EUCZero Trust Journey 2021 Day 3 - Transport TrustInstalling and Configuring Horizon TRUESSO

Installing and Configuring Horizon TRUESSO

Overview

Traditionally when authenticating to Workspace ONE Access using a 3rd party authentication method, the user we will by default, not have a Single Sign-On experience when trying to launch any VMware Horizon based resource through Workspace ONE Access.

Traditionally Single Sign-On would only be an issue when using a 3rd Party authentication method. To solve this problem we would deploy what is known as the Horizon Enrollment services to facilitate a Single Sign- on experience. The Horizon Enrollment services, integrates with Microsoft Certificate Services to provide a solution to this challenge and we refer to the solution as Horizon TRUE SSO

Since December 2019
Caching of Passwords for Horizon has been disabled and a user will always have to re-authenticate when they select their entitlement. https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workspace-ONE-Access/services/rn/VMware-Workspace-ONE-Access-Cloud-Release-Notes.html

We have already demonstrated how to facilitate a single-sign on with  password based authentication. When authenticating to Workspace ONE Access using a 3rd Party authentication method and wanting to launch a Horizon based resource, one will still be prompted for password based Authentication.

In a Zero-Trust environment, it is critical we secure our Horizon Sessions with authentication methods that are not Password based.

In this lab scenario the 3rd party authentication method we use to login into Workspace ONE Access will be a certificate based method of authentication.

In June 2020, Caching of Passwords was re-introduced as an option to re-enable, to allow Password Single Sign-On based Authentication. Caching of Passwords is disabled by default.

When using Horizon with Workspace ONE Access and a 3rd Party Authentication method, the only way we can get a good user experience with Single Sign-On is to deploy Enrollment Services also known as TRUESSO.

We will start off by doing the following:

  1. Log into a Windows 10 Desktop and demonstrate the limitation
  2. Deploy and configure TRUE SSO
    • Deploy and configure Horizon Enrollment services
    • Integrate and configure Active Directory Certificate services with Horizon Enrollment services
  3. Log into a Windows 10 Desktop and demonstrate the solution

Please Note. This lab is not for the faint-hearted. You will see the implementation process of deploying and configuring Enrolment services in Horizon and integration with Microsoft Active Directory services.

You will also experience first hand how reliant Enrollment services on Microsoft Active Directory Certificate services is.

Part 1: Log into a Windows 10 Desktop and demonstrate the limitation

  1. On the ControlCenter server Desktop,  
    • Switch back to your the W10EXT01a.RDP session
      • W10EXT01a.RDP is enrolled into Workspace ONE UEM and has a certificate already deployed
    • If necessary login as:
  1. Open a browser on your windows 10 desktop
    • Enter your custom Workspace ONE Access URL
    • On the Select a certificate window note the account of the certificate and select OK
  1. On the Workspace ONE Intelligent Hub console ,
    • Under Apps,
      • Select Calculator
  • Notice we are getting a Password request.
    • We used a 3rd party Auth method to login to Workspace ONE Access. (In our session a Certificate based Auth method was used) Workspace ONE Access did not have the UPN it would have received from a password Auth method, to pass on to the Horizon Agent.
  • Select Cancel to close the Password Request window
  • In the top right-hand corner,
    • Select and right-click the User Icon ,
    • select Sign out
  • Close your Browser
  • Minimize your W10EXT01a.RDP session

We will now go and configure Horizon Enrollment Services, to be able to facilitate a Single Sign-On experience for 3rd Party Authentication methods

Part 2. Installing a sub-ordinate CA and the Enrollment services

  1. On your ControlCenter server
    • Open the Remote Desktop Folder
      • Launch the TrueSSO.RDP shortcut,
      • Server Manager should launch automatically on the TRUESSO Server, desktop interface
        • On the Server Manager Interface
          • Select Manage > Add Roles and Features
  1. On the Before you begin window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Select installation type window,
    • Ensure the radio button in front of Role-based or feature-based installation is selected
    • Select Next
  1. On Select destination server window (accept the defaults)
    • Select Next
  1. On the Select server roles window,
    • Select the check box in front of Active Directory Certificate Services,
    • When prompted for the Add Features window, select Add Features box,
    • then select Next
  1. On the Select features window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Active Directory Certificate Services window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Select role services window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Confirm Installation selections window,
    • Select the checkbox next to Restart the destination server automatically if required,
    • On the Add Roles and Features Wizard window
      • Select Yes
    • Select Install
  • You will have to wait a short while before moving on to step 10
  1. On the Installation progress page,
    • Select the Configure Active Directory Certificate Services on the destination server hyper-link
  1. On the Credentials window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Role Services page,
    • Select the Certificate Authority checkbox
  1. On the Specify the setup type of the CA window ,
    • Select the radio button next to Enterprise CA
    • Select Next
  1. On the CA type window
    • Ensure the Subordinate CA radio button is selected,
    • Select Next
  1. On the Private Key window,
    • Ensure the radio button next to Create a new private key is selected
    • Select Next
  1. On the Cryptography for CA window, validate the following is selected
    • Under Cryptographic Provider: RSA#Microsoft Software Key Storage Provider
    • Next to Key Length: 2048
    • Hash Algorithm: SHA256
  • Select Next
  1. On the CA Name window
    • Observe the CA naming convention
    • Select Next

