Publishing a Virtual Machine
Publishing a virtual machine (VM) makes it available to users that have been assigned that VM. Publishing turns the VM into a virtual ready-to-run desktop. You can publish a new VM or republish an updated existing VM.
When you first publish a new VM, it has no assigned users, and it must be created and published before you can assign users to it.
To update a VM, start it in NxTop Center's console, and make your changes - apply patches, add or update applications, join a domain, remove unused software - and then use the Publish action to make the new version available to assigned users. When the user’s computer next contacts NxTop Center, it downloads the updated VM. When that VMis next started, the updated version is used.
| Note: | If you expand the system disk on a VM or add CPUs, use the NxTop Center Console to Start and Shutdown the VM twice before publishing. Details. |
To publish a Virtual Machine
Step One
Click Virtual Machines in the navigation panel and select the VM to publish. Then, update the VM as needed:
Modify a VM to change aspects other than the virtual machine.
Start the VM, make changes at the Console, and shut down the VM
Step Two
In the Actions panel, click Version/Publish. The Create New Virtual Machine Version wizard appears in a pop-up window.
Step Three
Enter a reason for this version of the VM.
The reason is displayed in the list of versions for the VM. Select a reason that will remind or explain why the version was made.
Step Four
Select the type of version to publish:
- non-deployable checkpoint to save the VM in its current state. This version cannot be assigned, but you can revert back to it.
- Publish but do not deploy to create a version to test, but not yet send to users. You can deploy it later.
- staged deployment to send this version to selected users. Click here for details.
- Select Publish and deploy to create and distribute this version.
Step Five
NxTop will create a Diagnostic package in the event of failure. You can request a diagnostic package in any case.
Fill the checkbox to save a diagnostic package in all cases.
Click here for details on collecting a Publish diagnostics package.
Step Six
Click Finish.
That's it! You've just published a newly created or modified VM.
- A current version is downloaded to all assigned users or groups when the user next contacts NxTop Center.
- A staged version is downloaded to all staged users or groups when the user next contacts NxTop Center.
See Assigning a VM for details about assignings for current or staged versions of a VM.