4.6

Table Of Contents
Create a Linked-Clone Desktop Pool
You can create an automated, linked-clone desktop pool based on a parent virtual machine that you select. The
View Composer service dynamically creates a new linked-clone virtual machine in vCenter Server for each
desktop.
To create an automated pool that contains full virtual machines, see “Automated Pools That Contain Full
Virtual Machines,” on page 72.
Prerequisites
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Verify that the View Composer service is installed in vCenter Server and a View Composer database is
configured. See the VMware View Installation document.
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Verify that View Composer settings for vCenter Server are configured in View Administrator. See
“Configure View Composer Settings for vCenter Server,” on page 15.
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Verify that you have a sufficient number of ports on the ESX virtual switch that is used for desktop virtual
machines. The default value might not be sufficient if you create large desktop pools. The number of virtual
switch ports on the ESX host must equal or exceed the number of desktop virtual machines multiplied by
the number of virtual NICs per virtual machine.
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Verify that you prepared a parent virtual machine. View Agent must be installed on the parent virtual
machine. See Chapter 4, “Creating and Preparing Virtual Machines,” on page 45.
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Take a snapshot of the parent virtual machine in vCenter Server. You must shut down the parent virtual
machine before you take the snapshot. View Composer uses the snapshot as the base image from which
the clones are created.
NOTE You cannot create a linked-clone pool from a virtual machine template.
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Gather the configuration information you must provide to create the pool. See “Worksheet for Creating
a Linked-Clone Desktop Pool,” on page 76.
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Decide how to configure power settings, display protocol, Adobe Flash quality, and other settings. See
“Desktop and Pool Settings,” on page 107.
IMPORTANT While a linked-clone pool is created, do not modify the parent virtual machine in vCenter Server.
For example, do not convert the parent virtual machine to a template. The View Composer service requires
that the parent virtual machine remain in a static, unaltered state during pool creation.
Procedure
1 In View Administrator, click Inventory > Pools.
2 Click Add.
3 Select Automated Pool.
Chapter 5 Creating Desktop Pools
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