5.2

n
If the parent virtual machine runs Windows 7 or Windows 8, verify that you followed the best practices
for optimizing the operating system. See “Optimizing Windows 7 and Windows 8 for Linked-Clone
Desktops,” on page 73.
n
Familiarize
yourself with the procedure for disabling searching Windows Update for device drivers. See
the Microsoft Technet article, "Disable Searching Windows Update for Device Drivers" at
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(v=ws.10).aspx.
Procedure
n
Remove the DHCP lease on the parent virtual machine to avoid copying a leased IP address to the linked
clones in the pool.
a On the parent virtual machine, open a command prompt.
b Type the ipconfig /release command.
n
Verify that the system disk contains a single volume.
You cannot deploy linked clones from a parent virtual machine that contains more than one volume. The
View Composer service does not support multiple disk partitions. Multiple virtual disks are supported.
NOTE If the parent virtual machine contains multiple virtual disks, when you create a desktop pool, do
not select a drive letter for the View Composer persistent disk or disposable data disk that already exists
on the parent virtual machine or that conflicts with a drive letter that is used for a network-mounted drive.
n
Verify that the virtual machine does not contain an independent disk.
An
independent disk is excluded when you take a snapshot of the virtual machine. Linked clones that are
created or recomposed from the virtual machine will not contain the independent disk.
n
If you plan to configure disposable data disks when you create linked-clone desktops, remove default user
TEMP and TMP variables from the parent virtual machine.
You can also remove the pagefile.sys file to avoid duplicating the file on all the linked clones. If you leave
the pagefile.sys file on the parent virtual machine, a read-only version of the file is inherited by the linked
clones, while a second version of the file is used on the disposable data disk.
n
Disable the hibernation option to reduce the size of linked-clone OS disks that are created from the parent
virtual machine.
n
Before you take a snapshot of the parent virtual machine, disable searching Windows Update for device
drivers.
This Windows feature can interfere with the customization of linked-clone desktops. As each linked clone
is customized, Windows might search for the best drivers on the Internet for that clone, resulting in
repeated searches and customization delays.
n
In vSphere Client, disable the vApp Options setting on the parent virtual machine.
You can deploy a linked-clone pool from the parent virtual machine.
What to do next
Use vSphere Client to take a snapshot of the parent virtual machine in its powered-down state. This snapshot
is used as the baseline configuration for the first set of linked-clone desktops that are anchored to the parent
virtual machine.
IMPORTANT Before you take a snapshot, completely shut down the parent virtual machine by using the Shut
Down command in the guest operating system.
Chapter 4 Creating and Preparing Virtual Machines
VMware, Inc. 81