 

  1. On the Request a certificate from parent CA ,
    • Select the radio button next to Send a certificate request to a parent CA:
    • In the Select box, select the radio button, next to CA name
    • To the right of the Parent CA box click the Select button
      • In Search box, enter ControlCenter and select Check Names
    • Select OK accept the Defaults
    • Select Next
  1. On the CA Database window,
    • Select Next
  1. On the Confirmation window
    • Select Configure
  1. On the Results window
    • Select Close on the Installation progress window,
    • Select Close, again

Part 3: Deploying and Configuring Horizon TRUE SSO

  1. In this section we will create a certificate template for Horizon TRUESSO
    • On  your TRUESSO server
    • Select Start > Run > type mmc
    • Select File > Add/Remove Snap-in...
    • Select the Certificate Authority services snap-in,  select Add
    • Ensure the Local computer radio button is selected.
    • Select Finish
    • Select OK to close the Snap-ins window
  1. Expand the euc-livefire-TRUESSO-CA inventory
    • Select Certificate Templates,
    • Right-click and select Manage
  1. In the Certificate Template Console
    • Select the Smartcard Logon template
  1. Right-click the Smartcard Logon template
    • Select Duplicate Template
  1. In the Properties of New Template window in the Compatibility tab under Certificate Authority
    • Change from Windows 2003 to Windows 2012 R2
      • When prompted for the Resulting changes window select OK.
    • Under Certificate recipient change Windows XP / Server 2003 to Windows 8.1 / Server 2012 R2
      • When prompted for the Resulting changes window select OK.
  1. Select the General tab,
    • Under Template display name: type TrueSSO Template,
      • You will notice Template name gets filled in automatically
        • Do NOT edit the Template name. Leave as is in the screenshot
    • Under Validity period change the period from 1 years to 1 hours
      • When prompted by the Certificate Templates Box select OK
    • The Renewal period will automatically change from 6 weeks to 0 hours
  1. Select the Request Handling tab change the following next to :-
    • Purpose: change: Signature and encryption to Signature and smartcard logon.
    • Select the checkbox in front of Allow private key to be exported
    • Select the checkbox in front of For automatic renewal of smartcard certificates, use the existing key if a new key cannot be created
    • Select the radio button in front of Prompt the user during enrollment
  1. Select the Cryptography tab change the following next to :-
    • Provider Category: Key Storage Provider
    • Minimum key size: 2048
    • Request hash: SHA256
  1. Select the Server tab,
    • Select the checkbox in front of Do not store certificates  and requests in the CA database  
      • You will notice that Do not include revocation information in issued certificates is selected automatically.
    • Uncheck the check box next to  Do not include revocation information in issued certificates
  1. Select the Issuance Requirements tab, configure the following:
    • Select the checkbox : This number of authorized signatures and change the value to 1 in the box
    • Under Policy type required in signature
      • Ensure the Application policy is selected (default config)
    • Under Application Policy
      • Select Certificate Request Agent from the dropdown
    • Under the Require the following for reenrollment
      • Select the Valid existing certificate radio button
  1. On the Security tab in the Group or user names: area
    • Select Add
      • To the right of the Select this object type: box
        • Select the Object types button
        • Select the checkbox next to Computers,
        • Select OK
  1. In the Enter the object names area
    • Type Truesso
    • To the right select Check Names
    • Select OK
  1. For the Permissions for TRUESSO
    • Select the Security tab
    • Select  the Read and Enroll checkboxes  
    • Select OK to close the TrueSSO Template Properties,
  1. Switch to the Certificate Authority Console
    • Select and right-click the Certificate Templates container,
    • Select New > Certificate Template to Issue
  1. In the Enable Certificate Templates window,
    • Select your TrueSSO Template
    • Select OK
  1. Switch back to the Certificate Templates Console
    • Select and right-click the Enrollment Agent (computer) template
    • Select Properties
  1. In the Enrollment Agent Properties window
    • Select the Security tab
  1. In the Enrollment Agent Properties window (Security Tab)
    • Select Add and add the TRUESSO Computer account
    • Ensure  Read and Enroll permissions are selected
    • Select OK to close the Enrollment agent properties

