Manage a VDI desktop pool

The following information describes the tasks to manage a VDI desktop pool.

Edit a desktop pool

If you select the Deploy Now option when you edit a desktop pool, the system deploys desktops immediately after you edit the desktop pool settings.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool, click More at the top of the page, and then select Edit.

  1. Edit the desktop configuration step by step, and then click Finish.

 

You cannot edit the desktop pool while the system is deploying desktops in the pool.

 

Delete a desktop pool

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool, click More at the top of the page, and then select Delete.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

Import an authorization list

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool, click More at the top of the page, and then select Import Authorizations.

  1. Select the authorization file, select the column in the file for each parameter, and then click Next.

  1. Verify the imported data, and then click OK.

Change the authorization policy

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Change the authorization policy depending on the purpose:

Purpose

Procedure

Change the authorization policy for preauthorized objects

1.     Click Preauthorize.

2.     Select one or multiple preauthorized objects (users, user groups, or OUs of domain users), and then click Change Authorization Policy.

3.     In the dialog box that opens, select the desired authorization policy, and then click OK.

Change the authorization policy on a desktop

1.     Click the Edit icon  in the Authorization Policy column for a desktop.

2.     In the dialog box that opens, select the desired authorization policy, and then click OK.

Bulk change the authorization policy on desktops

1.     Select one or multiple desktops, and then click Change Authorization Policy on top of the desktop list.

2.     In the dialog box that opens, select the desired authorization policy, and then click OK.

 

To use the default authorization policy for the pool, do not select any policy.

Promote common desktops to be VIP desktops

About this task

Space Console reserves the configured maximum amount of CPU and memory resources for VIP desktops. To guarantee that a desktop can always obtain the maximum amount of CPU and memory resources, promote its priority level to VIP. To configure the VIP desktop policy for settings such as resource usage alarms and alarm notifications, see "Authorization Policies."

 

·          The promoted desktop will automatically restart if it is operating when you promote it. To prevent data loss, save desktop data before you promote an operating desktop.

·          If the desktop is in down state when you promote it, the promotion takes effect when the desktop restarts.

 

Prerequisites

Before you can promote a desktop, make sure it is not in abnormal state.

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. If the target common desktops are operating, save desktop data to prevent data loss.

  1. Select the target common desktops, and then click Promote to VIP.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

Demote VIP desktops

About this task

To remove the priority that a VIP desktop has in obtaining CPU and memory resources, demote its priority level to common. Then, Space Console will not reserve CPU or memory resources for that desktop.

 

·          The demoted desktop will automatically restart if it is operating when you demote it. To prevent data loss, save desktop data before you demote an operating desktop.

·          If the desktop is in down state when you demote it, the demotion takes effect when the desktop restarts.

 

Prerequisites

Before you can demote a VIP desktop, make sure it is not in abnormal state.

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. If the target common desktops are operating, save desktop data to prevent data loss.

  1. Select the target VIP desktops, click More on top of the desktop list, and then select Demote to Common.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

Rebuild the system disks of desktops

To deploy software on a desktop, you can perform this task or use the software deployment feature for application management.

With software deployment, you can deploy only a limited set of software. You cannot deploy such software as personal software, input methods, large-sized software, and user-specific software.

This task enables you to update the system disks of the selected desktops in a desktop pool with the same desktop image. The original system disks of the desktops are deleted. This task allows you to install all desired software. System disk rebuild is available only for static desktop pools.

 

·          This operation will delete all system disks of the desktops in the desktop pool. Data on the original system disks will be lost, including desktop data, user configuration, and software installed on the system disks. Please back up data in advance. If a desktop does not have data disks, all its data will be deleted. Only in a static desktop pool, the system disks deleted during a system disk rebuild are moved to the recycle bin. You can restore the system disks from the recycle bin.

·          This task disconnects the connections to desktops. Desktops and their images are not available during the rebuild.

·          To prevent user data loss, the desktops will log out users when they first connect to the desktops after a system disk rebuild. To use the updated desktops, the users only need to reconnect to the desktops.

·          A desktop will reset the computer name and restart when it starts for the first time after a system disk rebuild. The status of the desktop is unstable during the computer name reset and desktop restart process. To avoid desktop domain assignment failure, connect to the desktop 5 minutes later.

·          Make sure the selected source desktop image contains an operating system and required tools. When you build the source image VM, use the optimization tool to set the storage location for user profiles to a disk other than the system disk. In addition, make sure the system disk does not contain user data. For more information about creating a source image VM, see "Build a VDI image source VM."

·          System disk rebuild is available only for Windows and UOS VDI static desktop pools that use fast initialization and are created for local users or domain users.

