Custom OS Template (Windows)
An organisation admin can whip up a Customised OS Template to spin up remote desktops. It's also a handy way to activate your own license on your OS.
These steps are crucial for building an image successfully. Take your time and follow them closely.
Important:
About Disk Partition
1. A customised template needs just one disk partition, or two at most: one for EFI/Boot and the other for system and data.
2. LVM partitions aren't supported, so don't use them.
3. Getting the partition scheme wrong will stop disk auto-resize and machine naming from working.
Windows
1. Install the "Red Hat VirtIO SCSI pass-through controller"
When you're asked "Where do you want to install Windows?", hit "Load drivers" and pick the right driver. You'll then see the storage drive pop up.
2. Initial Setup
When you see "Let's connect you to a network", click I don't have internet.
At "There's more to discover...", click Continue with limited setup.
Pick any username but leave the password blank.
3. Install Virtio-win drivers and guest agents
Once the machine's running and you've logged in, head to CD Drive E and run Virtio-win-guest-tools to install the virtio drivers, the spice vdagent, and the qemu guest agent. Just click next and OK to wrap up the install.
4. Disable Hibernate
Right-click to open "Command Prompt" as an admin, type in "powercfg.exe /hibernate off", and press enter.
5. Enable Shutdown/Restart Windows 10 without Any Prompts
Inside the registry editor, go to this key: HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Control Panel\Desktop.
Add a new String Value called AutoEndTasks and set its value to 1.
6. Check the required services are there and set them to "Automatic Start"
- Spice-Vdagent : for support of qemu vnc clipboard
- BalloonService: for guest memory usage stats
7. Install and configure TightVNC for a proper VNC connection
Head to https://www.tightvnc.com/download.php and grab the TightVNC installer for Windows.
Run the install. Once it's done, switch off authentication.
Open the "TightVNC service configuration" and set it up.
8. Enable Shared-drive
Shared-drive lets cloud desktops swap files during a training course or between your own PC and the cloud desktop. It runs on WebDAV tech. You'll need to map the hard drive before you can use it—have a squiz at the screenshot below for the how-to.
9. Shut down Windows properly
Click the Windows icon in the bottom left corner -> Power -> Shutdown.
Please Note
To tack on extra optional features like
- DDWebdav so the trainer's content folders sync to each participant's machine,
- or DDUpload – for easily uploading files within a DaDesktop machine;
Please reach out to DaDesktop Tech Support.