7.0

Naming Machines Manually or Providing a Naming Pattern
With an automated desktop pool of full virtual machines or View Composer linked clones, you can specify a
list of names for the desktop machines or provide a naming pattern. With an instant-clone desktop pool, you
can only specify a naming pattern when provisioning the pool.
If you name machines by specifying a list, you can use your company's naming scheme, and you can
associate each machine name with a user.
If you provide a naming pattern, View can dynamically create and assign machines as users need them.
Table 12-1 compares the two naming methods, showing how each method affects the way you create and
administer a desktop pool.
Table 12‑1. Naming machines Manually or Providing a machine-Naming Pattern
Feature Using a Machine-Naming Pattern Naming Machines Manually
Machine names The machine names are generated by
appending a number to the naming
pattern.
For details, see “Using a Naming Pattern
for Automated Desktop Pools,” on
page 130.
You specify a list of machine names.
In a dedicated-assignment pool, you
can pair users with machines by listing
user names with the machine names.
For details, see “Specify a List of
Machine Names,” on page 129.
Pool size You specify a maximum number of
machines.
Your list of machine names determines
the number of machines.
To add machines to the pool You can increase the maximum pool size. You can add machine names to the list.
For details, see “Add Machines to an
Automated Pool Provisioned by a List
of Names,” on page 132.
On-demand provisioning Available.
View dynamically creates and provisions
the specified minimum and spare number
of machines as users first log in or as you
assign machines to users.
View can also create and provision all the
machines when you create the pool.
Not available.
View creates and provisions all the
machines that you specify in your list
when the pool is created.
Initial customization Available.
When a machine is provisioned, View can
run a customization specification that you
select.
Available.
When a machine is provisioned, View
can run a customization specification
that you select.
Manual customization of
dedicated machines
Not available to instant clones.
To customize machines and return
desktop access to your users, you must
remove and reassign the ownership of
each machine. Depending on whether
you assign machines on first log in, you
might have to perform these steps twice.
You cannot start machines in
maintenance mode. After the pool is
created, you can manually put the
machines into maintenance mode.
You can customize and test machines
without having to reassign ownership.
When you create the pool, you can
start all machines in maintenance
mode to prevent users from accessing
them. You can customize the machines
and exit maintenance mode to return
access to your users.
For details, see “Manually
Customizing Machines,” on page 133.
Setting Up Desktop and Application Pools in View
128 VMware, Inc.