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. Use this worksheet to record your configuration options before you create the pool. Create an Instant-Clone Desktop Pool You can create an instant-clone floating desktop pool from a Windows or Linux virtual machine (VM) using the desktop pool wizard in Horizon Console. VMware Horizon 8 creates the instant-clone desktop VMs based on the settings that you specify when you create the pool. Forensics Select Hold for Windows 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 Windows Instant Clones in VMware Horizon 8There are two options for customizing instant-clone Windows virtual machines (VMs) during the creation process: VMware ClonePrep and Microsoft Sysprep. Enabling Sysprep Guest Customization (without pre-created computer account)You can provision an instant clone desktop pool with Microsoft Sysprep without pre-created computer account customization to automatically select Active Directory sites. Enabling VBS and vTPM for a Windows Instant-Clone Desktop PoolYou can enable Microsoft VBS and add a Virtual Trusted Platform Module (vTPM) device to Windows instant-clone desktop pools. Configure 3D Rendering Options for Instant-Clone Desktop 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 Monitors and Screen Resolution for Instant ClonesYou can specify the number of monitors and resolution for your instant-clone desktop pool in vSphere Client by setting those parameters in the golden image and taking a snapshot. Allow Reuse of Existing Computer Accounts for Instant ClonesYou can configure instant clones to reuse existing Active Directory (AD) computer account names. Manually Customizing Machines in an Automated Desktop PoolAfter 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. 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 use vSphere Client to put the ESXi host into maintenance mode. MAC Address Behavior for Instant-clone OperationsThe following table describes the MAC address behavior that results when an instant-clone desktop goes through different operations. Instant-Clone Maintenance UtilitiesOn the Connection Server are three utilities that you can use for the maintenance of instant-clone virtual machines (VMs) in vCenter Server and the clusters that the VMs are in.