 

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select the target VDI desktop pool.

  1. To rebuild the system disks of desktops:

  1. In the dialog box that opens, select an image, enter the administrator password, select Fully understand the result of this operation, and then click OK.

  1. To verify the rebuild status, review the operation log.

Restore the system disks of desktops

This task restores the system disks of desktops in a static desktop pool that are faulty or need to be restored to the state of the system disk of the desktop image for the desktop pool. Data on the data disks will not be affected.

This task takes effect only on the desktops of which the disk bus type is Virtio disks and for which protection mode is disabled. To avoid data loss, do not perform any operations on the desktops during system disk restoration. System disk restoration is available only for static desktop pools.

To view the system disk restoration result, see the task console in the top right corner of Space Console.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select the target VDI desktop pool.

  1. To restore the system disks of desktops:

  1. In the dialog box that opens, enter the administrator password, select Fully understand the result of this operation, and then click OK.

Rebuild the desktop disks

This task enables you to update the desktop images for the deployed desktops. This operation will delete all data on the desktop disks, and restore the disks by using the selected desktop image. Desktop disk rebuild is available only for dynamic desktop pools.

 

·          This operation will delete all data on the desktop disks. Data on the original disks will be lost, including desktop data, user configuration, and software installed on the disks. Please back up data in advance.

·          This task disconnects the connections to desktops. Desktops and their images are not available during the rebuild.

·          To prevent user data loss, the desktops will log out users when they first connect to the desktops after a desktop disk rebuild. To use the updated desktops, the users only need to reconnect to the desktops.

·          A desktop will reset the computer name and restart when it starts for the first time after a desktop disk rebuild. The status of the desktop is unstable during the computer name reset and desktop restart process. To avoid desktop domain assignment failure, connect to the desktop 5 minutes later.

·          Desktop disk rebuild is available only for Windows and UOS VDI dynamic desktop pools that use fast initialization and are created for local users and domain users.

 

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select the target VDI desktop pool.

  1. To rebuild the desktop disks:

  1. In the dialog box that opens, select an image, enter the administrator password, select Fully understand the result of this operation, and then click OK.

  1. To verify the rebuild status, review the operation log.

Restore the desktop disks

This task will delete all data on the system and data disks of the desktops, including software, user data, and configuration, and the desktops will be restored to the original state of the desktop image for the desktop pool. Desktop disk data saved before the restoration will be lost. Please back up data in advance. This task takes effect only on the desktops of which the disk bus type is Virtio disks. To avoid data loss, do not perform any operations on the desktops during desktop disk restoration. Desktop disk restoration is available only for dynamic desktop pools.

To view the desktop disk restoration result, see the task console in the top right corner of Space Console.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select the target VDI desktop pool.

  1. To restore the desktop disks:

  1. In the dialog box that opens, enter the administrator password, select Fully understand the result of this operation, and then click OK.

Enable/disable the anti-virus service for desktops

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool, click More, select Anti-Virus, and then select On or Off.

  1. In the dialog box that open, click OK.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. On the Desktop List area, select one or multiple desktops, click More, select Anti-Virus, and then select On or Off.

  1. In the dialog box that open, click OK.

Enable or disable automatic software driver installation for desktop pools

With this feature enabled for a desktop pool, desktops in the desktop pool will automatically install the drivers on the Applications > Application Center > Drivers page and applications on the Applications > Application Center > App Store page if users open the app store on the desktops.

 

  • To install drivers and applications automatically, you must also enable automatic installation for the drivers and applications on the Applications > Application Center > Drivers page and Applications > Application Center > App Store page.

  • If you enable or disable automatic software driver installation, the operation takes effect after the desktops restart.

 

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select the target VDI desktop pool.

  1. Click More at the top of the desktop pools page.

  1. Select Auto Software Driver Installation, and then select Enable or Disable.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

Remove preauthorizations

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool, and then click Preauthorize.

  1. Select users or user groups to be removed from the preauthorization list, and then click Delete Authorizations.

  1. Click OK.

Remove desktop authorizations

To remove the access right of a user to a desktop, perform this task. This task also removes the authorization policy associated with the authorized user that is removed from the desktop.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. From the desktop list, select the target desktops.

  1. Click More on top of the list, and then select Delete Authorizations. Alternatively, click the Delete icon  in the Authorized User Login Name column for the desktop.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

Start desktops

Starting multiple desktops in bulk might cause boot storm and affect user experience. Do not start multiple desktops in bulk when the service load is heavy.

 

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Start desktops:

Operate a desktop from its console

About this task

To help a desktop user resolve desktop issues, you can access that desktop from its console. You cannot open the desktop console of a user without permission while that user is using the desktop. You can open the console of a desktop in the following situations:

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click Console in the Actions column for a desktop.

