Deploying VMware View 5 – Part 5 Deploying Linked Clone View Desktops

KB ID 0000607

Problem

Note: This is an old post for VMware view version 5, you might want to read Deploying VMware Horizon View instead.

It’s been a while since I wrote Part 4, so it’s time to wrap this up. Now we have Composer installed on the Virtual Center, we can start to deploy our linked clone desktops.

Solution

VMware View – Prepare your Source Machine

1. I’ve already covered how to prepare your Windows 7 client machine to be a View client here. Once that’s done, release its IP address (ipconfig /release) and shut it down.

View Source PC Release IP

2. With your source machine shut down, take a snapshot of the machine.

View - Take Snapshot

VMware View – Create an Automated Linked Clone Pool

3. Log into your VMware View Administrator console > Inventory > Pools > Add.

View Administrator Add Pool

4. Automated > Next.

Automated Pool

5. Dedicated > Next (unless you want a floating user assignment, the description of each is on this page).

View - Dedicated User Assignment

6. View Composer linked clones > Next (ensure your vCenter is listed, and has “Yes” in the View Composer section).

View Composer Linked Clones

7. Give the pool an ID, name, and description. (Note: If you use folders for your VM’s, you can also select those here).

View Pool Identification

8. I tend to stick with the defaults, except I let the users reset their desktops > Next.

VMware View Reset Desktops

9. I’m not redirecting any disposable files or profiles > Next.

Linked Clone File Redirection

10. Expand Security > Logins > Create a new login.

View Desktop Naming Pattern

11. For the default Image, browse to your source machine, then select the snapshot. Set the Folder, Host/Cluster, and Resource pool as applicable. Then browse for a datastore.

View vCenter Settings

12. Here I’ve selected to store my disks on different datastores. If you can, put your replica disk on the FASTEST storage, as this gets the most “Read” traffic > OK > Next.

VMware View Replica and Linked Clone Storage

13. The domain should auto populate > Pick an OU to place the new machines into, then select either to use quickprep (the VMware one), or Sysprep (the Microsoft one). > Next.

Note: You can also use a customization specification (yes Americans are worse at spelling than me!), you set these up in the VI client on the home screen under ‘Customization Specifications Manager’.

Quickprep or Sysprep

14. Review the information > Finish.

VMware View Summary

15. Now you have you pool, you need to allow your users to connect to it, with it selected press ‘Entitlements’.

Linked Clone Entitlements

16. Add in the users and/or groups you want to grant access to > OK.

Add user Entitlements to Pool

17. It can take a while for the replica to be created then all the linked clones to become ‘Available’ watch progress under ‘Inventory > Desktops’.

View Status Available

18. When available you should be able to connect to them using the VMware View Client.

VMware View Client Linked Clone Pool

19. And finally get your new Windows 7 linked clone desktop.

Linked Clone Desktop

Related Articles, References, Credits, or External Links

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Author: Migrated

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