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Media Optimization for Microsoft Teams and Zoom

Version 24.07 of Trusted Zero Client supports Media Optimization of Microsoft Teams and Zoom when Trusted Zero Clients are connected to Omnissa (VMware) Horizon agents. Media optimization allows for an enhanced video conferencing performance by offloading audio and video streams to the Trusted Zero clients.

The clients handle the processing and transmitting of the streams to and from the Omnissa VDI, redirecting audio and video calls without overloading the network. This results in reduced latency, and improved meeting experience during Blast sessions.

How Media Optimization for Microsoft Teams Works

Enabling media optimization requires no additional configuration aside from the installation of Microsoft Teams on Horizon agents. On client machines, no configuration is required; the redirection-related files are already contained in the SDK package.

The Trusted Zero Client's optimization for Microsoft Teams interfaces with the Microsoft Teams installed on Horizon agents by means of a virtual channel. This allows the client machines to process audio and video streams locally, and render the Teams meetings by superimposing it on the Trusted Zero Client window.

Authentication and signaling is processed on the agent machines, and remain unaffected by audio/video redirection.

How Media Optimization for Zoom Works

Media Optimization for Zoom makes use of the following two components, which are two separate programs, each with their physical installation location:

  • Zoom VDI Client, which is installed on the Horizon Agent machines.
  • Zoom Plugin, which is installed on the Trusted Zero Client machines.

The Zoom VDI Client and the Zoom Plugin work in synchronization to render the Zoom meeting in layers, typically superimposing the meeting on the Trusted Zero Client window. Additionally, Instead of using USB Redirection, the Zoom VDI Plugin utilizes the media devices of the client machines to send audio and video data to the Zoom server.

This eliminates the need for sending audio and video data from the client machines to the agent machines, and then to the Zoom servers, thereby resulting in a seamless video conferencing experience.

How All Other Realtime Audio/Video Works

For Omnissa Horizon sessions, the Trusted Zero Client uses Real-Time Audio-Video (RTAV). RTAV allows Horizon 8 users to run Skype, Webex, Google Hangouts, and other online conferencing applications in their remote sessions. With Real-Time Audio-Video, webcam and audio devices that are connected locally to the client system are redirected to the remote sessions.

This feature redirects video and audio data with a significantly lower bandwidth than can be achieved by using USB redirection. Real-Time Audio-Video is compatible with standard conferencing applications and browser-based video applications; and supports standard webcams, audio USB devices, and analog audio input.

Supported Configuration & Agents

Media optimization is supported only when Trusted Zero Clients are connected to Omnissa (VMware) Horizon agents using the following protocols:

  • Blast
  • PCoIP

The following Horizon agents are supported:

  • Horizon 8 (2006 and later)
  • Horizon 7 version 7.13

Note: Agent Setup Required

For Media Optimization to work, Horizon Agent setup is required. This is described in Enabling Media Optimization for Teams and Enabling Media Optimization for Zoom respectively.

Additional Reading

Further reading is available as follows: