Templates¶

A template is a pre-configured desktop. Their disk can't be modified, so they can't be started like regular desktops, but their parameters can be customized to suit the needs of individual users.

Templates are designed to be shared with other users so they can create their own desktops.

Here is an example that illustrates the relation of templates and disks:

1. A desktop is created with storage disk D1.

graph LR
  dt1(Desktop):::dt -.- dk1([D1]):::dk
  classDef dk fill:#ffd1dc,stroke:#ff3465,stroke-width:1px
  classDef dt stroke-width:2px

2. Next, a template is created from this desktop. When creating the template the disk D1 becomes associated with the new template. At the same time, a copy of D1 is made and named D1'. This copied disk will be used by the original desktop in the future, so that any changes made to the original disk won't affect it.

graph LR
  dt1(Desktop):::dt -.- dk1([D1']):::dk;
  dt1 --> tp1(Template):::tp
  tp1 -.- dk2([D1]):::dk
  classDef dk stroke:#ff3465,fill:#ffd1dc,stroke-width:1px
  classDef dt stroke-width:2px
  classDef tp stroke:#30d200,fill:#cdffbe,stroke-width:2px

3. If a new desktop is created from this template, a new disk D2 is created for the new desktop. This disk D2 contains the changes that will be made to the desktop in regard to the template's disk D1. In other words, D2 is linked to D1 and the desktop gets its information from D1 at the moment of starting it.

To simplify, D2 only contains the changes made to D1 that are relevant to the new desktop, and both disks remain connected to each other.

graph LR
  dt1(Desktop):::dt -.- dk1([D1']):::dk;
  dt1 --> tp1(Template):::tp
  tp1 -.- dk2([D1]):::dk
  tp1 --> dt2(Desktop):::dt
  dt2 -.- dk3([D2]):::dk
  dk3 -- depends on --> dk2
  classDef dk stroke:#ff3465,fill:#ffd1dc,stroke-width:1px
  classDef dt stroke-width:2px
  classDef tp stroke:#30d200,fill:#cdffbe,stroke-width:2px

4. When duplicating a template, no new disk will be created. Instead, the new template will use the same disk D1 as the original template.

graph LR
  dt1(Desktop):::dt -.- dk1([D1']):::dk;
  dt1 --> tp1(Template):::tp
  tp1 -.- dk2([D1]):::dk
  tp1 --> tp2(Template):::tp
  tp2 -.- dk2
  classDef dk stroke:#ff3465,fill:#ffd1dc,stroke-width:1px
  classDef dt stroke-width:2px
  classDef tp stroke:#30d200,fill:#cdffbe,stroke-width:2px

By understanding the relationship between templates, desktops, and disks, you can better manage your virtual desktop infrastructure.

Create¶

To create a template from a desktop, click the following icon:

You can assign any name/description, choose whether to enable/disable it (make it visible/invisible), and share it with groups/users

Your Templates¶

To see the templates that you have created, you have to go to the section of your personal templates.

Edit¶

To edit a template, in Your templates section, click on the icon , where it redirects to the page where you can edit the template information (same form and options as when you edit a desktop)

To share a template, in Your templates section, click the icon and a window will appear where you can assign the groups and/or users.

Make Visible/Invisible¶

To modify the visibility of a template, in Your templates section, click on the button or the button depending on its current visibility.

The state of the eye will determine the visibility of the template:

Open eye and blue button : visible template
Eye denied and gray button : invisible template

A form will appear where you can accept or deny the change of the visibility of the template:

Delete¶

Delete templates

When you create a template from a desktop, the disk is duplicated. When you generate a new desktop from a template, an additional disk is created in storage that depends on the original template disk. Advanced users can only delete their own templates, if there are dependencies with other users, the manager/admin user will have to be informed.

To delete a template, click the icon

The management of templates in the system may vary depending on the presence of dependencies. Depending on whether the template has dependencies or not, a specific notification will be generated.

For templates without dependencies:

When a template has no dependencies, meaning no other users' desktops have been created based on that template, it can be safely deleted. In this case, you can proceed with deleting the template directly.

For templates with dependencies:

If a template has dependencies, indicating that other users' desktops have been created that originate from that template, a different action is required. In this case, it is necessary to notify the corresponding manager or administrator of the intention to delete the template. The manager or administrator will take appropriate measures to evaluate the situation and, if appropriate, proceed with the elimination of the template, ensuring that other users' desktops are affected or not in the process.

As an advanced user, if you have dependencies, it will be indicated with a "--", which is shown when you do not have the necessary permissions to access the information. Being a manager user, it will indicate names of users and desktops from your own category, while being an administrator user, it will have access to information from all categories.

Shared with you¶

In this section you can see the templates that have been shared with your user.

Duplicate template¶

To duplicate a template and make it yours, in Templates shared with you section, select the template by clicking the icon

And it redirects you to the page where you can duplicate it.

Important

Duplicating a shared template creates a copy where the user is the owner. This allows you to customize the template, including changing the users with whom it is shared.

Last update: October 30, 2023