Setting Up the MiDesktop Instant Clone Base Image (Windows)

Overview

The Base Image must be properly configured before deploying a desktop pool. This document contains the steps that must be completed to ensure it is set up correctly and in accordance with vendor best practices.

Install the Operating System (for Blank Images ONLY)

  1. Open a web browser to MiDesktop vCenter. For more information, see steps in Accessing MiDesktop vCenter.
  2. Click the base image, and then click the Summary tab.
  3. Click Launch Remote Console and power on the VM.
  4. Click the VMRC menu > Removable Devices > CD/DVD drive 1 > Connect to Disk Image File (ISO), load the ISO.
  5. Issue a CTRL + ALT + DEL on the VMRC console to restart the VM and boot to the ISO to load the OS.

Log in to the Base Image and Change Admin Password (for MiDesktop-Provided Images)

  1. MiDesktop will issue temporary local admin credentials for the base image.
  2. From MiDesktop vCenter VMs and Templates view, click your base image, then click the Summary tab.
  3. Click Launch Remote Console and power on the VM.
  4. Select Send Ctrl+Alt+Del from the VMRC drop-down list.
  5. Log into the base image with the temporary credentials provided. You will be prompted to change the password at the first login.

Install VMWare Tools

Note: Skip this section if the base image already has the current version of VMware Tools installed.

  1. Power on the base image from MiDesktop vCenter.
  2. Once the base image is powered on, click the Summary tab and click Upgrade VMWare Tools on the yellow banner.
  3. Select Automatic Upgrade to install the default options.
  4. The base image will restart automatically upon completion. To check the status:
    1. Click the Monitor tab on the base image.
    2. Click Tasks under Tasks and Events.
    3. Check the task Initiated VMware Tools install or upgrade.

Install the Crowdstrike agent

  1. Verify your group has a unique Crowdstrike Customer ID. If not, please see CrowdStrike Falcon for Units for more information before continuing.
  2. Log in to the base image as local admin.
  3. Download the Crowdstrike installer from MiDesktop Downloads onto the base image, or copy it there.
  4. Open an elevated command prompt and navigate to the installer directory.
  5. Run WindowsSensor-installer.exe /install CID='your customer ID' VDI=1

Install the OS Optimizer

  1. Log in to the base image as local admin.
  2. Navigate to the MiDesktop Downloads folder and download the file VMware OS Optimization Tool.
  3. Double-click the tool to run it.
  4. Click Yes, then click Analyze. Select all the necessary options, then click Optimize.

​Install the View Agent

  1. Log in to the base image as local admin.
  2. Navigate to the MiDesktop Downloads folder and download the latest version of the View Agent.
  3. Install the View Agent, accept all defaults.
  4. Restart the base image.

Install the NVIDIA GPU Driver (for GPU Base Images ONLY)

  1. Log in to the base image as local admin.
  2. Navigate to MiDesktop Downloads and download the entire NVIDIA folder. The folder contains the NVIDIA vGPU driver file, client token file, and license query batch file.

  3. Run the NVIDIA vGPU Driver .exe file - accept all defaults then restart the machine.

    Note: After the installation, the base image will not be accessible using the Launch Remote Console within the vCenter since it will result in a black screen. Use Remote Desktop Connection instead.

  4. Configure NVIDIA license:
    1. Connect to the base image with RDP.
    2. Copy client_configuration_token_07-21-2022-16-11-57.tok to %SystemDrive%\Program Files\NVIDIA Corporation\vGPU Licensing\ClientConfigToken folder in your base image
    3. Open the Services app and restart the NVIDIA Display Container LS service
    4. Run LicenseQuery.bat. This queries whether the desktop has acquired an NVIDIA license. Verify License Status is Licensed

Release IP

  1. Log in to the base image as local admin.
  2. Open a command prompt using Run as administrator.
  3. Type ipconfig /release.
  4. Shut down the machine.

Take a Snapshot

Once the base image is configured, take a snapshot for use later in the new VDI pool creation process to create the virtual desktops.

  1. From MiDesktop vCenter, shut down the base image.
  2. Click the Snapshots tab, click Take Snapshot.
  3. Name the snapshot, enter a description, and click Create.
    Note: Remember the snapshot name. This is used to create the desktop machine pool later.
Last Updated
Friday, February 23, 2024