VMware Workspace ONE Access – Set Up Connector

Release date: November 9th 2021, Updated January 25th 2023

Welcome to my VMware Workspace ONE Access series. In this session I will describe how I installed and set up the VMware Workspace ONE Access connector. This connector will be used for both connecting MS Active Directory and VMware Horizon 8 On-Prem Desktops/Apps. To prepare for this set up, I have created a Virtual Machine running MS Server 2016, joined this to the domain and logged in with a user with administrative privileges. Detailed information about the system requirements and sizing of the connector server(s) can be found here: Workspace ONE Access Connector 22.09 Systems Requirements

To start off, I will be creating a configuration-file in Workspace ONE Access. From the top menu I select Integrations

I click Connectors on the left-hand menu, New…

I confirm the Connector Usage, OK – Confirm…

I’ve already downloaded the connector installer, so I just click Next…

I enter a password for this configuration and click Download Configuration File, when done, Next…

Looks promising, Close…

For the VMware Workspace ONE Access 22.09 Connector to work properly with Horizon 8, it needs to trust the certificate on the Horizon connection server. As I have used a certificate from my domain CA, I will need to export the CA Root certificate beforehand, as shown below.

I can now start the actual VMware Workspace ONE Access connector setup. I copy both the installer and the json-file to a temp-folder and launch the exe-file.

I’m missing a prerequisite .Net component, I click Install to continue…

When the installation wizard opens, Next…

I accept the license agreement, Next…

At this point in the installation, I can choose which services to install. If this was an enterprise setup, setting up multiple connectors behind load balancers, running separate services, would be recommended, in order to get HA and scalability. But as I’m doing a small lab set up, I will be installing all services on only one server.

Next, I browse and select the configuration file I downloaded above. Enter password and click Next…

I will select Custom installation as this provides me with the opportunity to add the CA certificate I exported above, Next…

I wont be configuring a Proxy or Syslog server at this point, Next…

No, wont be needing this either, Next…

I can now browse and select the Root CA certificate i exported to begin with, Next…

At this point I can adjust the service ports. As the default ports will work fine in my Lab, I leave them as is, Next…

I provide the username and password for my service account and make sure to adhere to the correct form as stated, Next…

The summary looks good, I click Install and Finish when the installer completes.

Once the installation is finished, I check Services.msc and see that the Directory Sync, Kerberos Auth, User Auth and the Virtual App Service is started.

I also verify that the Status and Health for the connector show up as Active and in good condition in Workspace ONE Access.

With that, the configuration of the Workspace One Access connector is complete. I’m now ready to set up the MS Active Directory integration using the above configured connector, this I have described here: VMware Workspace ONE Access – MS Active Directory Integration

Official VMware documentation:

Disclaimer: Every tips/tricks/posting I have published here, is tried and tested in different it-solutions. It is not guaranteed to work everywhere, but is meant as a tip for other users out there. Remember, Google is your friend and don’t be afraid to steal with pride! Feel free to comment below as needed.