This example shows how to create two automated desktop pools that use the same machine names, but different sets of numbers. The strategies that are used in this example achieve a specific user objective and show the flexibility of the machine-naming methods.

The objective is to create two pools with the same naming convention such as VDIABC-XX, where XX represents a number. Each pool has a different set of sequential numbers. For example, the first pool might contain machines VDIABC-01 through VDIABC-10. The second pool contains machines VDIABC-11 through VDIABC-20.

You can use either machine-naming method to satisfy this objective.

  • To create fixed sets of machines at one time, specify machine names manually.
  • To create machines dynamically when users log in for the first time, provide a naming pattern and use a token to designate the sequential numbers.

Specifying the Names Manually

  1. Prepare a text file for the first pool that contains a list of machine names from VDIABC-01 through VDIABC-10.
  2. In View Administrator, create the pool and specify machine names manually.
  3. Click Enter Names and copy your list into the Enter Machine Names list box.
  4. Repeat these steps for the second pool, using the names VDIABC-11 through VDIABC-20.

For detailed instructions, see Specify a List of Machine Names.

You can add machines to each pool after it is created. For example, you can add machines VDIABC-21 through VDIABC-30 to the first pool, and VDIABC-31 through VDIABC-40 to the second pool. See Add Machines to an Automated Pool Provisioned by a List of Names.

Providing a Naming Pattern With a Token

  1. In View Administrator, create the first pool and use a naming pattern to provision the machine names.
  2. In the naming-pattern text box, type VDIABC-0{n}.
  3. Limit the pool's maximum size to 9.
  4. Repeat these steps for the second pool, but in the naming-pattern text box, type VDIABC-1{n}.

The first pool contains machines VDIABC-01 through VDIABC-09. The second pool contains machines VDIABC-11 through VDIABC-19.

Alternatively, you can configure the pools to contain up to 99 machines each by using a fixed-length token of 2 digits:

  • For the first pool, type VDIABC-0{n:fixed=2}.
  • For the second pool, type VDIABC-1{n:fixed=2}.

Limit each pool's maximum size to 99. This configuration produces machines that contain a 3-digit sequential naming pattern.

First pool: 

VDIABC-001
VDIABC-002
VDIABC-003

Second pool: 

VDIABC-101
VDIABC-102
VDIABC-103

For details about naming patterns and tokens, see Using a Naming Pattern for Automated Desktop Pools.