Zoom’s VDI solution can optionally manage updates for both the VDI Zoom Meeting client and the VDI plugin. The VDI Zoom Meeting client can be enabled for software updates using the same policies available for the standard Zoom Meeting client. New software is also available to manage VDI plugins based on policy.
Enabling the option to use Zoom VDI Plugin Management will detect when the user has an older VDI plugin or a missing VDI plugin and prompt the user to confirm the installation of the required plugin. The default configuration will install the latest version that is compatible with the VDI Zoom Meeting client (Zoom desktop app).
Notes:
Zoom VDI Plugin Management was developed for users working from home to access Citrix, VMware, and Azure/Windows 365 virtual desktops.
Beginning with release 5.10.0, the Windows VDI plugin installed an additional component that can update VDI plugins when the policy EnableVDIPluginAutoUpgrade is added and enabled on the virtual desktop. VDI plugins will not update automatically until the policy has been added. The software that manages VDI plugin updates must also be installed on the device where the VDI plugin is required. This software is installed automatically when installing VDI plugin versions 5.10.0 or higher for Windows and versions 5.12.6 and greater for Mac. Earlier versions of the VDI plugin do not include the plugin management feature, but other options can be used to add the Zoom VDI Plugin Management software.
There are also configuration policies for VDI plugin management that provide more options for administrators.
Note: For VDI versions 6.5.10 or higher, the Zoom VDI Plugin will automatically update if the EnableVDIPluginAutoUpgrade policy is not disabled and if the plugin management version is 6.2.12 or higher.
There are also options for managing updates for the VDI Zoom Meeting client. Users can configure their desktop app’s automatic update frequencies and minimum, prompted, and slow/fast update versions for their plugin management functionality.
The software that manages the VDI plugins is separate from the VDI plugin.
When the VDI Zoom Meeting client is enabled to connect to the VDI plugin management software, the connection is used to detect missing, out-of-date, or incompatible plugins. The correct VDI plugin to use is downloaded and installed after the user disconnects from their virtual desktop.
The Zoom VDI Plugin Management solution uses a “virtual channel” between the VDI Zoom Meeting client running on the virtual desktop and the Zoom VDI Plugin Management software running on the computer that connects to the virtual desktop. Virtual channels are also used to manage media offloading for audio and video through the VDI plugin. VDI plugin management also uses a virtual channel—but just to manage VDI plugins. While the plugin management software is installed with the VDI plugin, the software can also be installed separately, or admins can push the plugin management software on its own.
First, the policy for managing VDI plugins must be enabled. When a connection is established using the virtual channel between the VDI Zoom Meeting client and the plugin management software, plugin requirements and policies determine what to install on the user’s computer.
When Zoom VDI Plugin Management determines a VDI plugin is needed, the plugin management feature downloads and starts the installation of the required VDI plugin.
Notes:
Starting with release 5.14.0, the Windows Universal Installer for the VDI Plugin includes a service to allow administrators to push VDI Plugins to users who do not have Admin privileges on the local device. Previously, the VDI Plugin installation package required the current user to confirm installation, even if their account had Admin privileges. If the current user did not have Admin privileges, they would be prompted to enter Admin credentials to install the VDI Plugin.
This new VDI Plugin Management Service runs in the background and transparently provides the required Admin privileges during installation. End-users are only prompted with an update prompt when a VDI Plugin upgrade is needed, asking them to confirm the update installation or delay the installation until the next virtual session.
Note: Initial installation of the VDI Plugin Management Service does require Admin privileges. When VDI Plugin management is enabled, future updates of both the VDI Plugin and the VDI Plugin Management package will be installed without prompting the user during installation. The user is only prompted with a notification when a new VDI plugin is required.
By default, VDI Plugin Management is enabled when using the install wizard, and if installing using MSI command line options, the VDI Plugin Management components and service are also installed by default. Administrators who do not want the VDI Plugin Management package to be installed can use the following command line option: DisableAUS=TRUE.
To confirm the new service has been installed, admins can check the device’s local services for Zoom Service for VDI Plugin Management. The service is installed as a Startup service and set to Automatic by default. If logging is enabled, logging information generated from the VDI Plugin Management service is minimal, and administrative credentials used by the service are not logged.
| Display Name | Service Name | Executable | Registered by |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Zoom Service for VDI Plugin Management
|
ZoomCptServiceForVDIPluginMgmt
|
CptService.exe
|
Zoom VDI Plugin Management (Win) (shipped with the Zoom Universal Plugin Win), since VDI release 5.14.0
|
|
Zoom Sharing Service
|
ZoomCptService
|
CptService.exe
|
Zoom Workplace for Windows, Zoom Workplace VDI client (inside the virtual desktop), Zoom Rooms
|
The VDI Statistics tab in the Zoom VDI client displays the current auto-update status of the Zoom VDI plugin. This status is shown regardless of whether the VDI plugin auto-update is enabled, giving users and administrators a consistent view of the plugin's update status.
The following statuses may be displayed:
Note: The Statistics tab displays plugin management data on the VDI client side, regardless of whether plugin auto-update is enabled. To change auto-update behavior, see the Enterprise Auto Update policies for the Zoom VDI plugin.
The Zoom VDI Plugin Management component is updated every time a VDI plugin is installed. While any release of the Zoom VDI Plugin Management component will work with the Zoom Meeting client to support downloading and installing a VDI plugin, each VDI plugin includes the Zoom VDI Plugin Management software. As changes are made to the Zoom VDI Plugin Management software, those changes will be downloaded and installed automatically as part of new VDI plugin releases.
Starting the Zoom VDI Plugin Management App 6.5.10 or higher will trigger the plugin management auto-update feature, and will always update to the latest version. This can be disabled via the policy EnableVDIPluginMgmtAutoUpdate. Learn more about the policy here.
After following the software requirements and understanding the Zoom VDI Plugin Management feature, account admins can manage the Zoom VDI Plugin Management features by taking the following actions: