Today I will go through the procedure of creating a Linux Full Clone Pool with Ubuntu. We will use Horizon 2111 and Ubuntu 20.04 as example. The procedure includes following parts.
1. Preparing an Ubuntu Desktop for VDI
You may refer following sharing of how to prepare an Ubuntu desktop for VDI purpose.
2. Join Ubuntu Linux to Active Directory
If you want to make use AD accounts for logging in the Linux VDI you will need to to enable the domain join ability on the Linux master image.
You may refer following sharing on how to do so.
3. Enable Device Redirection on Linux VDI
You may also need to redirect different types of device to the Linux VDI. You may refer following sharing on how to achieve this.
4. Create vSphere Linux Customization Script
Until here, you Ubuntu is one more step to be ready for cloning. The Horizon cloning action will simply copy the VM with same machine name. In real case, a cloned Linux VDI should have a different machine name or assigned with a different vSwitch.
To do this, you will need to create a vSphere customization script to tell the Horizon how to dealing with the cloned Ubuntu VDI. Following is the procedure of creating such customization script.
Login the vCenter UI. Select "Policies and Profiles".
Select "VM Customization Specifications". Click "New".
Assign a name for the customization. Select the vCenter integrated with Horizon. Select "Linux" for target guest OS. Click "Next".
Select "Use the virtual machine name". Input the domain name field. Click "Next".
Select corresponding time zone. Click "Next".
Click "Next".
Select "Use standard network setting for the quest operating system ...........". Click "Next".
This step is optional. If such information is providing by DHCP, you can leave all setting blank. Otherwise, input the DNS server IP and search domain name you desire. Click "Next".
Click "Finish".
5. Create Full Clone Pool on Horizon
The last step here is creating the desktop pool on Horizon.
Before creating the Desktop pool, You will need to convert the Ubuntu VM to a template.
Shutdown the VM. From vCenter admin UI. Convert the VM to a Template.
Login the Connection Server UI. Select "Inventory" -> "Desktop" from left pane. Click "Add".
Select "Automated Desktop Pool". Click "Next".
Select "Full Virtual Machines". Click "Next".
Select "Dedicated" and check "Enable Automatic Assignment". Click "Next".
Click "Next".
Assign a unique name for ID. Assign a display name. Click "Next".
Assign a naming pattern for newly cloned Ubuntu VM.
Scroll down the page and assign the number of machine for this desktop pool. Click "Next".
Select the Template VM prepared for this deployment. Assign corresponding location for VM Folder, Host, Resources Pool and Datastores. Click "Next".
Click "Next".
Click "Next".
Click "Next".
Click "Next".
Click "Submit".
Assign user right to this desktop pool. Wit for the cloning to complete.
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