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ClonePrep Guest Customization
ClonePrep customizes instant clones when they are created and works similarly as QuickPrep.
ClonePrep joins all instant clones to the Active Directory domain. The clones have the same computer
security identifiers (SIDs) as their parent VM. ClonePrep also preserves the globally unique identifiers
(GUIDs) of applications, although some applications might generate a new GUID during customization.
When you add an instant-clone desktop pool, you can specify a script to run immediately after a clone is
created and another script to run before the clone is powered off.
How ClonePrep Executes Scripts
ClonePrep 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.
Specifically, ClonePrep 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 call to CreateProcess is CreateProcess(NULL,c:\myscript.cmd,...).
Providing Paths to ClonePrep Scripts
You can specify the scripts to run when you create or edit the desktop pool. 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 executable. For example, instead of specifying C:\script\myvb.vbs, you need to specify
C:\windows\system32\cscript.exe c:\script\myvb.vbs.
IMPORTANT Protect ClonePrep customization scripts from access by ordinary users. Place the scripts in a
secure folder.
ClonePrep Script Timeout Limit
By default, ClonePrep terminates the scripts if their execution takes longer than 20 seconds. You can
increase the timeout limit. For details, see “Increase the Timeout Limit for ClonePrep and QuickPrep
Customization Scripts,” on page 49.
Alternatively, you can use your script to launch another script or process that performs the long-running
task.
ClonePrep Script Account
ClonePrep runs the scripts using the account under which the VMware Horizon Instant Clone Agent service
is configured to run. By default, this account is Local System.
Do not change this log on account. If you do, the clones will fail to start.
ClonePrep Process Privileges
For security reasons, certain Windows operating system privileges are removed from the VMware Horizon
Instant Clone Agent process that runs ClonePrep customization scripts. Therefore, the scripts cannot
perform actions that require those privileges.
Setting Up Desktop and Application Pools in View
86 VMware, Inc.