After creating a virtual machine that you plan to use as a golden image, configure the Windows environment.
Prerequisites
- Verify that you prepared a virtual machine to use for deploying remote desktops. See Creating a Virtual Machine for Cloning.
The golden image can either belong to the same Active Directory domain as the domain that the desktop machines will join or be a member of a workgroup.
- Verify that the virtual machine was not converted from an instant clone.
Important: You also cannot use an instant clone as a golden image.
- When you install Horizon Agent on the golden image, verify that the VMware Horizon Instant Clone Agent option for instant clones is selected. See Install Horizon Agent on a Virtual Machine.
- To deploy Windows machines, configure a volume license key and activate the golden image virtual machine's operating system with volume activation. See Activating Windows on Instant Clones.
- Verify that you followed the best practices for optimizing the operating system. See Optimize Guest Operating System Performance.
- Familiarize yourself with the procedure for disabling searching Windows Update for device drivers. See the Microsoft Technet article, "Disable Searching Windows Update for Device Drivers" at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc730606(v=ws.10).aspx.
Procedure
What to do next
Use vSphere Client to take a snapshot of the golden image virtual machine in its powered-down state. This snapshot is provides the base image for the clones.
Important: Before you take a snapshot, shut down the golden image virtual machine.