VDI installation and connectivity in Zoom app
As an .msi file type, the VDI Client Host Installer can be deployed via standard software and device management tools with ease, such as Microsoft Intune or Microsoft Systems Center Configuration Manager. For Windows, the plugin installers are present in the form of MSI files, while for Mac, they are available as PKG files, and for Linux platforms, they come in the form of deb files, rpm files, or zipped packages, and they can be similarly installed through device management software.
This article covers:
- How to install or update the VDI Client and Plugin
- How to verify the VDI Client and plugin are connected
- Verify from the Zoom desktop client
- Verify from the plugin
- Frequently asked questions about VDI installation and connectivity
Prerequisites for VDI installation and connectivity
- Organizations using Citrix XenDesktop or VMware Horizon server published desktop or Windows Remote Desktop
- Citrix Workspace, VMWare Horizons, AVD client, or Windows remote desktop client
How to install or update the VDI Client and Plugin
In order to access the virtual desktop, an application called Host Installer, which is part of the VDI Client, is installed on the virtual desktop. For compatibility reasons, it is always recommended that the Host Installer is installed and/or upgraded before any other software can be used.
As a general rule, the VDI plugin should never be installed on a VDI desktop, but rather on a device that will be used to connect to the VDI, such as a thin client or local PC, which will be used to access the VDI. In order to avoid a disruption in compatibility with the VDI Client, it is recommended that the plugin be installed and/or upgraded last before the VDI Client is used.
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Your Virtual Desktop Agent (VDA), e.g. Citrix Workspace or VMWare Horizons Client, must be installed on the thin client or remote workstation before you can install the Zoom Media plugin on it. In the event that this is not done, the plugin installation will fail due to an error.
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Citrix Workspace from the Citrix website is the only Citrix Workspace app for Windows that is compatible with Zoom VDI. The Citrix Workspace application from the Microsoft Store is not compatible with Zoom VDI and is not supported by it.
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A plugin that has an older version than the release version of the VDI Client will be unable to create a connection between the two endpoints, and the VDI Client will then operate in Fallback Mode until the plugin is updated. The VDI client should always be updated first and then the plugin afterward, and this should always be done in a timely manner.
How to verify the VDI Client and plugin are connected
As well as identifying whether they are connecting to each other, both the VDI Client and the plugin contain methods for identifying the type of connection established between them.
Verify from the Zoom desktop client
The Zoom desktop client provides users with the ability to confirm connectivity through the VDI statistics section. In the VDI tab of the VDI settings, in addition to the diagnostic information required between a VDI client and a plugin in addition to the performance of the server and plugin machine, it is also possible to see the diagnostic information between the two.
For more information, please visit the Support article on accessing VDI statistics.
Verify from the plugin
There is also an icon in the system tray of the plugin that can be viewed to see the connection status of the plugin, which can also be found in the plugin menu. You will see a pop-up window appear on your screen. A VDI connection can be verified by checking the status of the connection in the bottom left corner of the screen.
There is a possibility that the VDI Client may operate in Fallback Mode in the absence of both the client and the plugin showing a connected status.
Frequently asked questions about VDI installation and connectivity
Can I use MSI switches with the VDI Client?
An MSI file called the VDI Host Installer is an application that can be installed through the normal software and device management tools, such as Intune or SCCM, and can use the same switches as the standard Windows MSI application. Check out this Support article to get a complete list of all the MSI switches that are currently available.
Can I configure Group Policy with the VDI Client?
The VDI Client is responsive to standard GPO settings through the same registry location as the standard client (HKCU\Software\Policies\Zoo
VDI Clients are able to be configured according to standard GPOs through the same registry location as standard clients (HKCU\Software\Policies\Zoom\etc). As with the standard Zoom client, any already configured GPO settings will work with the VDI client as well.
m\etc). Any preconfigured GPO settings for the standard Zoom client will work with the VDI Client.
Are there additional configuration settings available?
In select situations, it is possible to modify the behavior of the VDI Client through registry keys, such as the way in which the client behaves in Fallback Mode or whether certain features are enabled or disabled. In addition to setting up alert messages, restricting the flow of data, enforcing optimizations, and more, additional settings can also be configured. You can refer to our VDI Client Registry Settings article for a complete list of the registry keys and features available to you.
What is the best way to install or update the VDI Client?
It is recommended that users always update the VDI Client first, since the VDI Client is often the one that receives feature enhancements. The VDI Plugin will be updated in the future as well. If the client is not updated before the plugin, then the VDI Client will be forced into fallback mode because the client and plugin will not communicate, resulting in a disconnection between the two.
Is the VDI Plugin backwards compatible?
In order to utilize this plugin, you have to have an older version of Zoom Meeting installed on your computer. In order to function properly, the version number of the plugin must always match or be lower than that of the VDI Client.
Frequently Asked Questions
All content and images credit goes to https://support.zoom.us