4.4 PCoIP Protocol
PCoIP by Teradici, is a real-time protocol that is very well established with VMware Horizon, and is also supported by a large number of third-party zero-client devices. As a protocol, it is supported on both Horizon DaaS and Horizon 7 environments.
Figure 5. Horizon Client PCoIP Connection Flow
1. The Horizon Client sends authentication credentials using XML-API over HTTPS to the PCoIP external URL on the Access Point appliance. This is typically via a load-balancer VIP (Virtual IP).
a. HTTPS Authentication data is passed-through from Access Point to the Connection Server. Any entitled desktop pool(s) are returned back to client.
Note If Security Servers are used, they must be paired with a Connection Server. Access Point doesn’t require pairing with Connection Servers, which provides greater flexibility without the need to dedicate Connection Servers for external or internal access.
2. The user selects a desktop or application, and the connection is initiated on TCP 4172 to Access Point / Security Server. This is the PCoIP session handshake.
3. A bi-directional PCoIP connection is then established on UDP 4172 for the session data between the Horizon Client and the pcoipExternalUrl for Access Point / Security Server. The PCoIP session is forwarded between Access Point and the brokered virtual desktop (Horizon Agent).
Note pcoipExternalUrl is used for Access Point. When Security Servers are used in a Horizon solution, the PCoIP External URL configured on the paired Connection Server will be used.
