Rob Moore - PeerSpot reviewer
Systems Administrator at Saint Tammany Parish Hospital
Real User
Top 5
A solution with an easy setup and provides flexibility to end users
Pros and Cons
  • "We have found the link loans for desktops most valuable."
  • "The customer service and support team could be better."

What is our primary use case?

Our primary use case for the solution is to give end users clone desktops, and they can use their applications. So instead of providing a desktop, we give them a computer with just a client, and everything is loaded in that VDI session and not directly on that workstation. We deploy the solution on-premises.

How has it helped my organization?

The solution has provided flexibility by allowing an end user to remote in, log in, and get their VM. VDI session and have all the icons and applications they need to use and retain the same booking view regardless of location.

What is most valuable?

We have found the link loans for desktops most valuable.

What needs improvement?

The customer service and support team could be better.

Buyer's Guide
VMware Horizon View
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about VMware Horizon View. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
768,886 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using the solution for approximately six years and are currently using version 7.0.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. Approximately 800 users are utilizing the solution in our organization.

How are customer service and support?

I rate customer service and support a six out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We did not previously use other solutions.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward, and two people were required for deployment and maintenance.

What was our ROI?

We have seen a return on investments.

What other advice do I have?

I rate the solution a nine out of ten. The solution is good, but the technical support team can be improved. My advice to new users considering the solution is that it is a good option. It is easy to set up and not that difficult to implement.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
David Pierce - PeerSpot reviewer
Enterprise Architect / Data Solution Architect at Hewlett Packard Enterprise
Real User
Top 10
It simplifies management of remote devices, but support is kind of hit or miss
Pros and Cons
  • "VMware Horizon View is easy to configure and deploy."
  • "VMware support is okay, but sometimes it's a little bit hit or miss trying to get somebody who knows what they're doing and talking about."

What is our primary use case?

Horizon is used to create virtual desktops. It's helpful for people who want to transition from large desktops and laptops to more virtual desktops. More people are working remotely, and that freaks out IT departments when they can't get access to an employee's desktop. We are seeing a lot of demand for virtual desktops for remote working.

How has it helped my organization?

Horizon allows us to sell a solution to customers.

What is most valuable?

VMware Horizon View is easy to configure and deploy.

What needs improvement?

The cost of licenses is always a challenge. I would also like the deployment to be simplified and automated to be more streamlined. It would be helpful for managing. For example, if you are deploying 900, it would be nice to automate the management of groups of 30 or 40 or whatever you're doing. Automation and deployment tools would be good.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've used VMware Horizon View off and on since it was first introduced in 2006. I have been messing around with VMware since early in my career. It's probably been about 18 months since I last did a direct Horizon solution. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Horizon View is pretty stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Horizon View has been scalable enough for everything I've done so far. The last deployment was about 900 users. It was a mixture of office workers and managers.

How are customer service and support?

VMware support is okay, but sometimes it's a little bit hit or miss trying to get somebody who knows what they're doing and talking about.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Our customers switched from more of a traditional laptop or desktop environment where they were maintaining 900 different systems and trying to keep them patched and updated. A VDI is helpful for tracking ransomware or viruses because you can lock down systems more easily when they're centrally controlled.

How was the initial setup?

Setting up Horizon is probably not easy for an inexperienced person. You can't just read the manual and do it. You need some experience to set it up. It's not overly complex, but it also isn't so simple that you could deploy it yourself if you've never done it before.

It took about two or three months because you can't just roll it out. You have to migrate the users in batches. If you're rolling out a thousand users, you can't just turn it on and have at it with a thousand. You deploy 30 and migrate a department and then do another. That's the case with any virtual desktop solution. Rolling it out is always going to be a more gradual process than a big bang all at once overnight.

What was our ROI?

VMware has tools to calculate projected ROI. The customers don't hit that projection, but they get relatively close. Typically the projected return is higher than what customers actually see.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing can be relatively competitive, but sometimes you have to go back to VMware and ask for additional discounts. You can make it competitive If you're prepared to put in the work. The list prices and standard discounts may not be competitive, but if you push hard enough, you can get the price to where you need it to be.

