent Pairing on the WorkSpace

   After placing the agent pairing configuration file on the WorkSpace, complete the configuration as described in Prepare to Add an Image with Amazon WorkSpaces Core.

5 - Create an Image from the WorkSpace

This section describes how to create an image from an Amazon WorkSpace where the Horizon cloud Agent is installed and the agent pairing token has already been placed.

Creating an image captures the operating system, installed software, and configuration defined in the custom bundle so the image can be reused for standardized desktop deployments.

Important: The WorkSpace must be in the Available state. The Create image option is enabled only when the WorkSpace status is Available.

Procedure

To create an image from Amazon WorkSpace, complete the following steps.

1. From the AWS WorkSpaces console:

   1. Navigate to Workspaces > Personal.

   2. Select the WorkSpace you created in the previous step.

   3. Choose Actions > Create Image.

      

2. Under Create image, provide the required details:

   • Image name – Enter a unique name for the image.

   • Image description – Enter a description indicating that this is a gold or base image.

     

3. Click Create image.

   The image creation process begins. When complete, the image appears in the Amazon WorkSpaces image catalog.

6 - Import an Image Using an Amazon Workspaces Core Custom Image

This section describes how to import an image that was created in the Amazon Workspaces image catalog into Omnissa Horizon Cloud using the Amazon WorkSpaces Core Custom image option.

This step makes the WorkSpaces image available for use within Horizon Cloud.

Before you begin

Ensure that the following requirements are met:

• A custom image has been successfully created in the Amazon WorkSpaces image catalog.
• You have access to the Horizon Universal Console.
• The image is in an Available state in Amazon WorkSpaces.

Procedure

To import an image using the Amazon WorkSpaces Core Custom Image option, complete the following steps.

1. Log in to the Horizon Universal Console.

2. Navigate to Images.

3. Enter the required General Information for the image.

4. In the Image Source section, select Amazon WorkSpaces Core Custom Image.

   

5. Click Next.

6. Complete the remaining image configuration steps, as required. For detailed configuration options and field descriptions, see the following Horizon Cloud documentation topic: Add and Publish an image with Amazon Workspaces Core.

Next Steps

Add and publish the image in Horizon cloud by following the steps in Add and Publish an image with Amazon Workspaces Core.