6.0.2

Create a Manual Desktop Pool
You can create a manual desktop pool that provisions desktops from existing virtual machines or physical
computers. You must select the machines that will be included in the desktop pool.
For manual pools with virtual machines that are managed by vCenter Server, View ensures that a spare
machine is powered on so that users can connect to it. The spare machine is powered on no matter which
power policy is in effect.
Prerequisites
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Prepare the machines to deliver remote desktop access. In a manual pool, you must prepare each
machine individually. View Agent must be installed and running on each machine.
To prepare virtual machines managed by vCenter Server, see Chapter 3, “Creating and Preparing
Virtual Machines,” on page 19.
To prepare unmanaged virtual machines and physical computers, see Chapter 2, “Preparing
Unmanaged Machines,” on page 15.
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Gather the configuration information that you must provide to create the pool. See “Worksheet for
Creating a Manual Desktop Pool,” on page 77.
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Decide how to configure power settings, display protocol, Adobe Flash quality, and other settings. See
“Desktop Pool Settings for All Desktop Pool Types,” on page 111.
Procedure
1 In View Administrator, select Catalog > Desktop Pools.
2 Click Add.
3 Select Manual Desktop Pool.
4 Follow the prompts in the wizard to create the pool.
Use the configuration information that you gathered in the worksheet. You can go directly back to any
wizard page that you completed by clicking the page name in the navigation panel.
In View Administrator, you can view the machines as they are added to the pool by selecting Catalog >
Desktop Pools.
What to do next
Entitle users to access the pool. See “Add Entitlements to a Desktop or Application Pool,” on page 127.
Create a Manual Pool That Contains One Machine
You can create a pool that contains a single machine when a user requires a unique, dedicated desktop, or
when, at different times, multiple users must access a costly application with a single-host license.
You can provision an individual machine in its own pool by creating a manual desktop pool and selecting a
single machine.
To mimic a physical computer that can be shared by multiple users, specify a floating assignment for the
users entitled to access the pool.
Whether you configure the single-machine pool with dedicated or floating assignment, power operations
are initiated by session management. The virtual machine is powered on when a user requests the desktop
and powered off or suspended when the user logs off.
If you configure the Ensure machines are always powered on policy, the virtual machine remains powered
on. If the user shuts down the virtual machine, it immediately restarts.
Chapter 6 Creating Manual Desktop Pools
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