VMware: View 4.5 Command Line Usage

Launching commands for View Client.

-desktopName XXX Desktop to autostart
-domainName XXX Domain for server login
-file XXX File with additional command line parameters
-languageId XXX LCID of language to use (if available), e.g. 0×409 for English
-nonInteractive Suppress error message boxes for fully scripted startup
-password XXX Password for server login
-smartCardPIN XXX PIN for smart card login
-desktopProtocol XXX Attempt to use the specified desktop display protocol
-desktopLayout XXX Specify desktop screen size (e.g. fullscreen, multimonitor, windowLarge, or windowSmall)
-serverURL XXX URL for the View Connection Server
-logInAsCurrentUser XXX Log in as current user (true or false)
-userName XXX User name for server login
-unattended Start in unattended mode. Connects to the entitled desktop without user interaction
-connectUSBOnStartup XXX Connect all USB devices to a desktop when it is launched (true or false)
-connectUSBOnInsert XXX Connect a USB device to the foreground desktop when the device is plugged in (true or false)
-printEnvironmentInfo Print information about the system
-rollback Rolls back a check out (need -desktopName)
-standalone UNSUPPORTED: To start an additional client instance for test
-confirmRollback Confirm rollback operation in non-interactive mode
-? Show this help

Install Properties:

INSTALLDIR=%ProgramFiles%VMware, Inc.VMware ViewClient
VDM_SERVER= or FQDN
DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0 (0=Do not create shortcut on desktop, 1=Create shortcut)
QUICKLAUNCH_SHORTCUT=0 (0=Do not create quick launch shortcut, 1=Create shortcut)
STARTMENU_SHORTCUT=0 (0=Do not create start menu shortcut, 1=Create shortcut)
REBOOT=”ReallySuppress” (Does not reboot after installation)

Beyond the properties it is also possible to select the features that will be installed during the installation process. The features names are: Core, MVDI, ThinPrint, TSSO, USB. The ‘Core’ feature is mandatory. Optionally you may select ALL to install all features available.

ADDLOCAL=Core, MVDI, ThinPrint, TSSO, USB or ALL

Legend:
Core = Essential components required
MVDI = Local Mode
ThinPrint = Print redirection
TSSO = Single Sign-On
USB =USB Redirection

Examples:

VMware-viewclient-x86_64-4.5.0-293049.exe /S /V /qn DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0 VDM_SERVER={server_name} INSTALLDIR=”C:Program FilesVMwareVMware ViewClient” /l C:Logs VMware_Client45.log REBOOT=Reallysupress

VMware-viewclient-x86_64-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v”/qn VDM_SERVER={server_name}ADDLOCAL=All”

VMware-viewclient-x86_64-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v /qn RebootYesNo=”No” REBOOT=”ReallySuppress” VDM_SERVER={server_name} ADDLOCAL=Core,TSSO,USB DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=1 STARTMENU_SHORTCUT=1

For silent installs is is important to make sure the user logged has elevated privileges to install the client. Using Group Policies you should change the Local Computer and User Policies to use “Always Install with elevated privileges” for Windows Installer.

Local Computer Policy->Computer Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Installer->Always Installwith elevated privileges
Local Computer Policy->User Configuration->Administrative Templates->Windows Installer->Always Installwith elevated privileges

Option names are case insensitive.

VMware View Agent 4.5 command line usage

View Agent can also be heavily customised and allows you to select what components should be installed.

/a performs an administrative install
/a patches an existing administrative install
/s hides the initialization dialog. For silent mode, use /s /v /qn
/qb display the wizard pages in a noninteractive, automated installation
/v indicates parameters to pass to the installer
/c cleans out installation registration information
/l performs detailed logging
/l performs detailed logging
/l*v

Install Properties:

DESKTOP_SHORTCUT=0 (0=Do not create shortcut on desktop, 1=Create shortcut)
VDM_SERVER= or FQDN
VDM_SERVER_USERNAME=admin.companydomain.com
VDM_SERVER_PASSWORD=secret
INSTALLDIR= %ProgramFiles%VMware, Inc.VMware ViewAgent
(Specifies an alternative installation path for the View component)
RDPCHOICE=0 (0=Leave RDP settings as they are, 1=Enable RDP)
REBOOT=”ReallySuppress” (Does not reboot after installation)

Beyond the properties it is also possible to select the features that will be installed during the installation process. The features names are: Core, HPRGS, SVIAgent, ThinPrint, ThinPrintPCoIP, PCoIP, VMVideo, VmwAudio, SmartCard, USB, VPA, VMCI. The ‘Core’ feature is mandatory. Optionally you may select ALL to install all features available.

ADDLOCAL=Core,GINA,HPRGS,SVIAgent,USB,USB32,PCoIP,ThinPrint or ALL

Utilising the /v parameters it is possible to pass commands to the installer

/v”INSTALL_TERAAUDIO=1” UNSUPPORTED
(this command installs a PCoIP 2-way bidirectional audio driver)
/v”VDM_VC_MANAGED_AGENT=0”
(0=Unmanaged, 1=Managed )

The installation creates:

The View Agent installation log (%TEMP%vminst.log_date_timestamp)
The MSI installation log (%TEMP%vmmsi.log_date_timestamp)

Legend:
Core = Essential components required
GINA = GINA chaining
MVDI = Local Mode
TSSO = Single Sign-On
USB =USB Redirection
HPRGS = HPRGS display protocol
SVIAgent = VMware View Composer
ThinPrint = Print redirection
ThinPrintPCoIP = Print redirection in PCoIP
PCoIP = PCoIP display protocol
VMVideo = ?
VmwAudio = ?
SmartCard = Hum….. don’t need explanation
VPA = ?
VMC = Allow disabling of VMCI devices (http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/vmci-sdk/)

Examples:

VMware-viewagent-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v”/qn VDM_VC_MANAGED_AGENT=1 ADDLOCAL=ALL”

VMware-viewagent-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v”/qn REBOOT=Reallysupress ADDLOCAL=Core,GINA,HPRGS,SVIAgent,USB,USB32 VDM_SERVER={server_name} /l*v “”%TEMP%vmmsi.log”””

VMware-viewagent-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v”/qn VDM_VC_MANAGED_AGENT=0 VDM_SERVER_NAME={server_name} VDM_SERVER_USERNAME=admin.companydomain.com VDM_SERVER_PASSWORD=secret ADDLOCAL=core,GINA,ThinPrint,USB”

View Connection Server

View Connection Server does not offer many features or properties but it is possible to select the basic options for automated installations.

INSTALLDIR= %ProgramFiles%VMware, Inc.VMware ViewServer
VDM_SERVER_INSTANCE_TYPE=1
(1=standard, 2=replica, 3=security server, 4=transfer server)
FWCHOICE=1 (Set to 1 to configure firewall or 2 to skip it)

The following properties are only applicable to View Replica Servers (VDM_SERVER_INSTANCE_TYPE=2)
ADAM_PRIMARY_NAME= or FQDN
ADAM_PRIMARY_PORT=Port Number

Example:

VMware-viewconnectionserver-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v”/qn VDM_SERVER_INSTANCE_TYPE=1″

VMware-viewconnectionserver-4.5.0-293049.exe /s /v”/qn VDM_SERVER_INSTANCE_TYPE=2 ADAM_PRIMARY_NAME={server_name}”

There are also installation features and options available for the Security Server, View Composer and Transfers Server but I will cover those in a future post with some additional information about Transfer Server.