How Guest VMs Are Created From a Template

After a RAS Template is created, Parallels RAS begins creating guest VMs from it, one virtual machine at a time. The number of VMs is determined by the value specified in the Pre-created guest VMs field on the Properties page (see Configuring a RAS Template ).

As soon as a user connects to an existing guest VM, Parallels RAS begins creating a new guest VM from the template, so the number of pre-created VMs remains unchanged. Please note that creating a new guest VM from a template takes some time, especially when a template is configured to create full clones (linked clones are created much faster). If a guest VM is in the middle of being created, and no other VMs are available, the user will have to wait until the VM is ready.

If a guest VM encounters a problem during the preparation stage (for any reason), it remains on the server but cannot be used. You can identify such VMs in the Template Guest VMs List dialog (described in the section that follows this one) by the "Preparation failed" value in the Status column. Unless a VM like this is repaired or recreated, it will be automatically removed after the time period specified in the Auto remove guest VMs which failed preparation after field on the VDI Hosts > RAS Templates tab page. For more information on how to recreate a guest VM, please see the RAS Template Maintenance section .

When a guest VM is no longer in use, and if the number of existing VMs exceeds the "pre-created" value, a VM is deleted after the time period specified in the Delete unused guest VM after field on the Properties page. If you didn't select that option, a VM is never deleted, but the total number of VMs will never exceed the value specified in the Maximum guest VMs field on the Properties page.