Individualizing virtual hardware configurations of deployed desktop virtual machines using custom resource templates

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed in a computer system causes the computer system to carry out steps comprising:

• receiving a first custom resource template, wherein the first custom resource template specifies at least (a) a first plurality of desktop VMs that are a subset of a pool of desktop VMs, wherein desktop VMs in the pool of desktop VMs are either full clone VMs created from a full clone template or linked clone VMs created from a parent VM and snapshot, and wherein each of the desktop VMs in the pool of desktop VMs is created with the same original settings for virtual hardware resources of the desktop VM, and (b) custom settings for virtual hardware resources of the first plurality of desktop VMs that differ from the original settings;
• powering off the first plurality of desktop VMs;
• setting the virtual hardware resources of the first plurality of desktop VMs to the custom settings for the virtual hardware resources of the first plurality of desktop VMs specified in the first custom resource template;
• and
• powering on the first plurality of desktop VMs.

A computer system comprising:

• a memory configured to store instructions;
• and
• one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to perform the instructions to:
• execute a customization manager configured to support customization of virtual hardware resources of desktop virtual machines (VMs), wherein the customization manager is configured to:
• receive custom resource templates, wherein each of the custom resource templates specifies at least (a) an associated plurality of desktop VMs that are a subset of a pool of desktop VMs, wherein desktop VMs in the pool of desktop VMs are either full clone VMs created from a full clone template or linked clone VMs created from a parent VM and snapshot, and wherein each of the desktop VMs in the pool of desktop VMs is created with the same original settings for virtual hardware resources of the desktop VM, and (b) custom settings for virtual hardware resources of the associated plurality of desktop VMs that differ from the original settings, and
• reconfigure one or more of the desktop VMs based on at least the custom settings for virtual hardware resources specified in the custom resource templates.