 

  1. Switch back to the Certificate Authority Console
    • Select and right-click the Certificate Templates container,
    • Select New > Certificate Template to Issue
  1. In the Enable Certificate Templates window
    • Select the Enrollment Agent (Computer) template
    • Select OK
  1. We will now configure the CA  for non-persistent certificate processing
    • On your existing TrueSSO server
      • Select and right-click the Start button
      • Select Command Prompt (Admin)
  1. In the Administrator: Command Prompt enter the following commands
  • certutil -setreg DBFlags +DBFLAGS_ENABLEVOLATILEREQUESTS
  1. Configure CA to ignore offline CRL errors
    • certutil -setreg ca\CRLFlags +CRLF_REVCHECK_IGNORE_OFFLINE
  1. Restart the CA service. From the command prompt run:
    • net stop certsvc
    • net start certsvc
  1. On the TrueSSO server desktop
    • Launch the software shortcut and open the Horizon\2106 folder.
    • Select  the installer,  VMware-Horizon-Connection-Server-x86_64-8.3.0-18294467
    • Select Run
  1. On the Welcome window
    • Select Next
  1. On the License agreement window
    • Select the radio button next I accept the terms in the license agreement,
    • Select Next
  1. On Destination Folder window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Installation Options window
    • Select Horizon Enrollment Server
    • Select Next
  1. On Firewall configuration window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Ready to Install the Program window
    • Select Install
  1. On the Installer Completed Window
    • Select Finish
  1. On the TrueSSO server
    • Select and right-click the Start Button,
    • Select Run, type MMC,
    • Select OK
  1. In the Console window,
    • Select File > Add/Remove Snap-in..
  1. In the Add or Remove Snap-ins window,
    • Select Certificates
    • Select Add
  1. On the Certificates Snap-in
    • Select Computer account radio button
    • Select Next
    • On the Select Computer (accept defaults ) and select Finish
    • Select OK
  1. Expand the Certificates console inventory
    • Select and right-click the Personal container.
    • Select All Tasks > Request New Certificate
  1. On the Certificate Enrollment > Before you Begin window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Select Certificate Enrollment Policy window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Request Certificates windows
    • Select the checkbox in front of Enrollment Agent (Computer)
    • Select Enroll
  1. On the Certificate Installation Results window,
    • Ensure the enrollment was successful
    • Select Finish.
  1. On your ControlCenter server,
    • Open your Remote Desktops folder
    • Launch the  Horizon.RDP session
  1. On the  Horizon server desktop
    • Select and open your Cert Console.mmc
  1. In the Certificates Console
    • Expand the inventory
    • Browse down to VMware Horizon View Certificates > Certificates
  1. In the Certificates Console
    • Expand the console or scroll across the console and notice the guid based certificate has a friendly name of vdm.ec
  1. In the Certificates Console
    • Select your GUID certificate with the friendly name of vdm.ec.
    • Select and Right-Click the GUID certificate,
    • Select All Tasks
    • Select Export
  1. On the Welcome window
    • Select Next
  1. On the Export Private Key page
    • Select the radio button next to No, do not export the private key
    • Select Next
  1. On the Export File Format window
    • Select the radio button next to Base-64 encoded X.509
    • Select Next
  1. In the File to Export window
    • In the File name area type the following E:\software\Horizon\enroll.cer
    • Select Next

 

  1. On the Completing the Certificate Export Wizard window
    • Select Finish.
    • When prompted that The export was successful,
      • Select OK
  1. On your ControlCenter server desktop
    • Switch from your Horizon RDP session to  your TrueSSO RDP session

 

  1. On your TRUESSO server
    • Open your Certificate services Snap-in,
    • Select and right-click the last container in the inventory VMware Horizon View Enrollment Server Trusted Roots,
    • Select All Tasks > Import
  1. On the Welcome window
    • Select Next
  1. In the File to import window
    • Type the following \\horizon\software\Horizon\enroll.cer
    • Select Next
  1. In the Certificate Store window accept the defaults and select Next.
    • On the Summary page select Finish.
    • When Prompted that The Import was succesful select OK
  1. In the Certificates Snap-In
    • Right-click the imported certificate
    • Select Properties.
    • In the Friendly name: section type vdm.ec
    • Select OK
  1. On your ControlCenter server,
    • Switch to your Chrome browser,
    • Open a new tab,
    • Using  your custom Workspace ONE Acces Url,
      • Log in as System admin with your custom credentials
    • Select the Catalog tab > Virtual Apps Collection

 

