Creating Virtual Desktops (VDI Clients)

If you want to employ virtual desktops in your environment, you need to create a master image of a reference computer first. The virtual desktops will then boot from this reference computer, which is also a virtual machine. The master image is a snapshot of this virtual machine and the VDI clients (which are also virtual machines) will boot from this snapshot.

How to create a virtual desktop by imaging:

  1. Install the reference computer; it will be a managed computer from now on.

      for all the steps you can find details below.

  2. Log on to the reference computer as administrator.
  3. Create a master image object in the DSM environment. Run the command line utility niprep.exe.
  4. Create a master image according to the specifications of your VDI provider.
  5. Create a snapshot of the master image according to the specifications of your VDI provider.
  6. Make sure the VDI clients boot the master image according to the specifications of your VDI provider.
  7. As soon as a computer has loaded the master image you can manage it with DSM in the way you manage all other computers.

Requirements

Before you can start creating master images, the following requirements must be met:

  • A VDI environment is installed and configured
  • The DSM environment is installed and configured
  • There are software packages for the operating system, applications, drivers and Microsoft security patches available and assignable in the DSM environment.

Step 1: Get the Reference Computer Ready

Install the operating system, the software, the Driver Packages and the Microsoft security patches on the reference computer.

This is a manual step. Please note, however, that you can only make compliance statements regarding the state of the software packages installed on the reference computer if the reference computer has been installed automatically with DSM OSD.

The reference computer will become a DSM managed computer.

This guarantees that the command line utility NIPrep.exe is available for the next step.

If the reference computer is installed with DSM OS Deployment, it will become managed computer automatically.

Step 2: Log On to the Reference Computer as Administrator

To be able to identify the master image objects in the DSM environment, the logon will be entered in the LocalMachine branch in the Windows Registry on the reference computer. Logging on as a standard user will not do because Write access is required.

Step 3: Create the Master Image Object

Run the command line utility niprep.exe in test mode.

C:\program files\netinst\niprep.exe /test

The /test parameter checks if the policy instances for all of the packages installed on the reference computer are compliant . When the NIPrep.exe returns the message Successfully performed test for image ID you can create the master image object next.

Run the NIPrep.exe with the parameter /prepare.

C:\program files\netinst\niprep.exe /prepare /includepatches /includedriver

This creates the master image object in the DSM environment. By default, the master image object is named after the reference computer and is stored in the Image Library. The Image Content tab in the Detail window displays the software packages contained in the master image object. At the same time, the system creates a static group - called Imaging Group - in the Managed Users & Computers container.

All policy instances that are available in the DSM environment for the reference computer are stored in the master image object. The DSM environment creates a policy for every assigned package for the Imaging Group of the master image object. Therefore, the VDI clients, which boot the master image later, "inherit" the reference computer's or image group's policy instances.

Step 4: Create the Master Image

Install the Agent of your VDI provider on the reference computer.

Follow the guidelines of your VDI provider. The VMware View Agent or the Citrix Xen Desktop Agent takes over the communication with the respective VDI system.

Shut down the reference computer.

Step 5: Make a Snapshot of the Reference Computers in the VDI Environment

Follow the guidelines of your VDI provider.

Step 6: Assign the Snapshot to the VDI Clients as Master Image

Follow the guidelines of your VDI provider.

Step 7: Start the VDI Client

The VDI clients boot the master image. Follow the guidelines of your VDI provider.

Optional: Create An AutoInsert Rule

Specify an AutoInsert rule in the DSM environment for the VDI clients.

By default, the VDI clients in the DSM environment are members of the image group of "their" master image object. With an AutoInsert rule you can add the VDI clients in another location in the DSM organization tree.

As identifier for the VDI clients you can use, for example, the directory of the Microsoft Active Directory where the VDI clients will be added according to the settings of your VDI provider.