5.2

Pools for Task Workers
You can standardize on stateless desktop images for task workers so that the image is always in a well-known,
easily supportable configuration and so that workers can log in to any available desktop.
Because task workers perform repetitive tasks within a small set of applications, you can create stateless
desktop images, which help conserve storage space and processing requirements. Use the following pool
settings:
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Create an automated pool so that desktops can be created when the pool is created or can be generated
on demand based on pool usage.
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Use floating assignment so that users log in to any available desktop. This setting reduces the number of
desktops required if everyone does not need to be logged in at the same time.
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Create View Composer linked-clone desktops so that desktops share the same base image and use less
storage space in the datacenter than full virtual machines.
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Determine what action, if any, to take when users log off. Disks grow over time. You can conserve disk
space by refreshing the desktop to its original state when users log off. You can also set a schedule for
periodically refreshing desktops. For example, you can schedule desktops to refresh daily, weekly, or
monthly.
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If applicable, consider storing desktops on local ESXi datastores. This strategy can offer advantages such
as inexpensive hardware, fast virtual-machine provisioning, high-performance power operations, and
simple management. For a list of the limitations, see “Local Datastores for Floating, Stateless Desktops,”
on page 29.
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Use the Persona Management feature so that users always have their preferred desktop appearance and
application settings, as with Windows user profiles. If you do not have the desktops set to be refreshed
or deleted at logoff, you can configure the persona to be removed at logoff.
IMPORTANT View Persona Management facilitates implementing a floating-assignment pool for those users
who want to retain settings between sessions. Previously, one of the limitations of floating-assignment
desktops was that when end users logged off, they lost all their configuration settings and any data stored in
the View desktop.
Each time end users logged on, their desktop background was set to the default wallpaper, and they would
have to configure each application's preferences again. With View Persona Management, an end user of a
floating-assignment desktop cannot tell the difference between their session and a session on a dedicated-
assignment desktop.
Pools for Knowledge Workers and Power Users
Knowledge workers must be able to create complex documents and have them persist on the desktop. Power
users must be able to install their own applications and have them persist. Depending on the nature and amount
of personal data that must be retained, the desktop can be stateful or stateless.
Because power users and knowledge workers, such as accountants, sales managers, marketing research
analysts, must be able to create and retain documents and settings, you create dedicated-assignment desktops
for them. For knowledge workers who do not need user-installed applications except for temporary use, you
can create stateless desktop images and save all their personal data outside of the virtual machine, on a file
server or in an application database. For other knowledge workers and for power users, you can create stateful
desktop images. Use the following pool settings:
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Use dedicated assignment pools so that each knowledge worker or power user logs in to the same desktop
every time.
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Use the Persona Management feature so that users always have their preferred desktop appearance and
application settings, as with Windows user profiles.
Chapter 4 Architecture Design Elements and Planning Guidelines
VMware, Inc. 41