When you deploy the solution, the goal is to reduce normal operating costs by making it easier to keep your devices updated and patched. Obviously, there are hardware costs for running virtual machines, so there are additional costs depending on where you're running it, especially if you're using the standard hybrid cloud. If you use the Horizon Cloud, it's a different pricing model.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate VMware Horizon View seven out of 10. If you want to simplify management and retain control, give it some serious thought. If you're allowing users to work on their own devices, it's necessary. If everybody has their own laptops, you want to use something like Horizon or VDI to manage your corporate applications. It's absolutely essential for that type of environment.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
VMware Horizon View
March 2024
Learn what your peers think about VMware Horizon View. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: March 2024.
768,886 professionals have used our research since 2012.
SyedAbid Hussain - PeerSpot reviewer
Snr. Cloud Infrastructure Architect at LogicEra
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Can be used for various applications, including centralizing business applications and connecting remote offices
Pros and Cons
  • "It is a very stable product."
  • "There is room for improvement in support. The response time could be faster."

What is our primary use case?

In my previous project, we used Horizon to connect three remote offices with the main headquarters for centralized business applications.

What is most valuable?

It's centralized and secure, making it great for business.

What needs improvement?

There is room for improvement in support. The response time could be faster.

Configuration and driver support could be simplified. Integrating profiles with Active Directory [AD] is still complex.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have experience with this product for five to six years. I have worked with v5, v6, v7 and v8.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a very stable product.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We can upgrade it and even add new features. So, it is a scalable product.

How are customer service and support?

There are delays. When you're stuck, they answer the call and find someone, but resolving the issue might take one or two days.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used Citrix in non-production environments. But for production, we prefer VMware.

How was the initial setup?

As a technical expert, it was easy to implement. I have a technical background spanning over 17 years. 

But for someone less experienced, it could be trickier, especially setting up client-side agents and drivers and integrating with AD services. But those issues can be fixed. So, deployment is easy.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The pricing depends on the use cases. It depends on the company's needs and budget. For us, it was okay, not too expensive.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Our company is a vendor for over 200 clients. We specialize in migrating infrastructure, on-prem data centers, Hyper-V, VMware, Boxmark, Citrix, any platform, any server, any application database, Oracle, Postgres, SQL Server, EDS, and anything. We move it all to Azure for replication, backup, and high availability.

What other advice do I have?

Just find the right vendor. Check for local experts and certified vendors. You might need their technical help later.

Local vendors usually have technical guys and certified experts who can help with any scenario. I've dealt with upgrades and daily issues for over six years now.

Overall, I would rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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PeerSpot user
Gurpreet_Singh - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud transformation & migration manager at Accenture company
Real User
Top 10
Very flexible, reliable and user-friendly
Pros and Cons
  • "This product works quickly and is reliable."
  • "Lacks sufficiently robust audio redirections."

What is our primary use case?

The solution is useful for anyone working from home. It enables connection to office workstations and open corporate portals. We can access all files and folders, and collaborate with other team members. I'm a company manager. 

What is most valuable?

This product works quickly and is reliable. You feel like you're working on your own desktop and not on a remote desktop.

What needs improvement?

The one thing that could be improved would be to implement more robust audio redirections. When we are talking on headphones, using Teams, or any other communicator, there shouldn't be any lag time, voices cutting out, or interrupted connections. It has improved from what it was initially, but there's still a way to go. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for two years. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is definitely scalable. If you want to change computer size, or need more horsepower, it can be done. You can also work with multiple flavors of operating systems and if you need to test and work with Linux servers, or open two or more windows, you can do that too.

How are customer service and support?

The solution requires very little technical support because the environment is very stable. The vendors provide great training and have a good knowledge base if any assistance is required. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used Dell vWorkspace but they halted development when it was sold. We had concerns regarding ongoing support and the lack of development so we switched to Horizon. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is really straightforward. It doesn't take more than five minutes and doesn't require external help. 

What other advice do I have?

I recommend this product and rate it nine out of 10. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Senior Executive Manager - Data Center Virtualization at a insurance company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
High availability, user-friendly, reliable, and integrates well
Pros and Cons
  • "I appreciate how simple and straightforward the operation of VMware Horizon View is."
  • "Using a printer with the VDI is not a straightforward process."

What is our primary use case?

We are using VMware Horizon View in two ways - for both virtual disk infrastructure (VDI) and application virtualization. 

The primary use case is for individuals external to our company to connect and access internal resources. This is done by publishing a virtual desktop point to allow access.

How has it helped my organization?

In terms of productivity, VMware Horizon View has been extremely beneficial.

