VMware View Composer Provisioning timeout error

June 5, 2015 End User Computing, VMware Homelab

In the process of installing VMware Horizon View 5.3 in my home lab environment, I ran into an error when creating a Linked Clone Pool using VMware Composer. One of my reasons for installing Horizon View was to test the performance of using PernixData FVP in a VDI scenario (boot storms initially) and the other was to gain access into my home lab using a Security Server. The desktops would be created and I would get the error “Customization operation timed out” under the newly created desktop pool.  I used the vSphere Client console and looked at a newly created desktop and noticed it did not obtain an IP Address.  After performing a Google search the first hit was to this VMware KB, “Provisioning View desktops fails due to customization timeout errors”. 

This issue occurs due to the way the VMXNET 3 adapter is added. The Windows 7 operating system identifies the adapter as a new device and does not properly install the VMXNET 3 driver during the cloning process. Resolving the issue is as follows:

Install the Microsoft Hotfix

      • Download and install the Windows hotfix patch on the parent virtual machine
      • Release the IP lease on the virtual machine (cmd prompt and ipconfig /release)
      • Power off the VM
      • Take a Snapshot of the Parent VM

 

Recompose the desktop pool

      • In the View Manager console, Click Inventory > Pools
      • Double-click on the pool you want to recompose
      • Click Status and verify that provisioning is enabled for the pool
      • Click View Composer > Recompose
      • Click on the new snapshot, hit next a few times and then Finish

After the recompose finished, my desktops in the Pool were all now provisioned properly and the agents were ready to accept a connection.

By Jaison Bailley