VCP5-DT Official Cert Guide: Optimizing the Operating System

This chapter covers the following subjects:

• Optimizing the Operating System
• Configuring Virtual Hardware
• Installing the Agent
• Creating Customization Specifications

(This chapter covers Objective 3.5 of the Blueprint.)

Up to now, we have reviewed the steps necessary to install and configure View, and to provide an optimal delivery experience for users connecting to virtual desktops. However, for the best possible end-user experience, the virtual desktop itself must also be optimized. The first step in this optimization process is fine tuning the operating system (OS) to function well in a View environment. Windows operating systems were not initially designed for a virtual platform. Although they have been adapted in recent years to function in this type of environment, changes should still be made to ensure that they perform well. For example, in a virtualized environment, all components of a desktop exist as files. Therefore, optimizing storage resources when virtualizing a desktop is a critical step in ensuring proper performance. Some of these optimization steps are simple tricks that can result in an impressive performance improvement, not only for virtual environments but for physical environments as well. This chapter takes a look at these optimization methods.

“Do I Know This Already?” Quiz

The “Do I Know This Already?” quiz allows you to assess whether you should read this entire chapter or simply jump to the “Exam Preparation Tasks” section for review. If you are in doubt, read the entire chapter. Table 6-1 outlines the major headings in this chapter and the corresponding “Do I Know This Already?” quiz questions. You can find the answers in Appendix A, “Answers to the ‘Do I Know This Already?’ Quizzes and Review Questions.”

Table 6-1. Headings and Questions

1. What two guides can you use to optimize virtual desktops in a View environment?

   1. VMware View XP Deployment Guide
   2. VMware View XP Optimization Guide
   3. VMware View Optimization Guide for Windows 7
   4. VMware View Optimization Guide for Windows XP

2. Which setting immediately improves performance on a Windows virtual desktop?

   1. My Computer > Properties > Advanced Tab > Performance Options
   2. My Computer > Advanced Settings > Performance Options
   3. My Computer > Properties > Performance > Performance Options
   4. My Computer > Properties > Performance Options

3. What virtual hardware can you remove from a virtual desktop to optimize performance?

   1. vCPU
   2. vRAM
   3. Floppy drive
   4. Disk drive

4. What must be installed on the virtual desktop image to ensure the latest drivers and other performance improving features are present?

   1. View drivers
   2. VMware drivers
   3. VMware Tools
   4. View Agent

5. What feature must be installed on the master image to allow a desktop to be used for linked clones?

   1. View linked-clone agent
   2. View Composer Agent
   3. VMware linked-clone agent
   4. VMware Composer Agent

6. What should the BitLocker Drive Encryption Service be set to?

   1. Default
   2. Started
   3. Manual
   4. Disabled

7. Which service should be enabled on the master image but disabled for linked clones to help improve disk performance?

   1. Desktop Window Manager Session Manager
   2. VMware Composer Agent Service
   3. Disk Defragmenter Service
   4. Disk Defragmenter Session Manager

8. Which service should not be used to back up a virtual desktop?

   1. Centralized File Backup
   2. Backup with MS Software Copy Provider
   3. Windows Backup
   4. Centralized Profile Backup

9. A View implementation requires Superfetch and has been optimized to handle the increased I/O workload. When configuring Superfetch, what is the default setting?

   1. Cache boot files only
   2. Cache documents only
   3. Cache applications only
   4. Cache everything

10. What PowerShell script enables you to stop Windows services?

    1. powershell set-service <service name> -startuptype "disabled"
    2. powershell setservice <service name> -startuptype "disabled"
    3. powershell setservice <service name> -servicetype "disabled"
    4. powershell set-service <service name> -servicetype "disabled"