6.0.2

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 machines. For details, see the View Administration document.
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
For guidelines and rules for using QuickPrep customization scripts, see “Running QuickPrep Customization
Scripts,” on page 73.
NOTE View Composer requires domain user credentials to join linked-clone machines to an Active
Directory domain. For details, see the View Administration document.
Running QuickPrep Customization Scripts
With the QuickPrep tool, you can create scripts to customize the linked-clone machines 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 machine 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.
Chapter 5 Creating Linked-Clone Desktop Pools
VMware, Inc. 73