Horizon 8 Reviews

We use this solution for virtual desktop infrastructure and remote desktop connections on client sites with 18 clients or end-user devices.

It is stable and easily scalable. 

The remote connection, bandwidth usage, and error connection can be improved. Working with the load balancer sites should also be improved. For example, with Horizon, we can use two clients with a one megabit connection, but with Citrix, we can use four or five clients with the same bandwidth through ICA protocol. VMware must improve remote connection, connection stability, and load balancing.

I have been using this solution for five or six years. 

VMware is stable. We don't need to switch after installation, but for one area, the connection stability is currently lower than other solutions. We tested it, and one connection from the load balancer or the firewall needs to be improved.

It is easily and quickly scalable and expandable. 

We are also Citrix Platinum partners. We are using Citrix solutions and desktop. When we create a project, we give our clients options and considerations between Citrix and VMWare. They choose after that.

For one building or two buildings that are nearby, or one local site, we prefer Horizon Seven. If end users are connected to VDI desktops or other Citrix services or if they are using a load balancer like NetScaler, for coming from outside to the inside of corporate, we are using Citrix VDI because of the ITA protocol.

The initial setup is quick and easy, but after that, you must configure user groups, machine groups, and delivery groups. It also requires some scripting and other tweaks, but the initial setup is easy for VMware Horizon.

The deployment duration depends on the number of users. For example, for 1,000 end users, you need redundancy servers for VMWare Horizon, and you need other servers for connecting to vCenter. Load balancing depends upon the client's sites. For example, for 10 users, I can make a connection locally in 45 minutes to one hour, but for 1,000 end users from different sites, it can take two to four days. If the complexity is high, it can take one month.

In terms of the staff required for deployment and maintenance, it depends on the end users and requirements on the customer site. I can complete installation myself, for example, of up to 100 users on one site. If more sites and more configurations are needs, it is a team job. It depends on the end users and customer expectations.

I would rate VMware Horizon 7 a seven out of ten. If it becomes stronger like the Citrix ICA protocol, it would easily be a ten.

This solution provides centralized management with a digital platform.

It has improved our business because now we can run applications and it's easier for our students to do their exams.

We learned something new and gained experience regarding single digital platforms including how they work, how it is made into a single platform, and technically how the hybrid conversion works.

The most valuable feature is the graphics facilities.

They have tried to create a solution that is similar to Nutanix Citrix. Nutanix Citrix is the leader with this type of solution, a digital single platform. VMware tried to do the same, it's close but in terms of performance and how they manage a single platform, Nutanix Citrix is much better.

In the next release, the performance, the speed, and the price need to be improved.

I have been using this solution for six months.

There are still many unknowns as we have only been working with this solution for a short time. We don't know the level of support and the servers are new to us, but in the six months that we have been running this solution, we have not run into any problems.

At this early stage, we can't determine whether VMware is able to address any issues or not.

We are still new to this solution and have not run into any issues to be able to access the level of support or response time.

To date, I am doing the support with my team with our limited knowledge.

We haven't created any tickets with VMware technical support to resolve any issues.

So far we have been able to resolve the issues immediately.

Previously we were using Microsoft Terminal Server. 

Microsoft Terminal server did not meet our requirements and we didn't achieve our tasks or what we need in education. The new application now, it's reported to have strong backend, and to have a graphic backend to be able to support new applications, like Photoshop, printers, and video. It has graphics facilities.

Terminal Server does not have these facilities.

The VDI with this solution is now supported and it works for us. The challenge is to have a graphical backend and we get this with VMware, which solves the problem.

The deployment model is on the hybrid cloud.

This solution is expensive.

Nutanix Citrix is the best solution in the world. I have attended a seminar and I like it.

Unfortunately, I am not able to purchase it due to finance. Our recruitment office decided to go with Dell, not Nutanix. If the decision was mine to make I would have gone with Nutanix Citrix, not VMware or Dell VMware.

Area 1 Horizon is a product by VMware. It's centralized management with a digital platform.

