AirWatch Hands-on Labs

NoAD Mode

NoAD mode is a way to configure User Environment Manager without requiring Active Directory. For example, you can use NoAD mode if your environment has limited Active Directory access, and administrators are not permitted to manage GPOs.

NoAD mode may also be beneficial for cloud-based implementations. For more information, see Benefits of VMware Horizon Cloud on Microsoft Azure & VMware User Environment Manager.

Another use case is when you are working with a proof-of-concept environment. You can implement User Environment Manager in NoAD mode quickly because there is no need to change a GPO, configure logon and logoff scripts, or wait for Active Directory replication.

Using NoAD mode is a two-part process:

You configure User Environment Manager by creating an XML-based configuration file. This file contains all the same settings that you would otherwise configure using GPO settings. VMware provides an example file for this purpose. You can copy the file to the correct location on the configuration share and edit the file with a text editor to specify the settings you want to use.
You install the User Environment Manager agent in NoAD mode on the virtual desktops or RDSH servers to be managed. This process involves using a command-line command that tells the agent the path to the XML-based NoAD configuration file. The agent can then read this configuration file to determine which User Environment Manager settings to apply.

Create a NoAD.xml file from a Sample Template

Open Windows Explorer

From the desktop of the Main Console, click the Windows Explorer icon

Navigate to FlexRepository

Navigate to C:\UEMSite2\general\FlexRepository
Right-click in the blank space
Select New
Select Folder

NoAD Folder

Name the folder NoAD

Leave this folder open as you will use it in an upcoming step

Start > Run

Click the Windows Start button
Select Run...

Navigate to C:\tools

Enter c:\tools
Select OK

Navigate to NoAD Sample

Navigate to C:\tools\VMware-UEM-9.8\NoAD Mode

Copy NoAD Sample

Copy NoAD Sample.xml from C:\tools\VMware-UEM-9.8\NoAD Mode
Paste the file in the C:\UEMSite2\general\FlexRepository\NoAD folder you created

Edit NoAD Sample.xml

Right-click NoAD Sample.xml
Select Edit with Notepad++

Edit NoAD

Replace \\Filesrv\UemUsers$ with \\controlcenter\UEMSite2Profiles
Replace \\Filesrv\UemUsers$ with \\controlcenter\UEMSite2Profiles

Note - Unlike with the GPO, you will not specify the path to the UEM configuration file. That will be addressed later in this lesson.

Close Notepad++

Close Notepad++ and be sure to save the file if prompted

Rename NoAD Sample.xml

Righ-click NoAD Sample.xml
Select Rename

New Name

Rename the file NoAD.xml

Note - The XML file will not work with any other name

Install User Environment Manager Agent in NoAD Mode

You install the User Environment Manager agent in NoAD mode on the virtual desktops or RDSH servers to be managed. This process involves using a command-line command that tells the agent the path to the XML-based NoAD configuration file. The agent can then read this configuration file to determine which User Environment Manager settings to apply.