5.2

Table Of Contents
Table 5-6. Comparing QuickPrep and Microsoft Sysprep
QuickPrep Customization Specification (Sysprep)
Designed to work with View Composer.
For details, see “Customizing Linked-Clone Desktops with
QuickPrep,” on page 104.
Can be created with the standard Microsoft Sysprep tools.
Uses the same local computer security identifier (SID) for all
linked clones in the pool.
Generates a unique local computer SID for each linked clone
in the pool.
Can run additional customization scripts before linked
clones are powered off and after linked clones are created,
refreshed, or recomposed.
Can run an additional script when the user first logs in.
Joins the linked clone computer to the Active Directory
domain.
Joins the linked-clone computer to the Active Directory
domain.
The domain and administrator information in the Sysprep
customization specification is not used. The virtual machine
is joined to the domain using the guest customization
information that you enter in View Administrator when you
create the pool.
For each linked clone, adds a unique ID to the Active
Directory domain account.
For each linked clone, adds a unique ID to the Active
Directory domain account.
Does not generate a new SID after linked clones are
refreshed. The common SID is preserved.
Generates a new SID when each linked clone is customized.
Preserves the unique SIDs during a refresh operation, but not
during a recompose or rebalance operation.
Does not generate a new SID after linked clones are
recomposed. The common SID is preserved.
Runs again after linked clones are recomposed, generating
new SIDs for the virtual machines.
For details, see “Recomposing Linked Clones Customized
with Sysprep,” on page 106.
Runs faster than Sysprep. Can take longer than QuickPrep.
After you customize a linked-clone pool with QuickPrep or Sysprep, you cannot switch to the other
customization method when you create or recompose desktops in the pool.
Customizing Linked-Clone Desktops with QuickPrep
You can personalize the linked-clone desktops that are created from a parent virtual machine by using the
QuickPrep system tool. View Composer executes QuickPrep when a linked-clone desktop is created or
recomposed.
QuickPrep customizes a linked-clone desktop in several ways:
n
Gives the computer a name that you specify when you create the linked-clone pool.
n
Creates a computer account in Active Directory, joining the computer to the appropriate domain.
n
Mounts the View Composer persistent disk. The Windows user profile is redirected to this disk.
n
Redirects temp and paging files to a separate disk.
These steps might require the linked clones to restart one or more times.
QuickPrep
uses KMS volume license keys to activate Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista linked-clone
desktops. For details, see “Activating Windows on Linked-Clone Desktops,” on page 82.
You can create your own scripts to further customize the linked clones. QuickPrep can run two types of scripts
at predefined times:
n
After linked clones are created or recomposed
n
Immediately before linked clones are powered off
VMware Horizon View Administration
104 VMware, Inc.