Prepare a Parent Virtual Machine
In this post where going to prepare a Windows XP SP2 Virtual Machine for a linked clone deplyment for VMware View.
First you have to install the VMware agent in the Guest OS.
Second make sure that the Virtual Machine:
- is joined the Active Directory domain in which you want linked clone desktops to reside.
- Network settings (proxies, etc) are properly configured
- Use DHCP to obtain a IP Adress.
- System disk is configured to use Virtual SCSI Device node 0:0
- Operating power settings are set to remain on at all times.
- System disk contains a single volume (multiple volumes disks are supported, multiple volumes due multiple partitions are not supported)
- The View Agent is installed and running
If you have accomplisch the above. Shutdown the VM and create a Snapshot. This Snapshot will be the base image.
After creating the Base Snapshot, where going to add the Virtual Machine as a Linked clone Desktop.
In the VMware View Administrator:
- Click the Desktop button and then Click the Inventory tab. In the Desktop pane, ensure that the Desktops tab is selected and click Add.
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- Select if you want to use ad Persistent on Non-Persistent Desktop.
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- Select the vCenter server who you wanne use. Make sure you enable Use linked clone technology to create desktops in this pool. If you cannot enable this option, you must enable the composer function Configuration Tab | Click on the vCenter server | Edit | Enable View Composer and add a Domain Administrator Account.
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- Provide a Unique ID (Example: Corporate Desktops), Display Name (Example: Standard Desktop WilmsenIT) and a description.
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- Provide the Desktop/Pool Settings:
- State: Enabled (After being created the desktop is automatically enabled and ready to use), Disabled (After being created the desktop is not enabled. This is useful if you want to to post deployment tasks.)
- When VM is not is use: Do nothing (VM remains on), Ensure VM is always powered on (if the user shutdown the desktop it’s immediately restarted), Suspend, Power off.
- Automatic log off after disconnect: Never, Immediately or After (time in minutes when the desktop is logged off).
- Power off and delete virtual machine after first use: This is for Non-Persistent Pools only. When a users logs off, the Virtual Machine is deleted.
- Allow users to rest their desktop: User can without administrative assistance reset their desktop.
- Allow multiple sessions per user: This is for Non-Persistent Pools only. This enables users to make more connections to multiple desktops at the same time in the same pool.
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- Configure the desktop provision properties:
- Provisioning: Enabled (The desktop in the Pool will be immediately created upon completions of the deployment procedure or after a desktop is deleted), Disabled (The desktop in the pool will not be immediately created upon completion of the deployment procedure or after a desktop is deleted.).
- Number off Desktops: Specify the number of desktops created in this pool. This setting is disabled if you select the “Enable Advanced Pool Settings” check box in the “Advanced Settings” Panel.
- VM naming Pattern: By default, a prefix is used to identify all desktops in a pool as part of the same group. The prefix can be up to 13 characters in length and a numeric suffix is appended to this entry in order to distinguish each desktop from others in the same pool.
You can override thsi behavior by entering a name that contains a token representing the pool number {n} (Example: Finance-{n}-Desktop). You can add a fixed length token {fixed=3} (Example: Finance-{n:fixed=3}. The output can be: Finance-001 or Finance-002). - Stop provisioning on error: This stops the provisioning of new virtual machines when error occur (for example no disk space left).
- Advanced Settings: Enable this option if you want to configure random provisioning. Give the number of “Minimum Desktops“, “Maximum Desktops” and “Availible Desktops“.]
- Select the Parent VM (you only see VM that have one or more snapshots) and click Next.
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- Select the snapshot you earlier created in its inactive state and click Next.
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- Select where you wanne store the Virtual Machines and click Next.
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- Select a host or a Cluster on which to run the VM used by this desktop and click Next.
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- Select a Resource pool (optional) and click Next.
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- Select one or more Datastores on which to store the desktop pool.
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- Select the Domain Administrator Account, this user will provide access to the Active Directory for the Linked Clones. Optional you can provide a Power-off script, Post synchronization script and the container where to put the Workstation objects.
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- You are provide with a summary. Check your configuration a click Finish.
The last thing you have to accomplish is to Entitle the Desktop to users.
Michael Wilmsen is a experienced VMware Architect with more than 20 years in the IT industry. Main focus is VMware vSphere, Horizon View and Hyper Converged with a deep interest into performance and architecture.
Michael is VCDX 210 certified, has been rewarded with the vExpert title from 2011, Nutanix Tech Champion and a Nutanix Platform Professional.
By jwingenbach, April 28, 2009 @ 17:42
Hello
I am new to VMware.
What could be wrong if I do not see my snapshot? I have created a new snapshot and deleted the one that was previously used when I created the pool.
By Mike, April 28, 2009 @ 18:40
Hi,
I’m assuming that you are looking in the snapshot manager (VM | Snapshot | Snapshot Manager). Is this the place where you don’t see the snapshot(s)?
And what if you create a new Snapshot. Does this one shows-up? If not, try to shutdown your VM and delete de .vmsd file in de VMFS datastore
and try it agian.