I would rate this solution a five out of ten, but to be fair, there have been several improvements to this solution. We can work with this solution. We had issues before, but now they have been resolved. Students can do the lessons that are required and write the exams.
We requested the graphics facilities and now they are available and working fine.

Overall, I would say that we can give them a rating of seven out of ten.

In the past, students had to physically go to labs to access software, but now they can access them from any device anywhere, and don’t have to login via VPN because of the security server part of Horizon.

View Persona, it’s been pushed to the wayside because they acquired UEM, and I’d prefer to use it, but have no budget for it. View Persona has less features than UEM, and it doesn’t seem updated, which makes a difference for standard edition users.

It is stable, but it depends on the use case. For us, we use it to allow students to access their desktops anywhere, at anytime. We just use the standard version, not the full enterprise one. We would like to go enterprise, but don’t the have budget for it. But, the standard version has been stable and addressed by support and updates. No issues that would cause us to turn away.

Recently had issue with the 3D application performance with the release of 6.1, and added VGPU support. All we had to do was add hardware (Nvidia K1 cards).

It's responsive, but a few times we had issues with their tech knowledge and troubleshooting steps. We had to escalate the issue and then it was resolved.

It was complex, and many facets on the networking side sit on top of vSphere, with multiple composer engines, and connection servers.

It loses points becuase I can’t take advantage of enterprise stuff. You should do a POC to make sure it fits the use case, three to four month period, and make sure you involve your networking team.

It is a powerful application platform for virtual isolation. 

The application delivery is it's most valuable feature. 

The support team's technicalities and the pricing of the solution need improvement. 

I have been using the solution for three years. 

It is a stable solution. I rate it a seven out of ten.

Horizon is a scalable solution and it depends on the hardware. Around 45 users use the solution.

I have an open ticket with VMware. I rate the support an eight out of ten. 

Positive

Horizon's initial setup is easy. Sometimes I can do the integration myself and sometimes I need an integrator. 

The solution is more expensive in comparison to Citrix but when comparing the technicalities VMware Horizon, is worth the money.

Between Citrix and Horizon, I would recommend Horizon for its management and availability.

I rate the overall solution a nine out of ten. 

Horizon 7's most valuable feature is the unified endpoint management, including the Orchestrator feature that helps those without any programming knowledge.

I've been using VMware Horizon 7 for over four years.

Horizon 7's stability is very impressive.

Horizon 7 is scalable.

VMware's technical support gives wonderful support.

Positive

I previously used Citrix VDI, but Horizon 7 is easier to manage and has GUIs for everything.

The initial setup is simple as there is lots of documentation available to help. However, it may be a little difficult for those with no experience.

I would give Horizon 7 a rating of ten out of ten.

Within my company, there are 50 employees using this solution.

Personally, I prefer Citrix, because you can do a lot of things with Citrix. Still, VMware has a lot of experience in virtualization — they are the pioneers in virtualization. They are both great solutions.

This solution is both stable and it's also very secure, too.

It requires some experience to deploy it, but overall, It's not that difficult.

This solution is expensive. A lot of companies in Mexico find that the price is too high.

Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give VMware Horizon View a rating of ten.

We use VMware Horizon View for remote accessibility of all the legacy apps.

VMware Horizon View is an easy-to-use solution. VMware Horizon View allows us to access and manage any type of client.

The solution’s stability and initial setup could be improved.

I have been using VMware Horizon View for four years.

I rate VMware Horizon View a nine out of ten for stability.

VMware Horizon View is a scalable solution. Around 800 users regularly use the solution in our organization.

VMware Horizon View's technical support is fairly good.

Neutral

We previously used Citrix. We switched to VMware Horizon View because it offered better features.

VMware Horizon View's initial setup is complex and takes several days.

I would recommend an integrator to install VMware Horizon View.

We have seen a return on investment with VMware Horizon View.

VMware Horizon View's licensing cost is not expensive.

You must understand your users before deploying VMware Horizon View.

Overall, I rate VMware Horizon View an eight out of ten.

I've been using Horizon View for almost two years.

Horizon View is stable.

Horizon View is scalable.

VMware's technical support is good.

Horizon View's pricing is high.

I would give Horizon View a rating of seven out of ten.