machine with a consistent set of settings. A VMM VM template is an XML object that is stored with a VMM library, and includes one or more of the following segments:
- Guest Operating System Profile A guest OS profile that includes operating system settings.
- Hardware Profile A hardware profile that includes VM hardware settings.
- Virtual Hard Disk This can be a blank hard disk, or a virtual hard disk that hosts a specially prepared, sysprepped in the case of Windows based operating systems, version of an operating system.
You can create VM templates based on existing virtual machines deployed on a virtualization host managed by VMM, based on virtual hard disks stored in a VMM library, or by using an existing VM template.
VM templates have the following limitations:
- A VM template allows you to customize IP address settings, but you can only configure a static IP address for a specific VM when deploying that VM from the template.
- Application and SQL Server deployment are only used when you deploy a VM as part of a service.
- When creating a template from an existing VM, ensure that the VM is a member of a workgroup and is not joined to a domain.
- You should create a separate local administrator account on a VM before using it as the basis of a template. Using the built-in administrator account will cause the sysprep operation to fail.
- You cannot create a virtual machine template for a Linux virtual machine based on an existing Linux VM deployed to a virtualization host.
To create a VM template based on an existing virtual hard disk (which can include a blank hard disk), or existing VM template, perform the following steps:
1. In the Library workspace of the VMM console, click Create VM Template on the ribbon.
2. On the Select Source page, click Browse next to Use An Existing VM Template For A Virtual Hard Disk Stored In The Library.
3. On the Select VM Template Source dialog box, select the hard disk that will serve as the basis for the VM template.
4. On the VM Template Identity page, provide a name for the VM template and choose between a Generation 1 and a Generation 2 VM. This page is shown in Figure 1.
FIGURE 1 Template name
5. On the Configure Hardware page, you can select an existing hardware profile, or create a new hardware profile using the steps outlined earlier in this chapter. If you choose to create a new hardware profile, you can save this profile for use in the future. Figure 2 shows the selection of the Example Hardware Profile.
FIGURE 2 Select hardware profile
6. On the Configure Operating System page, select a guest OS profile or configure a new Guest OS Profile using the steps outlined earlier. If you choose to create a new guest OS profile, you can save it for use again later. Figure 3 shows the Example Windows Server 2012 R2 profile selected.
FIGURE 3 Select Guest OS Profile
7. On the Application Configuration page, you can select an existing application profile. This will only be used if the VM is deployed as a service, and you don’t have to select an application profile when configuring a VM template.
8. On the SQL Server Configuration page, you can select an existing SQL Server profile. This will only be used if the VM is deployed as a service and you don’t have to select SQL Server profile when configuring a VM template.
9. Complete the wizard, which creates the profile.
When creating a VM template from a VM that is already deployed, you’ll be asked to select an existing VM from a list of those that are deployed on a virtualization host managed by VMM.