Good Luck!
By jwingenbach, April 28, 2009 @ 17:42
Hello
I am new to VMware.
What could be wrong if I do not see my snapshot? I have created a new snapshot and deleted the one that was previously used when I created the pool.
By Mike, April 28, 2009 @ 18:40
Hi,
I’m assuming that you are looking in the snapshot manager (VM | Snapshot | Snapshot Manager). Is this the place where you don’t see the snapshot(s)?
And what if you create a new Snapshot. Does this one shows-up? If not, try to shutdown your VM and delete de .vmsd file in de VMFS datastore
and try it agian.
Good Luck!
By jwingenbach, April 28, 2009 @ 21:55
Thank you for you response. Here is some more information
I created a new snap shot (VM | Snapshot | Take Snapshot)
When I go into the View Administrator and go to the Desktop Pool and edit the Automated Pool I had previously created and then go through the various screens when I get to the screen where I see the name of the PC that contains the snapshot in yellow then go to the next screen were I assume I should be able to select the snapshot it is not there. What is the best way to delete a desktop pool and start over? Or is this not a wise option. This is a test environment not production.
By Mike, April 29, 2009 @ 13:09
Hmm, It was not clear to me that you where talking about VMware View. I thought your where talking about ESX. What version of ESX are you running?
By jwingenbach, April 28, 2009 @ 21:55
Thank you for you response. Here is some more information
I created a new snap shot (VM | Snapshot | Take Snapshot)
When I go into the View Administrator and go to the Desktop Pool and edit the Automated Pool I had previously created and then go through the various screens when I get to the screen where I see the name of the PC that contains the snapshot in yellow then go to the next screen were I assume I should be able to select the snapshot it is not there. What is the best way to delete a desktop pool and start over? Or is this not a wise option. This is a test environment not production.
By Mike, April 29, 2009 @ 13:09
Hmm, It was not clear to me that you where talking about VMware View. I thought your where talking about ESX. What version of ESX are you running?
By jwingenbach, April 29, 2009 @ 16:05
My mistake I should have read the directions better. I should have shutdown the VM before I created the snapshot. Thank you for your help.
Is there a best practice to have a server setup specifically for the sandbox application storage?
I would assume that this would also help with setting up a spare server for fail over.
By Mike, April 30, 2009 @ 11:51
I don’t quit get what you want to do and what is has to do with VMware View.
Just to make sure… .what do you mean by sandbox application storage in combination with server fail over.
By jwingenbach, April 29, 2009 @ 16:05
My mistake I should have read the directions better. I should have shutdown the VM before I created the snapshot. Thank you for your help.
Is there a best practice to have a server setup specifically for the sandbox application storage?
I would assume that this would also help with setting up a spare server for fail over.
By Mike, April 30, 2009 @ 11:51
I don’t quit get what you want to do and what is has to do with VMware View.
Just to make sure… .what do you mean by sandbox application storage in combination with server fail over.
By Rob, January 19, 2010 @ 21:27
I have a ESX 4 system and VCenter manager with View Composer installed. I have setup the connection server, and am able to build desktop pools without :CloneTechnology” but if I select it I cant see any VM’s to pick? I have tried creating multiple snapshots, not sure why I dont see them?
By Mike, January 20, 2010 @ 09:53
have you made a snapshot of the system while the VM is powered off?
By Rob, January 19, 2010 @ 21:27
I have a ESX 4 system and VCenter manager with View Composer installed. I have setup the connection server, and am able to build desktop pools without :CloneTechnology” but if I select it I cant see any VM’s to pick? I have tried creating multiple snapshots, not sure why I dont see them?
By Mike, January 20, 2010 @ 09:53
have you made a snapshot of the system while the VM is powered off?
By Lance, March 25, 2010 @ 23:18
I don’t see a snapshot as well, even though I’ve created like 3 or 4 both when the vm is shutdown or hot. Is it because the XP machine is using IDE instead of SCSI?
By Mike, March 26, 2010 @ 09:09
maybe a stupid question but have you enabled linked clones on the vcenter server and installed the view composer on the vcenter server?
By Lance, March 25, 2010 @ 23:18
I don’t see a snapshot as well, even though I’ve created like 3 or 4 both when the vm is shutdown or hot. Is it because the XP machine is using IDE instead of SCSI?
By Mike, March 26, 2010 @ 09:09
maybe a stupid question but have you enabled linked clones on the vcenter server and installed the view composer on the vcenter server?
By fireplace mantel, April 29, 2010 @ 12:42
It’s good to ultimately obtain a web page where the blogger understands what they’re talking about.
By fireplace mantel, April 29, 2010 @ 12:42
It’s good to ultimately obtain a web page where the blogger understands what they’re talking about.
By Online Ouija Board, September 14, 2010 @ 09:42
i was just pondering this very same thing earlier haha, excellent post
By Online Ouija Board, September 14, 2010 @ 09:42
i was just pondering this very same thing earlier haha, excellent post