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VMware
Horizon

by Brady Hicks

Copyright 2021, Faulkner Information Services. All Rights Reserved.

Docid: 00021201

Publication Date: 2106

Report Type: PRODUCT

Preview

VMware Horizon 8 offers a VDI (virtual desktop infrastructure) software set
for delivering virtual or remote desktops and applications. Horizon works to streamline desktop management, especially for environments that
feature a large end-user population or a group of users that are geographically
dispersed. License options include Subscription (Universal, Apps Universal,
Subscription, and Apps Subscription); Term (Enterprise Edition); and Perpetual
(Standard, Advanced, Enterprise, Apps Standard, and Apps Advanced). This report takes a detailed look at the Horizon
8 portfolio.

Report Contents:

• Description
• Related Faulkner Reports
• Vendor
• Applications
• Environment
• Support
• Pricing
• Competitors
• Web Links

Description

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VMware's Horizon, which is now available in version 8, offers VDI
(virtual desktop infrastructure) software that "transforms traditional VDI" by providing "simplicity,
flexibility, speed, and scale."

This type of application represents a major paradigm shift from 1990s-era client-server
computing in which Windows ruled the desktop market and end users were constrained
to operate from one device at one location. Virtual desktop computing, on the contrary,
permits end users to function anywhere at any time from a variety of devices.

Vendor

Name: VMware Headquarters 3401 Hillview Ave. Palo Alto, CA 94304 Phone: (877) 486-9273 (650) 427-1000 Fax: (650) 475-5001 Web: http://www.vmware.com/ Type of Vendor: Virtualization Solutions Provider Founded: 1998 Service Areas: Global Stock Symbol: VMW (NYSE), DVMT (NYSE)

Horizon 8 was initially released in August 2020, with its current build,
version 8.2.0.17736878, rolling out in March 2021. Horizon allows organizations
to deliver virtual – or remote – desktops and applications to end users through
a single VDI. The software also offers features for streamlining desktop management
tasks, especially for environments that feature a large end-user population or a
population in which the users are dispersed over a large geographic area. It also
expedites the installation of required or desired desktop updates.

Horizon is designed to provide a more streamlined approach to delivering, protecting,
and managing VDI and apps while also providing support for "anytime, anywhere" access
from virtually any device.

Figure 1 shows Horizon’s "just-in-time" management.

Figure 1. Horizon "Just-in-Time" Management

Source: VMware

Key Features

Key elements of the product set include:

• 
  Unique integration with VMware Technology
  – Including Cloud
  Foundation, for rapid provisioning and hyperconverged infrastructure for
  on-premise or cloud-based deployments.
• 
  Flexible Cloud Deployment Options
  – Deploy and manage desktops
  and apps, on-premise or in the public cloud, delivering up-to-date
  infrastructure with Horizon Control.
• 
  Smart Policies with Streamlined Access
  – Streamlines
  authentication across desktop and app services with True SSO and contextual,
  granular, role-based policies that connect user, device, and location
  information.
• 
  Blast Extreme Performance
  – Delivers secure, workstation-class
  performance, rich 2D and 3D graphics, and an immersive end-user experience
  with Blast Performance and Blast 3D.

Edition Comparison

Horizon is available as a subscription, term, or perpetual offering.

Subscription.
Subscription options include a single,
flexible-entitlement to all Horizon technology, services, and deployment options
(including on-premise, cloud-based, hybrid, and multi-cloud use cases).
Subscription licenses include:

• 
  Horizon Universal
  – Desktop and application delivery for
  on-premises or cloud deployment
• 
  Horizon Apps Universal
  – Application delivery for on-premises or
  cloud deployment
• 
  Horizon Subscription
  – Desktop and application delivery for cloud
  deployment
• 
  Horizon Apps Subscription
  – Application delivery for cloud
  deployment

Term.
Horizon Term Enterprise Edition, meanwhile, offers three-month
and one-year term SKUs based on Horizon Enterprise Edition license entitlement
and production support.

Table 1 offers a detailed comparison of the key Horizon Subscription and Term
editions.

A

complete comparison is available via the VMware Web site.

Perpetual.
Horizon is available in five perpetual editions:

• 
  Horizon Standard Edition
  – Powerful virtual desktop
  infrastructure with a great user experience
• 
  Horizon Advanced Edition
  – Delivery of virtual desktops and
  applications through a unified workspace
• 
  Horizon Enterprise Edition
  – Desktops and applications delivered
  with closed-loop management and automation
• 
  Horizon Apps Standard Edition
  – Powerful application
  virtualization with a great user experience
• 
  Horizon Apps Advanced Edition
  – Powerful application
  virtualization with closed-loop management and automation Horizon is also
  available as part of select Workspace ONE editions

Table 2 offers a detailed comparison of the key Horizon Perpetual editions.

Applications

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VMware's Horizon services are designed for two primary audiences: the enterprise

end-user (providing 24×7 access to an enterprise desktop) and enterprise

IT staffer (remotely delivering and managing enterprise virtual
desktops).

Environment

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Horizon supports Windows and Linux-based operating systems, and is powered by
the VMware Software-Defined Data Center.

Support

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VMware's offers a FAQ and support
resource page via
its Web site. The company's on-premise Horizon support options – which are available
for both one- and three-year terms – include

• Basic Support – Technical support, 12 hours / day, per
  published Business Hours, M-F
• Production Support – Technical support, 24×7

Pricing

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VMware should be contacted for price-related questions by calling (877)
486-9273, or by visiting the

Horizon Product Evaluation Center. A
partner locator utility
is also available.

Competitors

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Competition includes offerings from Microsoft, Amazon, HPE, Citrix, and
Ericom, among others.

Web Links

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• Amazon Web Services:
  https://aws.amazon.com/
• Citrix Systems: http://www.citrix.com/
• Ericom: http://www.ericom.com/
• Hewlett Packard Enterprise:
  
  https://www.hpe.com/us/en/home.html
• Microsoft: http://www.microsoft.com/
• VMware: http://www.vmware.com/

About the Author

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Brady Hicks is an editor with Faulkner Information Services.
He writes about computer and networking hardware, software, communications networks
and equipment, and the Internet.

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