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Horizon Client — Black/Blank Monitor Display

Introduction

TranslationIf pending..a user sees a blank or black screen when launching the Horizon Client, several factors may contribute to the display. This article explains some of the most common causes of the Horizon black screen and provides corresponding solutions.

This troubleshooting guide applies to Horizon 8.

Causes of a blank/black screen

Various factors can cause a blank or black screen when connecting to Horizon View and establishing a VDI session.

Required Network Ports

For the Horizon Client to function properly, ensure the required ports are accessible.

The following ports are required when the Horizon Client connects directly to a Connection Server:

Destination Network Protocol Destination Port Details Connection Server TCP 443 Login, authentication, and connection to the connection server Horizon Agent TCP 22443 Blast Extreme   UDP 22443 Blast Extreme   TCP 4172 PCoIP   UDP 4172 PCoIP   TCP 9427 Drive Redirection (CDR) and Multimedia Redirection (MMR)   TCP 32111 USB redirection (optional, can be integrated into Blast Extreme)

The following ports are required when the Horizon Client connects via a Unified Access Gateway (UAG):

Destination Network protocol Destination port Details Unified Access Gateway TCP 443 Login, authentication, and connection to the UAG. It may also carry tunneled RDP, CDR, and USB traffic.   TCP 4172 PCoIP via PCoIP Secure Gateway   UDP 4172 PCoIP via PCoIP Secure Gateway   UDP 443 Use it optionally for login traffic. If TCP conditions are suboptimal, Blast Extreme attempts a UDP connection.   TCP 8443 Blast Extreme via Blast Secure Gateway (High-performance connection)   UDP 8443 Blast Extreme via Blast Secure Gateway (Customized Performance Option)   TCP 443 Blast Extreme via UAG Port Sharing

DNS Considerations

While Horizon View typically uses IP addresses for communication between the Connection Server, DNS issues can affect component performance.

Therefore, always ensure DNS functions correctly both internally and externally.

Correctly configure Unified Access Gateway (UAG).

A common cause of a black screen is an incorrectly configured Unified Access Gateway (UAG) for Horizon.

Configuration errors between the Connection Server and the UAG often occur during initial setup.

When configuring a UAG, disable both Blast Secure Gateway and PCoIP Secure Gateway on the Connection Server, as the UAG handles these functions.

Secure Gateway Settings When Using UAG

Another common issue occurs when the Unified Access Gateway (UAG) is misconfigured. Several important parameters must be set correctly. Enter the following values under Horizon Settings on the UAG:

Setting Value Connection Server URL https://ConnectionServerIP:443 Connection Server URL Thumbprint sha1=SSLTHUMPRINT (Thumbprint of the View Connection Server’s SSL certificate) PCOIP External URL UAG-EXTERNALIP:4172 Blast External URL UAG-InternetFQDN:443 Tunnel External URL UAG-InternetFQDN:443

Additionally, install a valid SSL certificate under TLS Server Certificate Settings. Apply this certificate to both the admin and internal interfaces. Ensure the certificate matches the FQDN (internal and external) of the UAG appliance.

Further Information

The Tech Journal — Horizon Blank Screen by Stephen Wagner