You can personalize the linked-clone machines that are created from a golden image virtual machine by using the QuickPrep system tool. View Composer executes QuickPrep when a linked-clone machine is created or recomposed.
QuickPrep customizes a linked-clone machine in several ways:
- Gives the computer a name that you specify when you create the linked-clone pool.
- Creates a computer account in Active Directory, joining the computer to the appropriate domain.
- Mounts the View Composer persistent disk. The Windows user profile is redirected to this disk.
- Redirects temp and paging files to a separate disk.
These steps might require the linked clones to restart one or more times.
QuickPrep uses KMS volume license keys to activate Windows linked-clone machines.
You can create your own scripts to further customize the linked clones. QuickPrep can run two types of scripts at predefined times:
- After linked clones are created or recomposed
- Immediately before linked clones are powered off
For guidelines and rules for using QuickPrep customization scripts, see Running QuickPrep Customization Scripts.
Note: View Composer requires domain user credentials to join linked-clone machines to an Active Directory domain.
