5.2

Second pool:
VDIABC-101
VDIABC-102
VDIABC-103
For details about naming patterns and tokens, see “Using a Naming Pattern for Automated Desktop Pools,”
on page 129.
Manually Customizing Desktops
After you create an automated pool, you can customize particular desktops without reassigning ownership.
By
starting the desktops in maintenance mode, you can modify and test the desktops before you release them
to their assigned users or make them available to all entitled users in the pool.
n
Customizing Desktops in Maintenance Mode on page 131
Maintenance mode prevents users from accessing their desktops. If you start desktops in maintenance
mode, View Manager places each desktop in maintenance mode when the desktop is created.
n
Customize Individual Desktops on page 131
You can customize individual desktops after a pool is created by starting the desktops in maintenance
mode.
Customizing Desktops in Maintenance Mode
Maintenance mode prevents users from accessing their desktops. If you start desktops in maintenance mode,
View Manager places each desktop in maintenance mode when the desktop is created.
In a dedicated-assignment pool, you can use maintenance mode to log in to a desktop without having to
reassign ownership to your own administrator account. When you finish the customization, you do not have
to return ownership to the user assigned to the desktop.
In a floating-assignment pool, you can test desktops in maintenance mode before you let users log in.
To perform the same customization on all desktops in an automated pool, customize the virtual machine you
prepare as a template or parent. View Manager deploys your customization to all the desktops. When you
create the pool, you can also use a Sysprep customization specification to configure all the desktops with
licensing, domain attachment, DHCP settings, and other computer properties.
NOTE You can start desktops in maintenance mode if you manually specify desktop names for the pool, not
if you name desktops by providing a naming pattern.
Customize Individual Desktops
You
can customize individual desktops after a pool is created by starting the desktops in maintenance mode.
Procedure
1 In View Administrator, begin creating an automated desktop pool by starting the Add Pool wizard.
2 On the Provisioning Settings page, select Specify names manually.
3 Select Start desktops in maintenance mode.
4 Complete the Add Pool wizard to finish creating the desktop pool.
5 In vCenter Server, log in, customize, and test the individual desktop virtual machines.
You can customize the desktops manually or by using standard Windows systems-management software
such as Altiris, SMS, LanDesk, or BMC.
6 In View Administrator, select the desktop pool.
Chapter 5 Creating Desktop Pools
VMware, Inc. 131