To provide users access to instant-clone desktops, you must create an instant-clone desktop pool. What to read next Instant Clone Desktop PoolsAn instant clone desktop pool is an automated desktop pool created from a golden image using the vmFork technology (called the instant clone API) in vCenter Server. Instant Clone Image Publishing and Creation Workflow Publishing an image is a process by which internal VMs needed for instant cloning are created from a golden image and its snapshot. This process only happens once per image and may take some time. Worksheet for Creating an Instant-Clone Desktop Pool When you create an instant-clone desktop pool, you can configure certain options. You can use this worksheet to record your configuration options before you create the pool. Create an Instant-Clone Desktop Pool Horizon 8 creates the instant-clone desktop virtual machines (VMs) based on the settings that you specify when you create the pool. Forensics Select Hold for Dedicated and Floating Instant Clone DesktopsThe purpose of the forensics select hold feature is to provide accurate and non-modified data for legal, security, and operational needs. The currently supported use case allows the live capture of data associated with a user’s desktop on a periodic basis when a user is put into a select hold for legal, incident response, or operational reasons. Putting a user on forensics select hold makes the user’s desktops temporarily persistent, thus avoiding refreshing or deletion (“re-imaging”) of the desktop and providing the administrator with the ability to access the user's desktop for investigative purposes with minimum impact to the user's experience. Configure Instant Clones with vSphere Virtual Machine EncryptionYou can configure instant clones to use the vSphere Virtual Machine Encryption feature so that instant-clone desktops have the same encryption keys. Guest Customization for Instant Clones in VMware HorizonThere are two options for customizing instant clone virtual machines during the creation process: VMware ClonePrep or Microsoft Sysprep. Enabling VBS and vTPM for an Instant-Clone Desktop PoolYou can enable Microsoft VBS and add a Virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) device to instant-clone desktop pools. Configuring 3D Rendering Options for Instant-Clone PoolsWhen you create or edit a desktop pool of virtual machines, you can configure 3D graphics rendering for your desktops. You must configure 3D settings in ESXi hosts and in the golden image in vSphere Client. Configure Number of Monitors and Screen ResolutionYou can specify the number of monitors and resolution for your instant-clone desktop pool in the vSphere Client by setting those parameters in the golden image and taking a snapshot. Allow Reuse of Existing Computer AccountsYou can configure instant-clones to reuse existing AD computer account names. Manually Customizing MachinesAfter you create an automated pool, you can customize particular machines without reassigning ownership. By starting the machines in maintenance mode, you can modify and test the machines before you release them to users. Patching an Instant-Clone Desktop PoolTo patch a pool of instant-clone desktops, you can use the push-image operation for a rolling patching process with zero downtime. Monitor a Push-Image OperationYou can monitor the progress of a push-image operation on an instant-clone desktop pool. Reschedule or Cancel a Push-Image OperationYou can reschedule or cancel a push-image operation on an instant-clone desktop pool. Perform Maintenance on Instant-Clone Hosts You can perform maintenance on hosts where instant clones reside by putting the ESXi hosts into maintenance mode. You can use the vSphere client to put the ESXi host into maintenance mode. Instant-Clone Maintenance UtilitiesOn the Connection Server are three utilities that you can use for the maintenance of instant-clone VMs in vCenter Server and the clusters that the VMs are in.