  1. Perform the following operations as needed in the console:

Shut down desktops

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Shut down desktops:

Restart desktops

Restarting multiple desktops in bulk might cause boot storm and affect user experience. Do not restart multiple desktops in bulk when the service load is heavy.

 

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. To restart desktops:

Power off desktops

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Power off desktops:

Export desktop information

This task is available for the static VDI desktop pools created for local or domain users. This task exports information about all desktops in the selected desktop pool to an Excel file.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click More on top of the desktop list, and then select Export All.

Delete desktops

Restrictions and guidelines

You can select one of the following modes to delete desktops:

Destroying data will be I/O-intensive and will affect the storage capacity. As a best practice, perform this task when relatively less users access the desktops.

The disk files cannot be restored after you destroy the data. Make sure that the desktops do not need to be used and the disk files are not required before you destroy the data.

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Delete desktops:

Remove desktops

This task only removes the selected desktops from the desktop pool without deleting their VMs. To view information about the VMs, access the Data Center > Virtualization page.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Remove desktops:

Enable maintenance mode for desktops

Restrictions and guidelines

After you enable maintenance mode, the selected desktops will be logged out at the specified time and cannot be used. When a user connects to one of the desktops, the system displays that the desktop is under maintenance.

You can configure the maintenance time as follows:

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. To enable maintenance mode:

Disable maintenance mode for desktops

The desktops can be logged in only after the maintenance mode is disabled for them.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. To disable maintenance mode:

Upgrade the CAStools driver

Perform this task to upgrade the CAStools driver on one or multiple desktops.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Upgrade the CAStools driver:

Add desktops

To add VMs in the data center to a desktop pool to provide desktop services, perform this task. You can add a VM to only one desktop pool.

Before you perform this task, add VMs to the system on the Data Center > Virtualization page.

 

The system checks VMs for an AC97 sound card, QX1 display card, and SPICE console before it adds them to a desktop pool. If a VM lacks any of these options, a desktop configuration check dialog box opens. When you receive this dialog box, click OK. The system will automatically adds the missing options to the VM, and then adds it to the pool.

 

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click More on top of the desktop list, and then select Add Desktops. In the dialog box that opens, select one or multiple desktops, and then click OK.

Collect log data

Perform this task to collect log data from an online desktop installed with a VdiAgent.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click More in the Actions column for an online desktop installed with a log collector agent. A message box opens, informing you that you can access the System > Logs menu to view the collected log data.

  1. Click OK. The desktop log page opens.

Add GPU devices to desktops

Perform this task to add GPUs or vGPUs to desktops in a desktop pool. Before you add a GPU or vGPU to a desktop, make sure a compatible NVIDIA driver and a VdiAgent matching the Space Console version have been installed on the desktop. If you fail to do so, a black screen happens after the desktop is accessed from the console.

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Add GPU devices to desktops:

Parameters

Remove GPU devices from desktops

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Remove GPU devices from desktops:

Enable 4K resolution

Prerequisites

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Enable 4K resolution for desktops:

Disable 4K resolution

Prerequisites

Before you disable 4K resolution for a desktop, shut down that desktop first so the change can take effect after the desktop restarts.

Procedure

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Disable 4K resolution for desktops:

Release desktops

If a user no longer needs a desktop, you can release it for use by other users. This task is applicable to desktops in a dynamic or manual VDI desktop pool.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Release desktops:

Set a restore point for a manual desktop pool

This task is applicable only to a manual desktop pool. To make sure you can revert all desktops in a manual desktop pool to the state at a point in time, create a restore point. If you set multiple restore points, the system retains only the most recent restore point.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click More on top of the desktop list, and then select Set Restore Point.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

Restore a manual desktop pool

This task is applicable only to a manual desktop pool. It restores all desktops in a manual desktop pool to the most recent restore point.

  1. From the navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click More on top of the desktop list, and then select Restore Desktop Pool.

  1. In the dialog box that opens, click OK.

View detailed information about a desktop

  1. From the left navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click the name of a desktop in the desktop list.

The Data Center > Virtualization page opens. On the page, you can view detailed information about the desktop.

View detailed information about the peripherals of a desktop

Perform this task to view information about each peripheral of a desktop, including their device name, VID, PID, type, and state.

  1. From the left navigation pane, select Desktop Pools & Groups > Desktop Pools.

  1. Select a desktop pool.

  1. Click More in the Actions column for a desktop, and then select Peripherals.

A dialog box opens to display detailed peripheral information.

  1. To close the dialog box, click Close.