  1. In the Virtual Apps Collection window
    • Select the radio button next Horizon
    • Select EDIT next to NEW
  1. In the Edit Horizon Collection window,
    • Select 2 Pod and Federation,
      • To the right, select horizon.euc-livefire.com
  1. In the Edit Pod window
    • Under True SSO, change the toggle from Disabled to Enabled
    • Select SAVE , select NEXT, select NEXT, select SAVE
  1. From the ControlCenter server, switch back to your TrueSSO.RDP session
    1. Select the Start button > RUN and type regedit.exe
    2. In the regedit inventory, browse to the following location, browse to
      • HKLM\SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.\VMware VDM\
      • What we should see is an Enrollment Service Key
        • HKLM\SOFTWARE\VMware, Inc.\VMware VDM\Enrollment Service.
        • You will notice there is no Enrollment Service key,  we need to create one. In our case we have to
    3. Create the Enrollment Service key
      • Right-click VMware VDM > New > Key and type Enrollment Service as a name
  1. Configure the enrollment service to give preference to the local certificate authority when they are co-located:
    • Add a new String Value
      • Right-click the Enrollment Service key > New > String Value
        • type the name PreferLocalCa
      • Right-click the PreferLocalCa String value and
        • Select Modify
          • In the Value data: field enter 1
      • Select OK to close the window.
      • Click to close RegEdit
  1. On your ControlCenter server
    • Switch to your  Horizon.RDP session
    • NOTE. At this point, to get the maximum benefit with the following steps, it would be advisable to go Full Screen with your RDP session.

 

  1. On your Horizon server
    • Select and right-click the Start button
    • Select Command Prompt (Admin)
    • Maximise your Command Prompt window
  1. In the Administrator: Command Prompt type the following:-
    • cd\
    • cd Program Files\VMware\VMware View\Server\tools\bin
  1. In the Administrator: Command Prompt type the following:-

The enrollment server is added to the global list.

vdmUtil --authAs administrator --authDomain euc-livefire --authPassword VMware1! --truesso --environment --add --enrollmentServer TrueSSO.euc-livefire.com
  1. Wait 1 min before doing the next command
    1. If one executes too quick, you will get the following error message
      • In the Administrator: Command Prompt type the following:-
    2. The output shows the forest name, whether the certificate for the enrollment server is valid, the name and details of the certificate template you can use, and the common name of the certificate authority. 
vdmUtil --authAs administrator --authDomain euc-livefire --authPassword VMware1! --truesso --environment --list --enrollmentServer TrueSSO.euc-livefire.com --domain euc-livefire.com
  1. Enter the command to create a True SSO connector, which will hold the configuration information, and enable the connector. 
vdmUtil --authAs administrator --authDomain euc-livefire --authPassword VMware1! --truesso --create --connector --domain euc-livefire.com --template TrueSSOTemplate --primaryEnrollmentServer truesso.euc-livefire.com --certificateServer euc-livefire-TRUESSO-CA --mode enabled
  1. Enter the command to discover which SAML authenticators are available

Authenticators are created when you configure SAML authentication between Workspace ONE Access and a connection server, using Horizon Administrator.

The output shows the name of the authenticator and shows whether True SSO is enabled

vdmUtil --authAs administrator --authDomain euc-livefire --authPassword VMware1! --truesso --list --authenticator
  1. You will notice True SSO mode is Disabled. Enter the command to enable the authenticator to use True SSO mode
vdmUtil --authAs administrator --authDomain euc-livefire --authPassword VMware1! --truesso --authenticator --edit --name "Workspace ONE Access" --truessoMode ENABLED

 For --truessoMode, use ENABLED if you want True SSO to be used only if no password was supplied when the user logged in to  Workspace ONE Access. In this case if a password was used and cached, the system will use the password. Set --truessoMode to ALWAYS if you want True SSO to be used even if a password was supplied when the user logged in to Workspace ONE Access

  1. On your ControlCenter server
    • Minimise your Horizon.RDP Session

Part 4: Testing to see if TrueSSO works

  1. On your ControlCenter server,
    • Switch your Remote Desktops session to  W10EXT01a.RDP.
  1. On your W10EXT01a desktop,  
    • Open your browser and type custom Workspace ONE Ascess URL
  1. On the Select a certificate window,
    • Select OK
  1. In the Apps  tab
    • Select W10INST
  1. In the All Apps area,
    • Observer your Horizon Desktop session
    • Possibly launch a RDSH session from your Workspace ONE Access console
    • This concludes this lab as

Acknowledgements

A huge thank you Spas Kaloferov from Livefire and Rahul Jha from GSS in assisting me Troubleshoot this lab when authoring the first version

About the Author

About the Author Reinhart Nel

https://www.livefire.solutions/meet-the-team/reinhartnel/

For any questions please email  Reinhart  [email protected]

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