When You Can Use a Webcam with the Real-Time Audio-Video Feature

If a Horizon administrator has configured the Real-Time Audio-Video feature, you can use a webcam that is built in or connected to the client computer in a remote desktop or published application. You can use the webcam in conferencing applications such as Skype, Webex, or Google Hangouts.

During the setup of an application such as Skype, Webex, or Google Hangouts on a remote desktop, you can select input and output devices from menus in the application.

For published desktops and published applications, Real-Time Audio-Video can redirect only one webcam, and the webcam is named Virtual Webcam in applications. For virtual desktops, Real-Time Audio-Video can redirect more than one webcam, and the redirected webcam name is the actual device name with (VDI) appended, for example, C670i FHD Webcam (VDI). In published applications, a redirected webcam is always named Virtual Webcam in remote sessions.

For many applications, you do not need to select an input device.

When the client computer uses the webcam, the remote session cannot use it at the same time. Also, when the remote session uses the webcam, the client computer cannot use it at the same time.

Important: If you use a USB webcam, do not connect it from the Connect USB Device menu in Omnissa Horizon Client. Doing so routes the device through USB redirection and the performance is not usable for video chat.

If more than one webcam is connected to the client computer, you must configure a preferred webcam to use in remote sessions for published desktops and published applications, and for virtual desktops that do not support multiple webcams.

For more information, see Select a Preferred Webcam or Microphone on a Windows Client System.