Horizon Cloud Service Simplifying Horizon 8 SaaS Subscription License Activation: The Horizon 8 Edge-less Experience

[Ramesh V]

Introduction:
Are you ready to take your virtual desktop infrastructure to the next level with VMware Horizon 8? If you're using a SaaS subscription license, you might be wondering about the best way to activate it without the need for Horizon Edge. With the release of Horizon 8 version 2406 and later, VMware has streamlined the activation process, allowing you to connect your deployment to the Horizon Control Plane without the additional step of deploying Horizon Edge. In this blog, we'll walk you through the edge-less license activation process, making it easier than ever to get up and running with your Horizon 8 environment.

Understanding SaaS Subscription Licenses:
Before we dive into the activation process, let's quickly review what SaaS subscription licenses are and why they're beneficial. SaaS stands for Software as a Service, and these licenses offer a flexible way to deploy Horizon 8 components. They're managed by Omnissa and don't require a traditional license key. Instead, they're activated through the Horizon Control Plane, which provides a range of cloud-based services to enhance your virtual desktop experience.

Activating Your SaaS Subscription License:
To activate your SaaS subscription license for Horizon 8 version 2406 or later, follow these simple steps:

1. Access Horizon Console: Log in to your Horizon Console and navigate to Settings > Product Licensing and Usage.

2. Select SaaS Subscription License: From the Activate drop-down menu, choose "SaaS subscription license."

3. Prepare for Activation: Complete the preparation steps listed on the screen. This may include redeeming an email invitation and logging in to the Omnissa Cloud Services portal.

4. Confirm Organisation: Once you've completed the preparation steps, return to the Horizon Console and confirm that you're signed in to the correct organisation in the Horizon Universal Console.

5. Finalise Activation: Click "Next" to proceed to the final stage of license activation. You'll be prompted to open a connection between Horizon 8 and the Horizon Universal Console.

6. Complete Activation: In the Horizon Universal Console, go to the Subscriptions page and click "Activate License" to finalise the process.

Benefits of Edge-less Activation:
By activating your SaaS subscription license without deploying Horizon Edge, you're not only saving time but also simplifying your infrastructure. Organisations can begin utilising Horizon 8 services more quickly since they do not need to wait for the deployment and configuration of Horizon Edge.For environments where deploying Horizon Edge is not feasible or desirable, the edge-less activation ensures that organizations can still take advantage of the benefits of a SaaS subscription license. However, it's important to note that while edge-less activation is convenient, deploying Horizon Edge can still provide additional benefits such as automated license renewal and advanced monitoring features. It's a decision you'll need to weigh based on your organisation's specific needs.

The activation process for a SaaS subscription license in Horizon 8 differs between versions 2312 and earlier and version 2406 and later in the following ways:

Horizon 8 Version 2312 and Earlier:

1. Component Deployment Required: For versions 2312 and earlier, you must deploy either Horizon Edge or the Horizon Cloud Connector virtual appliance to connect your Horizon 8 deployment with the Horizon Control Plane and activate your SaaS subscription license.

2. Control Plane Compatibility: The component you deploy depends on the version of the Horizon Control Plane. For the next-gen Control Plane, you would deploy Horizon Edge, while for the first-gen Control Plane, you would deploy the Horizon Cloud Connector.

3. Bridging with Control Plane: The Horizon Cloud Connector is a required component that bridges your Horizon 8 pods with the Horizon Control Plane first-gen.

Horizon 8 Version 2406 and Later:

1. Optional Horizon Edge Deployment: For versions 2406 and later, you can activate your SaaS subscription license without deploying Horizon Edge. However, it is recommended to deploy Horizon Edge to benefit from the SaaS services provided by the Horizon Control Plane.

2. Simplified Activation: The activation process is more straightforward, allowing you to connect your Horizon 8 deployment to the Horizon Control Plane without the additional step of deploying Horizon Edge, if desired.

3. Automated License Renewal: By deploying Horizon Edge, you gain access to automated license activation and usage monitoring, eliminating the need to reactivate the subscription license every 105 days.

4. Enhanced Features: Deploying Horizon Edge provides additional features and benefits, such as virtual endpoint monitoring with Workspace ONE Intelligence, advanced troubleshooting analytics, and unified brokering with Horizon Cloud Entitlement On-Ramp.

In summary, the primary difference is that for Horizon 8 version 2406 and later, the activation of a SaaS subscription license can be done without deploying Horizon Edge, offering a more flexible and potentially simpler setup process. However, deploying Horizon Edge can still provide valuable services and automation that may be beneficial for many organizations.

Understanding SaaS Subscription License Expiry Behaviour:

A SaaS subscription license for Horizon 8 needs to be renewed every 105 days. If the subscription license is not renewed within this period, the license expires, and Horizon Console is switched to restricted mode.

In restricted mode, the Horizon Connection Server continues to broker desktops and applications to users from existing pools. However, you cannot create new pools or add more machines to existing pools. Additionally, several features become unavailable in Horizon Console, limiting the administrative capabilities for managing the virtual desktop environment.

To bring Horizon Console out of restricted mode, you must reactivate the subscription license by completing the activation steps again. It's important to note that the steps for reactivating a license are identical to the steps for initially activating a license, except for the email redemption step, which is not required for reactivation.

To ensure uninterrupted service and full functionality of your Horizon 8 environment, it's crucial to renew your SaaS subscription license before the 105-day period expires. If you deploy Horizon Edge, you can benefit from automated license renewal, which eliminates the need to manually reactivate the license every 105 days.

Conclusion:
Activating your Horizon 8 SaaS subscription license is now more straightforward than ever, thanks to the edge-less option introduced in version 2406. Whether you choose to deploy Horizon Edge or not, you can rest assured that your virtual desktop environment is supported by the robust capabilities of the Horizon Control Plane. For those looking to keep their infrastructure lean and mean, edge-less activation is a great choice. 

Remember, if you have any questions or need further assistance, the VMware community and support resources are always there to help you along the way. Enabling seamless user experiences across virtual landscapes is more than just technology—it's the art of making complexity invisible.