Nutanix - Schedule Maintenance for Desktop Pool

To patch a pool of automated desktops, you can use the push-image operation for a rolling patching process with minimal downtime.

The image you used to create a pool is the default image. By default, all patching operations use this image to update all machines in the pool. Depending on how you want the golden image to be managed, you can change the golden image and snapshot source in your pool from vCenter to Image Catalog or reverse. For more information on the Image Management Service, see the Managing Horizon Images from the Cloud document.

You can optionally publish a secondary image, which you can use to update a subset of the machines in the pool while leaving the rest unchanged. Find out more in Selective Patching.

When you are using the default image, the workflow for the patching process is as follows:

• Prepare a new golden image and snapshot based on the updated operating system image or applications.
• Schedule a push-image operation with the updated golden image and snapshot. When the push-image operation starts, Horizon 8 deletes old Nutanix clones that are unused and quickly creates new Nutanix clones based on the new image. The new clones are ready for users to log in.
• Old Nutanix clones that are in-use remain undisturbed. When the user logs out, Horizon 8 deletes the old Nutanix clone and recreates a new Nutanix clone based on the updated image. The new Nutanix clone is ready for the next user to log in.
• Once all the users have logged out, Horizon 8 patches the entire pool.

Schedule a Push-Image Update

1. In Horizon Connection Server, navigate to Inventory > Desktops.

2. Click the pool ID.

3. On the Summary tab, select Maintain > Schedule.

4. On the Image screen, select the image to use.

5. On the Advanced Settings screen, select to use the current cluster or select a new one.

6. Click Next.

7. On the Scheduling screen, select Schedule Push Image. The pool update will start at the time that you specify on this screen.

8. On the Ready to Complete screen, review all selections and click Submit.