4.6

n
Manually Customizing Desktops on page 106
After you create an automated pool, you can customize particular desktops without reassigning
ownership. By starting the desktops in maintenance mode, you can modify and test the desktops before
you release them to their assigned users or make them available to all entitled users in the pool.
n
Desktop and Pool Settings on page 107
You must specify desktop and pool settings when you configure automated pools that contain full virtual
machines, linked-clone desktop pools, manual desktop pools, and Microsoft Terminal Services pools.
Not all settings apply to all types of desktop pools.
User Assignment in Desktop Pools
You can configure a desktop pool so that users have dedicated assignments or floating assignments to the
desktops in the pool. You must choose a user assignment for automated pools that contain full virtual machines,
automated linked-clone pools, and manual pools.
With a dedicated assignment, View Manager assigns each entitled user to one desktop in the pool. When a
user connects to the pool, the user always logs in to the same desktop. The user's settings and data are saved
between sessions. No other user in the pool can access the desktop.
With a floating assignment, View Manager dynamically assigns desktops in the pool to entitled users. Users
connect to a different desktop each time they log in. When a user logs off, the desktop is returned to the pool.
You can configure floating-assignment desktops to be deleted when users log off. Automatic deletion lets you
keep only as many virtual machines as you need at one time. You can use automatic deletion only in automated
pools that you provision with a desktop-naming pattern and a total number of desktops.
Floating-assignment desktops let you reduce software licensing costs.
Naming Desktops Manually or Providing a Naming Pattern
You can provision the desktops in an automated pool by manually specifying a list of desktop names or by
providing a naming pattern and the number of desktops you want in the pool. These two approaches offer
different advantages.
If you name desktops by specifying a list, you can use your company's naming scheme, and you can associate
each desktop name with a user.
If you provide a naming pattern, View Manager can dynamically create and assign desktops as users need
them.
You must use one of these naming methods to provision automated pools that contain full virtual machines
or linked clones.
Table 5-16 compares the two naming methods, showing how each method affects the way you create and
administer a desktop pool.
Table 5-16. Naming Desktops Manually or Providing a Desktop-Naming Pattern
Feature Providing a Desktop-Naming Pattern Naming Desktops Manually
Desktop names View Manager generates desktop names.
You provide a naming pattern. View
Manager adds a unique number to identify
each desktop.
For details, see “Using a Naming Pattern
for Automated Desktop Pools,” on
page 104.
You specify a list of desktop names.
In a dedicated-assignment pool, you
can pair users with desktops by listing
user names with the desktop names.
For details, see “Specify a List of
Desktop Names,” on page 103.
Pool size You specify a maximum number of
desktops.
Your list of desktop names determines
the number of desktops.
Chapter 5 Creating Desktop Pools
VMware, Inc. 101