Parent Images

[TDJB3]

I am running a POC and would like some advice concerning Parent Images.  What did you think was the best way to build them?  Did you run across programs that did not work?  I have a problem with an older version of Sun Java that is needed for some of our web based applications.  How did you choose to setup Persona?  That's a lot for now and I will stop.

[gunnarb]

Parent Images:

Depends on the customer and the environment.

Most VMware types will tell you to ThinApp every application you can and keep the parent image as clean as possible, just the OS. 

I normally make the call based on the customers comfort level and what they need to accomplish.  THere is nothing wrong with loading your applications into the parent image, its not ideal but there isn't anything wrong with it.  For instance, I have a customer that has only one user type that they are making VMs for.  They have about 20 applications.  Why would I have them ThinApp 20 applications to put on 1 master image.  It makes more sense for them to just put all 20 in the master VM (unless there are application conflicts, in which case I'd ThinApp those that have conflicts).

So it really depends on what your need in your environment.

Gunnar

[mittim12 · Accepted solution]

Here is a link to the View Persona PDF.  http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/view/VMware-View-Persona-Management-Deployment-Guide.pdf

My stance for applications in the base image is do it if the app is used by everyone and doesn't require frequent updates.   I don't want to keep updating my parent image because one app needs updates all the time.  

[gunnarb]

See that's what CItrix Provisioning Services just does 1000x better than vComposer.  Updating an image isn't a big deal, there is no recompose job, you just update the master and the next time people boot they are on the master.  I wish vComposer would work like this.

Gunnar