5.2

For guidelines and rules for using QuickPrep customization scripts, see “Running QuickPrep Customization
Scripts,” on page 105.
NOTE View Composer requires domain user credentials to join linked-clone desktops to an Active Directory
domain. For details, see “Create a User Account for View Composer,” on page 15.
Running QuickPrep Customization Scripts
With the QuickPrep tool, you can create scripts to customize the linked-clone desktops in a pool. You can
configure QuickPrep to run customization scripts at two predefined times.
When QuickPrep Scripts Run
The
post-synchronization script runs after linked clones are created, recomposed, or rebalanced, and the clones'
status is Ready. The power-off script runs before linked clones are powered off. The scripts run in the guest
operating systems of the linked clones.
How QuickPrep Executes Scripts
The QuickPrep process uses the Windows CreateProcess API call to execute scripts. Your script can invoke
any process that can be created with the CreateProcess API. For example, cmd, vbscript, exe, and batch-file
processes work with the API.
In particular, QuickPrep passes the path that is specified for the script as the second parameter to the
CreateProcess API and sets the first parameter to NULL.
For example, if the script path is c:\myscript.cmd, the path appears as the second parameter in the function in
the View Composer log file: CreateProcess(NULL,c:\myscript.cmd,...).
Providing Paths to QuickPrep Scripts
You provide paths to the QuickPrep customization scripts when you create a linked-clone desktop pool or
when you edit a pool's guest customization settings. The scripts must reside on the parent virtual machine.
You cannot use a UNC path to a network share.
If you use a scripting language that needs an interpreter to execute the script, the script path must start with
the interpreter binary.
For example, if you specify the path C:\script\myvb.vbs as a QuickPrep customization script, View Composer
Agent cannot execute the script. You must specify a path that starts with the interpreter binary path:
C:\windows\system32\cscript.exe c:\script\myvb.vbs
IMPORTANT Protect QuickPrep customization scripts from access by ordinary users. Place the scripts in a secure
folder.
QuickPrep Script Timeout Limit
View Composer terminates a post-synchronization or power-off script that takes longer than 20 seconds. If
your script takes longer than 20 seconds, you can increase the timeout limit. For details, see “Increase the
Timeout Limit of QuickPrep Customization Scripts,” on page 84.
Alternatively,
you can use your script to launch another script or process that performs the long-running task.
QuickPrep Script Account
QuickPrep runs the scripts under the account under which the VMware View Composer Guest Agent Server
service is configured to run. By default, this account is Local System.
Do not change this log on account. If you do, the linked clones do not start.
Chapter 5 Creating Desktop Pools
VMware, Inc. 105