Overview

This article provides guidance for running Microsoft Teams in the Evolve IP Cloud.  Specifically, Workspaces (powered by Citrix) and DaaS (Powered by VMware)

While most applications will function in a properly sized virtual desktop or hosted application environment, below are considerations for any real-time audio / video compatibility.

1. Does the vendor provide support for RTAV applications installed in a virtual environment?
2. If so, what is the vendor documented minimum requirements for RTAV operation, including endpoints, ie Win10, Mac, Linux, Browser, Thin Client?

Microsoft Teams can be used within a web browser on nearly any device that includes real-time audio and video.  For information and limitations of the browser based Teams client, please see link here.

For customers wishing to utilize the fully installed Microsoft Teams client within an Evolve IP Workspace or DaaS product, please refer to the following compatibility information

MS Teams and Workspace

Evolve IP Workspaces Products

Workspaces Desktop	RTAV Support	Microsoft Certified	Optimized for MS Teams	Important Notes
Workspaces Std	NA	NA	NA	Microsoft does not support Microsoft Teams as a Published application.
Workspaces Pro				Workspace Pro meets the minimum requirements for MS Teams WITHOUT RTAV enabled.
Workspaces Elite				Workspaces Elite supports all MS Teams features.

Possible Feature Limitations

• Citrix optimized MS teams provides a single incoming video stream during group calls.  When there are multiple participants sending their video, only the dominant speaker’s video is shown at any time.  This is also true for any version of Chrome.  MS Edge does support multiple RTAV streams. 
• When doing screen sharing in multi-monitor setups, it's possible the user's main monitor is only shared.
• During screen sharing, give control take control may not be supported.

Resources

• The Citrix Optimization Guide for Microsoft Teams is a public guide that outlines all of the requirements for configuring the virtual desktop environment (EIP responsibility), and the endpoint devices accessing a virtual desktop (client responsibility).  The optimization guide includes the following:
  • Minimum endpoint requirements (hardware, operating systems, and software)
  • Recommended peripherals (headsets & webcams).
  • A list of supported thin clients from multiple vendors.
  • Network considerations, and call flow information.
  • Known limitations, and some troubleshooting information.

Important Terminology

Optimized for MS Teams - This means the virtual desktop environment, the endpoint device connecting to the virtual desktop, and MS Teams installed in the virtual desktop has been fully optimized to support real-time audio/video calling and meetings in MS Teams.

Real-Time Audio/Video (RTAV) - A delivery mechanism between the virtual desktop and the endpoint device that facilitates MS Teams audio/video calling and meetings.  Each virtual environment vendor (Microsoft, Citrix, & VMware) have developed their own technologies to support RTAV.

MS Teams in VMware Horizon DaaS

The below VMware Horizon DaaS support matrix provides information as it relates to MS Teams.

Evolve IP VMware Horizon DaaS Products

Desktop	Specs	RTAV Support	Microsoft Certified	Optimized for MS Teams	Important Notes
DaaS Standard Seat	2 vCPU, 4GB RAM				The DaaS Standard Seat is only supported with MS Teams when  audio/video calls and meetings are disabled.
DaaS Premium Seat	2 vCPU, 8GB RAM				DaaS Premium meets the minimum requirements for MS Teams WITHOUT RTAV enabled.
DaaS Ultimate Seat	2 vCPU, 16GB RAM				DaaS Ultimate runs all of the features of MS Teams including RTAV but does not meet Microsoft’s recommendation of 4vCPU.

• Microsoft Teams with Real-Time Audio-Video is supported on Horizon Agent 7.9 and later on Windows, Linux, and Mac clients.
• Currently, VMware Horizon DaaS is not "certified" by Microsoft (like Citrix) for MS Teams.  
• VMware's minimum requirements for running MS Teams with real-time audio/video (RTAV) is 4 vCPU and 4 GB RAM. 
• The product, engineering, and proserv teams are currently testing our DaaS Premium & Ultimate Seats to see if they can handle MS Teams with RTAV features enabled.
• Our engineering team is currently looking into the ability to offer virtual desktops with 4 vCPUs.  No ETA at this time.
• Minimum requirements and additional information can be found in VMware's public guide: Configuring MS Teams for real-time audio/video.
• RTAV not supported on WYSE thin clients at this time.  WYSE is planning a future update to thinOS to provide better support for RTAV.