XenDesktop Site Configuration

When trying to create a XenDesktop group that is using ESX 5.x as the hosting infrastructure, you receive the following error message:

"Unable to contact the hypervisor"

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vSphere vCenter Server only allows connection through SSL (HTTPS) on port 443 by default. The vCenter uses a self-signed certificate that the Citrix XenDesktop application will not accept. The automatic installation process for certificates does not import into the correct location required for XenDesktop. Below are the steps required to import the self-signed certificate onto the XenDesktop server to make the connection.

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<span style="text-decoration: underline">To use the VMware installed, self-signed certificate on vSphere</span>
<ol start="1">
	<li>Add the fully qualified domain name for the vSphere server to c:\windows\drivers\etc\hosts if not present in DNS.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="2">
	<li>Using Internet Explorer - enter <span style="text-decoration: underline"><a href="https://%3Cfqdn/" target="_top">https://&lt;FQDN</a></span> of vSphere server&gt;.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="3">
	<li>Accept the security warnings.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="4">
	<li>Click on the <strong>Certificate Error</strong> part of the address bar and select <strong>View Certificates</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="5">
	<li>Click <strong>Install Certificate</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="6">
	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="7">
	<li>Click <strong>Place all certificates in the following store</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="8">
	<li>Click <strong>Browse</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="9">
	<li>Click <strong>Show physical stores</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="10">
	<li>Expand <strong>Trusted People</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="11">
	<li>Select <strong>Local Computer</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="12">
	<li>Click <strong>OK</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="13">
	<li>Click <strong>Next</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<ol start="14">
	<li>Click <strong>Finish</strong>.</li>
</ol>
<span style="text-decoration: underline">Step by step installation of the self-signed certificate:</span>

From the XenDesktop server, open Internet Explorer and enter the FQDN for the vCenter server.

Select “Continue to this website”

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Beside the URL link select the Certificate Error as shown below.

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In the Certificate window on the General tab select Install Certificate and then select Next to start the wizard.

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Select “Place all certificates in the following store” and select the browse button.

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On the Select Certificate Store window, select “Show physical stores option”. Select the folder called “Trusted People” and then the sub menu “Local Computer”. Click the OK button and then Next and Finish.

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To finish the Site connection to the vSphere host, enter the appropriate information in the “Host Type” selection window. Select VMware from the drop down menu.

Enter the URL for the vCenter server using HTTPS:\\ https://&lt;FQDN of the vCenter server&gt;\sdk

Provide the appropriate credentials. I show administrator, but always recommend a service account instead.

Provide a connection name and determine if you whether you will have automatically created desktops or manual.

Select Next.

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Browse the vCenter Cluster for the appropriate location.

Select the Network associated with the new desktops and select Next.

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Select the datastore(s) that will host the desktop image files. Note that XenDesktop will try to spread the desktops across these datastores on the initial provisioning.

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Once you select the storage for the VMs to run on and select next, provide a host name for the connection and select finish.

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