We can run 100 percent of our employees remotely using VDI. We have anywhere from two the three thousand employees.

What is most valuable?

I appreciate how simple and straightforward the operation of VMware Horizon View is. It is very user-friendly and can be used on any device, anywhere, and anytime.

What needs improvement?

There are certain areas that require improvement, and in my opinion, the most important factor is with some instances where I have experienced limitations, particularly with the printing service. Using a printer with the VDI is not a straightforward process.

Overall, in my opinion, the solution works perfectly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Horizon View since 2016, for seven years.

During this time, I have used several versions and performed multiple upgrades. I initially began with version 6.2, then proceeded to upgrade to 7.1, 7.4, and now to 7.13. Currently, I am planning to upgrade to version 8.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

VMware Horizon View is quite a stable solution. We have had no issues.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

In my opinion, scaling up to ten sites is easily achievable as the solution is highly scalable. It can be scaled not only within a single site but across multiple sites as well.

We have approximately two thousand people in our environment that are using VMware Horizon View.

We are not only planning to provide access to external employees but also aiming to expand access to internal employees.

How are customer service and support?

The last time I contacted them was about an issue with USB printing, which I believe was related to a Microsoft patch rather than a VMware issue. It seems that the USB printing feature was affected negatively by the Microsoft patch.

To clarify, the printer redirection feature within VMware Horizon was impacted by a Microsoft patch or update, which resulted in the feature not functioning properly. Both products are involved in this issue.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Previously, we were using We were using Citrix XenApp.

How was the initial setup?

Building the infrastructure is relatively straightforward; however, the challenge is in retrieving the master image or golden image for your desktop, which can be a time-consuming process depending on your specific needs. 

For an experienced individual, the implementation of the health solution should not take more than three days.

What about the implementation team?

To be honest, I was able to implement it on my own. However, it's important to note that you may require certain prerequisites from the network team if you plan to make the solution highly available, such as utilizing LoadRunner and other tools.

What was our ROI?

In my personal opinion, the solution is worth the investment and provides good value for its cost.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I cannot provide a detailed comment on the pricing; however, I can say that it is quite expensive.

The licensing for VDI is divided into multiple modules, including standard and enterprise options. There are different types of licensing available for VDI.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We were considering Microsoft VDI as well as Zendesk.

What other advice do I have?

In my opinion, for large enterprise companies, if the solution is implemented properly with high availability and designed using best practices, there should be no issues.

I would rate VMware Horizon View a ten out of ten.

Nothing is perfect, but this product is amazing.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Abbasi Poonawala - PeerSpot reviewer
Chief Enterprise Architect at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Top 5Leaderboard
Stable, with a straightforward setup, but could offer better pricing
Pros and Cons
  • "The initial setup is pretty straightforward."
  • "The solution isn't quite mature yet. It needs more time to mature and to get more market recognition."

What is our primary use case?

Horizon basically protects you're VMware and your Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). BYOD connecting to your network and these can be secured using VMware Horizon.

With COVID there is a very big impact. There is a hybrid kind of workforce model now. People will be able to connect using their own devices. If it is BYOD case, the number of assets is going to increase. It will almost double the number of the secured assets out there. This means that as the asset size grows, there's a lot of traffic. If you talk about the Horizon it is Zero Trust Architecture plus Micro-segmentation. It has to level both into one platform.

You then need to physically test that your endpoints are all secured so that there is no way for somebody connecting from their own device or laptop to accessing the network with any kind of malicious code. You're protected.

What is most valuable?

The solution is quite stable. The performance is good.

The scalability has been very good. It's easy to expand it to more endpoints.

The initial setup is pretty straightforward.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be more secure. Horizon is a recent addition in the sense that, due to COVID, we're working from home and those off-network devices also have to get secured. It's not only on-premises and the cloud infrastructure anymore. Your connectivity from the endpoints from the employees who are logged in from home also has to get brought in.

The solution isn't quite mature yet. It needs more time to mature and to get more market recognition.

The solution needs to work on its pricing. Compared to VMware Workspace ONE it should not be more in terms of cost.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using the solution for more than four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable. It offers good performance. There aren't crashes and it doesn't freeze. there aren't bugs or glitches. It's been good overall.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is excellent. If you need to extend it to more endpoints, it's possible to do so, and it's not difficult in terms of a process. If a company needs to expand the offering, it can do so with ease.

