{"id":44647,"date":"2020-08-18T09:00:29","date_gmt":"2020-08-18T07:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/?p=44647"},"modified":"2020-08-20T20:45:45","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T18:45:45","slug":"vmware-horizon-7-12-linked-clone-setup-pt-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/vmware-horizon-7-12-linked-clone-setup-pt-5\/","title":{"rendered":"VMware Horizon 7.12: Linked Clone setup - pt.5"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-01\"<\/p>\n

In VMware Horizon, a Linked Clone desktop is a copy of a virtual machine that shares virtual disks<\/strong> with its parent VM saving space compared to a full VM.<\/p>\n

Because a Linked Clone accesses software on shared virtual disks it must always have access to the\u00a0disk used for cloning<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Blog Series<\/h2>\n

VMware Horizon 7.12: installing Connection Server - pt.1<\/a>
\nVMware Horizon 7.12: installing View Composer - pt.2<\/a>
\nVMware Horizon 7.12: configuration - pt.3<\/a>
\nVMware Horizon 7.12: Instant Clone setup - pt.4<\/a>
\nVMware Horizon 7.12: Linked Clone setup - pt.5
\nVMware Horizon 7.12: connect to virtual desktop - pt.6<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How Linked Clones work<\/h2>\n

Starting from a snapshot of the master VM<\/strong>, the cloning process creates a\u00a0replica VM<\/strong> to use for cloning. The Linked Clone shares virtual disks<\/strong> with the replica VM and changes are stored in a diff disk or redo disk<\/strong> limiting the physical disk space used while the installed software is still accessed on the shared virtual disks.<\/p>\n

Even with hundred of linked diff disks<\/strong> from one replica, this approach reduces the total storage required.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Create the master image<\/h2>\n

Create a Windows 10<\/strong> (to take benefit of Blast protocol) virtual machine used as master image using a specific configuration:<\/p>\n

1 - Set the Networking with the DHCP<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-02\"<\/p>\n

2 - Join the VM to the AD domain<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-03\"<\/p>\n

3 - Install the required applications<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-04\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Run the VMware OS Optimization Tool<\/h4>\n

Run the VMware OS Optimization Tool<\/a> on the created master image to optimize and improve the VM performance. Select the OS in use and click Analyze<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-05\"<\/p>\n

Select the recommended optimizations<\/strong> reported by the analysis.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-06\"<\/p>\n

Click Optimize<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-07\"<\/p>\n

The master image is being optimized for the seleted OS.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-08\"<\/p>\n

After few seconds the optimization process completes.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-09\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Install the Horizon Agent<\/h2>\n

Run the Horizon Agent installer on the master image.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-10\"<\/p>\n

Click Next<\/strong> to begin the installation.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-11\"<\/p>\n

Accept the EULA and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-12\"<\/p>\n

Select IPv4<\/strong> as protocol to use then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-13\"<\/p>\n

Select VMware Horizon View Composer<\/strong>\u00a0option and click Next<\/strong>. Note that you cannot install both View Composer and Instant Clone features on the same machine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-14\"<\/p>\n

Click Install<\/strong> to install the agent.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-15\"<\/p>\n

The agent is being installed in the system.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-16\"<\/p>\n

When the installation has been completed, click Finish<\/strong> to exit the wizard.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-17\"<\/p>\n

Click Yes<\/strong> to reboot and complete the installation.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-18\"<\/p>\n

After the VM has rebooted, take a snapshot<\/strong> of the VM from vSphere Client.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-19\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Configure a Linked Clone pool<\/h2>\n

When the master image is ready, you can start configuring the appropriated pool. Linked Clones require a working Composer Server<\/strong> to be generated.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Create a Linked Clone pool<\/h4>\n

Access the Inventory > Desktops<\/strong> area and click Add<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-20\"<\/p>\n

Select Automated Desktop Pool<\/strong> option and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-21\"<\/p>\n

Select the View Composer Linked Clones<\/strong> option and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-22\"<\/p>\n

Select Floating<\/strong> as user assignment option. This option allows a user to logon to any desktop<\/strong> that is available within the desktop pool.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-23\"<\/p>\n

Specify the desired Disk size<\/strong> for the Disposable File Redirection<\/strong>\u00a0then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-24\"<\/p>\n

Specify the desired Storage Policy Management<\/strong> then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-25\"<\/p>\n

Provide an ID<\/strong> and a Display Name<\/strong> for the pool then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-26\"<\/p>\n

Specify the Virtual Machine Naming<\/strong>\u00a0(for example\u00a0lc-vdi-{n:fixed=3}<\/em>), and how to Provision Machines<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-27\"<\/p>\n

Specify the Max Number of Machines<\/strong> to provision an the Number of Spare<\/strong>. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-28\"<\/p>\n

Enter the master image information then click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-29\"<\/p>\n

Specify the Desktop Pool Settings<\/strong> and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-30\"<\/p>\n

Specify the Remote Display Protocol<\/strong> to be used during the connection. Keep in mind VMware Blast<\/strong> is available only for Windows 10 Enterprise<\/strong> edition. Enable also the HTML Access<\/strong> option (requires the Blast protocol) to allow the access via browser. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-31\"<\/p>\n

Specify the desired Advanced Storage Options<\/strong> and click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-32\"<\/p>\n

Specify the Domain<\/strong> and select the appropriate AD Container<\/strong> by clicking the Browse<\/strong> button to place provisioned VMs. Click Next<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-33\"<\/p>\n

Click Submit<\/strong> to save the pool configuration. Enabling the Entitle Users After Adding Pool<\/strong> option you can specify who can actually access<\/strong> provisioned virtual desktops.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-34\"<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Entitle users<\/h4>\n

Click Add<\/strong> to specify users and groups that can use the selected pool.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-35\"<\/p>\n

To make the search easier, insert part of the name in the Name\\User Name<\/strong> field and click Find<\/strong>. Select the desired user or group then click OK<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-36\"<\/p>\n

Click OK<\/strong> to save the selected group.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-37\"<\/p>\n

The Linked Clone pool has been created successfully.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-38\"<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-39\"<\/p>\n

In Active Directory, VMs are placed in the OU selected during the configuration.<\/p>\n

\"horizon-7-linked-clone-40\"<\/p>\n

Part 6<\/a> will cover the procedure to connect to the virtual desktop<\/strong> to test the access and if everything works as expected.\"signature\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In VMware Horizon, a Linked Clone desktop is a copy of a virtual machine that shares virtual disks with its parent VM saving space compared to a full VM. Because a Linked Clone accesses software on shared virtual disks it must always have access to the\u00a0disk used for cloning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":45214,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"linkedin_93tdZWzMZc_93tdZWzMZc":"","facebook_2879994398731222_17841400390232720":"","twitter_113568041_113568041":"","mastodon_115463926174894442_115463926174894442":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[903,1025],"tags":[1711,1026,699],"class_list":["post-44647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vmware-en","category-horizon-en","tag-horizon","tag-linked-clone-en","tag-vmware-en","has_thumb"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45214"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nolabnoparty.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}

Once provisioned, virtual desktops can be found in the vCenter Server<\/a> inside the folder specified during the pool configuration.<\/p>\n