cloud computer pool (formerly desktop group) - Elastic Desktop Service

A cloud computer pool is a collection of cloud computers in Elastic Desktop Service. You can use a cloud computer pool to manage cloud computers in a centralized manner. In a cloud computer pool, the system creates, assigns, and releases cloud computers based on the pool configurations and user requests for cloud computers. This helps improve computer usage efficiency. This topic describes the features, scenarios, and limits of cloud computer pools. This topic also describes the scaling policies and assignment mechanisms of pooled cloud computers.

Features

A cloud computer pool is a collection of cloud computers that can be batch assigned to multiple end users. When an authorized end user logs on to an Alibaba Cloud Workspace client (hereinafter referred to as a Alibaba Cloud Workspace clients), the system assigns a cloud computer from the cloud computer pool to the end user. After the end user disconnects from the cloud computer, the system reclaims the cloud computer for subsequent scheduling.

Cloud computers in a cloud computer pool can be automatically scaled. When you create a cloud computer pool, you can select a billing method and configure a scaling policy for the pool based on your business requirements. The system creates or releases cloud computers based on user requests and the scaling policy. This helps meet the requirements of end users, improve the usage efficiency of pooled cloud computers, and reduce costs.

All cloud computers in a cloud computer pool have the same configurations. You can manage the cloud computers in a centralized and efficient manner. For example, you can perform the following operations on cloud computers in a cloud computer pool:

Adjust the specifications of cloud computers in the pool.
Update the images of cloud computers in the pool.
Change the security policy attached to cloud computers in the pool.

Benefits and scenarios

A cloud computer pool has the following benefits:

Cloud computers in the pool are created by using the same cloud computer template and security policy. This way, end users have the same user experience when they connect to the cloud computers.
The number of cloud computers in the pool dynamically changes. The system creates and releases cloud computers based on user requests for cloud computers and the scaling policy of the pool. Therefore, the system may fail to assign cloud computers to some end users.
In a cloud computer pool, the system randomly assigns an idle cloud computer to an end user only when the end user requests a cloud computer. After the end user disconnects from the cloud computer, the system releases the cloud computer in 10 minutes.

Cloud computer pools are ideal for scenarios in which you want to manage cloud computers in a centralized manner, you want to randomly assign cloud computers to end users, and you do not want users to store private data on cloud computers. For example, your users can use pooled cloud computers in Internet cafés and classrooms.

Limits

You can create up to 200 cloud computers in a pay-as-you-go cloud computer pool and up to 100 cloud computers in a subscription cloud computer pool.
You cannot change the billing method of a cloud computer pool from subscription to pay-as-you-go, or vice versa.

Reset types

By default, disks cannot be reset for cloud computers in a cloud computer pool. If you want to retain a cloud computer, the system saves all data on the cloud computer 10 minutes after an end user disconnects from the cloud computer.

You can change the reset type for the pool based on your business requirements. Elastic Desktop Service provides the following reset type for disks on cloud computers in a cloud computer pool:

None
System Disk
User Disk
System Disk and User Disk

Scaling policies

The number of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool dynamically changes. When you create a cloud computer pool, you can select a billing method and configure a scaling policy for the pool based on your business requirements. The system creates, assigns, and releases cloud computers based on the scaling policy to implement flexible scheduling of cloud computers in the pool.

When you create a subscription cloud computer pool, you must specify the initial number of cloud computers that you want to purchase, and the upper limit of cloud computers created by the system in the pool for scaling. For example, you want to create S cloud computers in the cloud computer pool. The initial number of purchased cloud computers is S, and S must be greater than or equal to 1.
You can use scaled-out cloud computers in temporary scenarios to meet your business requirements. For example, if a customer service center usually has 50 employees at work but occasionally has more than 50 employees overtime, you can allow the system to create the required number of cloud computers to respond to the sudden increase in the requests for cloud computers.
- Allow automatic creation of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool and specify the upper limit of cloud computers created by the system in the pool ((T)
  When you create a cloud computer pool, S cloud computers are created. The system creates or releases cloud computers based on user requests for cloud computers. The cloud computers in the pool are scaled from S to S+T.
  Note
  The cloud computers that the system creates are billed on a pay-as-you-go basis. The system releases the cloud computers 10 minutes after end users disconnect from them.
  You can specify the upper limit of cloud computers created by the system in the pool to prevent unexpected fees.
- Do not allow automatic creation of cloud computers
  If you do not allow automatic creation of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool, the system maintains S cloud computers in the pool.
  Important
  To ensure that the cloud computers in a cloud computer pool can meet your business requirements and user experience is not compromised, we recommend that you purchase an appropriate number of cloud computers to purchase when you create the pool.
When you create a pay-as-you-go cloud computer pool, you must specify the maximum number of cloud computers in the pool, whether to reserve idle cloud computers in the pool, and the number of cloud computers that you want to reserve. For example, if the maximum number of cloud computers in the pool is M, M must be greater than or equal to 1.
To shorten the time that is required for end users to connect to cloud computers, you can allow the system to reserve a number of idle cloud computers in the pool. If the maximum number of cloud computers is not reached and your business requirements are met, the system always reserves a specific number of idle cloud computers to respond to unexpected increase in requests. For example, N cloud computers are always reserved in the pool.
Important
If you do not want the system to reserve idle cloud computers, the system creates on-demand cloud computers when end users request cloud computers. The system requires a specific amount of time to create cloud computers when the system receives cloud computer requests from end users. In some cases, the system may fail to create cloud computers due to insufficient inventory of cloud computer resources. To ensure the user experience of end users, we recommend that you allow the system to reserve idle cloud computers.
- Allow the system to reserve N idle cloud computers (N ≤ M)
  When you create a cloud computer pool, the system reserves N cloud computers for scaling. The system can create or release cloud computers based on user requests for cloud computers. The number of cloud computers in the pool is scaled from N to M.
- Do not allow the system to reserve idle cloud computers
  The system does not reserve cloud computers when you create a cloud computer pool. The system creates and releases cloud computers based on user connection. The number of cloud computers in the pool is scaled from 0 to M.