We have a hybrid workforce, with 8,000 or so users who likely have both their work and home devices on the system.

We do plan to continue to use the product going forward. We have no plans to move away from it.

How are customer service and support?

Our end-user support is our level end-user computing, EUC. EUC is a separate kind of support model, and there is dedicated support if we run into issues. So far, we have been satisfied with the level of support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

VMware worked with Workspace One, which has been upgraded into Horizon.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is not overly complex. It's easy. It's a part of the VMware Workspace segment which makes it quite simple. A company should have no issues with the implementation.

Normally, the process from beginning to end only takes a couple of hours. It's a pretty quick process.

For maintenance, we have a team called EUC - End User Computing - that inspects all the upgrades and handles all the maintenance.

What about the implementation team?

I handled the process of implementation myself. If did not need an outside consultant or integrator. We were able to manage everything in-house.

What was our ROI?

There is a good ROI.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We do have a licensing fee that we need to pay. Horizon is expensive if you were to consider EDR. I cannot speak to the exact cost of the product, however.

EDR itself is a big investment. If you're investing in EDR be prepared to pay a bit. There are two platforms that we are using - Windows and Linux. In the Windows platform, basically, we can secure it using the Windows Defender. In the case of Windows Defender, we don't need any separate EDR. For Linux, however, we need it. That said, mostly the users are all Windows users. More than 60% to 70% of the users are Windows users and so we don't need the EDR product across the board. That saves some costs for us.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I did evaluate multiple EDRs before choosing this solution.

What other advice do I have?

We use the latest version of the solution at this time. It's the most up-to-date option.

From the COVID impact, the number of vulnerabilities has gone up. That means there are other challenges of coping with the security in recent times due to the deluge of more assets, basically, made on one level because people are bringing their own devices into the mix. So far, we've been able to secure everything, and we've been able to stand back and say that we're fine and, even with this new hybrid work model, we are secure and back to normal, so to speak.

The solution is a recent edition that is not been fully adopted and it is still slightly immature. It's not reached a stage where it is saturated. For that reason, I'd rate the solution at a seven out of ten.  

I would recommend the solution.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
PeerSpot user
Bart Brakel - PeerSpot reviewer
Owner at Innovisie
Reseller
Top 10
Helps deploy complex applications with ease and handles security and compliance well
Pros and Cons
  • "The product helped us deploy complex applications."
  • "The tool is not future-proof anymore."

What is our primary use case?

We put our client-server applications on Horizon.

How has it helped my organization?

The product helped us deploy complex applications.

What is most valuable?

The product’s scalability makes the deployment easy. It is important to us. The product handles security and compliance in the virtual infrastructure well.

What needs improvement?

The tool is not future-proof anymore.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for about ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have a good impression of the tool’s stability.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have a good impression of the tool’s scalability. We have five users.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is complex. It is not easy to deploy. It could be much easier. The vendor must build a SaaS solution. The deployment takes too long.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The license could be cheaper.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Everyone is working with Teams after COVID-19. Relatively, Teams is a bit better than VMware Horizon View. I believe there is no future for VMware Horizon View.

What other advice do I have?

I will not recommend the solution to others. Overall, I rate the product an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Reseller
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PeerSpot user
RuiAlves - PeerSpot reviewer
Director at Proindustrial, Lda.
Real User
Top 10
Enables us to have access gateway to enter VMs from outside
Pros and Cons
  • "It's centralized management, and you have access gateway to enter the the VMs from outside."
  • "The issue now with VMware is that we don't know the future of the solution. Because if you follow the news, it was acquired by another company, and they are changing the old product line."

What is our primary use case?

The use case is remote access to VMs. It allows us to remote access the VMs and our servers.

What is most valuable?

It's centralized management, and you have access gateway to enter the VMs from outside.

What needs improvement?

The issue now with VMware is that we don't know the future of the solution. Because if you follow the news, it was acquired by another company, and they are changing the old product line. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using VMware Horizon View for 34 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is highly stable. I rate the stability eight out of ten. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. The deployment took a few weeks time. I would rate the setup an eight out of ten. 

What about the implementation team?

The deployment was done in house with two people. One person is required for maintenance.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is expensive. 

What other advice do I have?

Overall I rate the solution a nine out of ten. 

Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free VMware Horizon View Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2024
Buyer's Guide
Download our free VMware Horizon View Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.