6.2

f Datastores
In View Administrator, you can view the machines as they are added to the pool by selecting Catalog >
Desktop Pools.
The linked clones might restart one or more times while they are provisioned. If a linked clone is in an error
state, the View automatic recovery mechanism attempts to power on, or shut down and restart, the linked
clone. If repeated recovery attempts fail, the linked clone is deleted.
View Composer also creates a replica virtual machine that serves as the master image for provisioning the
linked clones. To reduce space consumption, the replica is created as a thin disk. If all the virtual machines
are recomposed or deleted, and no clones are linked to the replica, the replica virtual machine is deleted
from vCenter Server.
If you do not store the replica on a separate datastore, View Composer creates a replica on each datastore on
which linked clones are created.
If you store the replica on a separate datastore, one replica is created for the entire pool, even when linked
clones are created on multiple datastores.
What to do next
Entitle users to access the pool. See “Add Entitlements to a Desktop or Application Pool,” on page 147.
Clone an Automated Desktop Pool
You can clone an automated desktop pool from an existing pool. When you clone a pool, the existing
desktop pool's settings are copied into the Add Desktop Pool wizard, allowing you to create a new pool
without having to fill in each setting manually.
With this feature, you can streamline pool creation because you do not have to type every option in the Add
Desktop Pool wizard. You can ensure that desktop pool attributes are standardized by using the pre-filled
values in the wizard.
You can clone automated desktop pools that contain full virtual machines and linked-clone desktop pools.
You cannot clone manual desktop pools or RDS desktop pools.
When you clone a desktop pool, you cannot change certain settings:
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Desktop pool type
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Clone type, either linked clone or full virtual machine
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User assignment, either dedicated or floating
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vCenter Server instance
Prerequisites
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Verify that the prerequisites for creating the original desktop pool are still valid.
For example, for a pool that contains full virtual machines, verify that a virtual machine template was
prepared.
For a linked-clone pool, verify that a parent virtual machine was prepared and a snapshot was taken
after the virtual machine was powered off.
When you clone a pool, you can use the same virtual machine template or parent virtual machine, or
you can select another one.
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For prerequisites for cloning an automated, full-clone pool, see “Create an Automated Pool That
Contains Full Virtual Machines,” on page 57.
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For prerequisites for cloning a linked-cone pool, see “Create a Linked-Clone Desktop Pool,” on page 69.
Chapter 5 Creating Linked-Clone Desktop Pools
VMware, Inc. 71