Cloud computer assignment

No fixed binding relationship exists between pooled cloud computers and end users. You can grant end users the permissions to use pooled cloud computers based on your business requirements. The system assigns the pooled cloud computers to end users based on user requests for cloud computers. The assignment mechanism of pooled cloud computers varies based on the billing method of the cloud computer pool and the configured scaling policy.

Subscription cloud computer pool

Scaling policy	Scenario	When an end user requests a cloud computer	After an end user disconnects from a cloud computer
Allow automatic creation of cloud computers	Number of connected end users ≤ Initial number of purchased cloud computers	The system assigns an existing subscription cloud computer to the end user. Duration of the cloud computer connection = Duration of cloud computer assignment	The end user can reconnect to the cloud computer within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cloud computer is unbound from the end user. Then, the system stops and resets the specified disk of the cloud computer that you configured for the pool.
	Upper limit of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool ≥ Number of connected end users > Initial number of purchased cloud computers	The system assigns a pay-as-you-go cloud computer that is created by the system to the end user. Duration of the cloud computer connection = Duration of the cloud computer creation + Duration of the cloud computer startup + Duration of the cloud computer assignment	The end user can reconnect to the cloud computer within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cloud computer is unbound from the end user. Then, the system releases the cloud computer.
	Number of connected end users > Upper limit of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool	The system does not assign a cloud computer to the end user. A message indicating that the cloud computers are insufficient appears.	N/A
Do not allow automatic creation of cloud computers	Number of connected end users ≤ Initial number of purchased cloud computers	The system assigns an existing subscription cloud computer to the end user. Duration of the cloud computer connection = Duration of cloud computer assignment	The end user can reconnect to the cloud computer within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cloud computer is unbound from the end user. Then, the system stops and resets the specified disk of the cloud computer that you configured for the pool.
Do not allow automatic creation of cloud computers	Number of connected end users > Initial number of purchased cloud computers	The system does not assign a cloud computer to the end user. A message indicating that the cloud computers are insufficient appears.	N/A

Note

Take note of the following formula for a subscription cloud computer pool: Upper limit of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool = Initial number of purchased cloud computers + Upper limit of cloud computers created by the system

Pay-as-you-go cloud computer pool

Scaling policy	Scenario	When an end user requests a cloud computer	After an end user disconnects from a cloud computer
Allow the system to reserve idle cloud computers	Number of connected end users ≤ Maximum number of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool	The system assigns a reserved pay-as-you-go cloud computer to the end user. Duration of the cloud computer connection = Duration of cloud computer assignment	The end user can reconnect to the cloud computer within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cloud computer is unbound from the end user. If the number of cloud computers reserved by the system exceeds the upper limit, the redundant cloud computers are released.
Allow the system to reserve idle cloud computers	Number of connected end users > Maximum number of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool	The system does not assign a cloud computer to the end user. A message indicating that the cloud computers are insufficient appears.	N/A
Do not allow the system to reserve idle cloud computers	Number of connected end users ≤ Maximum number of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool	The system assigns a pay-as-you-go cloud computer that is created by the system to the end user. Duration of the cloud computer connection = Duration of the cloud computer creation + Duration of the cloud computer startup + Duration of the cloud computer assignment	The end user can reconnect to the cloud computer within 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the cloud computer is unbound from the end user. Then, the system releases the cloud computer.
Do not allow the system to reserve idle cloud computers	Number of connected end users > Maximum number of cloud computers in a cloud computer pool	The system does not assign a cloud computer to the end user. A message indicating that the cloud computers are insufficient appears.	N/A