New Features and Enhancements in v3.4-SP1

This section of the release notes provides details of new features and enhancements in the HyWorks v3.4-GA release.

HyWorks Features and Enhancements

Graceful Recompose and Version Management

Earlier recompose was possible on all the deployed VMs and thus administrators were not able to release the updates to limited set of users.

In v3.4-SP1, HyWorks is having option to recompose limited set of deployed VMs and also managing the versions of deployments. The versioning can help in easy revert to previous versions.

With graceful recompose or revamped recompose following features are provided:

1. Two choices for recompose:

   1. Recompose forcefully now (like old behavior, where all the deployed VMs will be recomposed.)

   2. Recompose only free VMs

      1. All free VMs

      2. Limited (Specified number of VMs)

2. Selective VM recompose: Administrator can choose specific VMs to be recomposed.

3. Selective revert

   1. Option to roll back selective VMs

   2. Option to roll back to specific versions

4. Version Management: Versions of all different combinations will be maintained so that administrator can choose to go to specific version. Version is combination of following configurations:

   1. Gold Master or Source VM

   2. Snapshot

   3. Customization Settings

   4. VM name prefix

DC-DR Sync

HyWorks v3.4-SP1 supports syncing of data from DC to DR sites. The support is limited to specific types of objects in HyWorks deployments.

It uses Microsoft's sync framework to sync the data between two sites. The administrators must ensure SQL server connectivity between two sites.

The feature will be controlled from HyWorks Controller Management Console > Settings > General > Advance Settings section, using following flags:

1. DCDR Sync Role: Set the DCDR Sync Role to '0' to disable the DCDR syncing, '1' to identify the site as a DC site, and '2' to identify the site as a DR site(DCDR sync will be done by DR site)

2. DCDR Sync Role Enabled On: Hostname of the controller server on that DCDR sync will be running.

3. DC Server Connection String: Encrypted connection string of the DC server from the data will be synced on DR Server. Get this value from the DBSource column of the ClusterServerDbo table from the DC server database.

4. DCDR Sync Interval In Minutes: DCDR sync interval in minutes.

Installer Setup Changes

Earlier versions of controllers were not having integrated MS Sync Framework for Japanese servers. v3.4-SP1 setup is having integrated Japanese sync framework.

Management Console Changes

Multi-delete Option for Administrators

In earlier versions, once added, administrator users can be deleted only one by one. The implementation is improved to select multiple administrators at a time and delete all.

Option to Select and Remove Multiple Users in Applications Page

Similar to administrators from applications page, it was not possible to remove multiple users at a time. The same has been improved to make multiple users selectable and remove from applications page.

Option to Export All or Selected DVMs

HyWorks Controller Management Console in v3,4-SP1 is having option to export all DVMs or only selected DVMs data from VDI > VMs page.

Filter Options in VM Page

HyWorks Controller Management Console in v3,4-SP1 is having following filters for ease of management:

1. Pool Name

2. Pool Display Name

3. Version

4. VM Name

5. IP Address

6. DNS Name

7. Pool Type (Dedicated/ Shared)

8. Entitlement Type (User-based/ Device-based)

9. State (Not Synced/ Powered off/ Powered on/ Suspended/ Powering on/ Powering off/ Missing/ Syncing/ Restarting/ Suspending/ Resuming/ Shutting down/ Creating desktop/ Pending desktop creation/ Deleting/ Recomposing/ Saved/ Un-provisioned/ Not available)

Linux VDI Packages

Support for Ubuntu 22.04.0/1 as Personal Desktops in HyLabs and HyWorks

New version of Ubuntu Assistive packages are released to support Ubuntu version 22.04.0/1.

• Supported Ubuntu Versions with this packages:

  • Ubuntu 22.04.0/1 (Only personal desktops)

  • Ubuntu 20.04.0/1

  • xUbuntu 20.04 (for Shared hosted desktops and virtual Application Delivery)

Important

• The assistive packages do not support Ubuntu Gnome 16.04.1 or xUbuntu 16 and hence older packages (v22022022) should be used.

HyLabs Changes

Course Reservation Specific VM Power Operations and Deployment Settings

Latest version of HyWorks having support for following configurable settings for course reservations:

• Custom Power Operation Settings: Options to specify power operations specific to reservations are provided, following configurations are available:

  • Power on VMs:

    • On Reservation start: VMs will be started on reservation start (like normal behavior)

      • All VMs: All VMs will be started on reservation start

      • Specify count: Only specific count of VMs will be started on reservation start

    • On User Connect: VMs will be kept powered-off until user initiates the connect operation.

  • Shutdown VM:

    • On Reservation End: All VMs will be powered off after the reservation end.

    • On User Logout and Reservation End: Assigned VMs will be shutdown on user logout and also on reservation end if left powered on.

• Custom Deployment Settings: Option to specify custom deployment setting for reservation is provided, following configurations are available:

  • Inherit from Deployment Settings: Default option, reservation will be deployed as deployment settings.

  • Do not Inherit from Deployment Settings: Uncheck option Inherit from Deployment Settings and following custom options will be available:

    • Deployment Type: This will be On Demand by default and can not be changed.

    • Keep VM: Set as Shutdown or Powered on, if option Shutdown is selected, deployed VMs will be kept as shutdown post deployment, else it will be kept powered-on post deployment.

    • Deployment Time: Specify a new deployment time overriding the deployment settings.

    • Preparation Time: Specify a custom preparation time for this reservation.