Creation of VM from a VirtualCenter Template

1) Use the VirtualCenter Client application to open a session with the VirtualCenter Server. A Terminal Services session can also be opened to the VirtualCenter Server once connected the client application executable is located on the desktop.

Note – You must be assigned VirtualCenter Administrator access in order to create a VM

2) Right click on the ESX Host you wish to deploy a VM guest and click on the option “Deploy Virtual Machine from Template”.

3) Click Next on the Template Wizard to begin the install.

4) You will then need to choose the type of OS to deploy from the list of templates available. The latest to date are included with the syntax of v1.2

5) At the next screen you will input the Virtual Machine name (this information should be cut and pasted from the Server Build document provided by the PM assigned).

6) Choose the Virtual Machine group on ESX host assigned.

7) Choose the LUN the VM (vmdk file) will reside on and click Next.

8) Each template has been created with a least a primary and backup Virtual NIC assigned in the template. Every instance beginning with a P is a Port Group.

* Note It is also very important to ensure the backup Port Group is listed as

NIC 1, as shown below. Upon deployment, a Vm’s IP address is defined within VirtualCenter by the last Virtual Nic assigned.

9) You will then assign the amount of RAM for the VM. A maximum amount of 3600 MB can be assigned to a VM. Leave the Resource priority at its default.

12) Click Next to begin the Guest Customization wizard.

10) Click Next to engage the wizard.

11) Fill in the information requested.

12) Enter the server name, use the same cut and paste process out of the Server Build document as listed previously.

13) You will then need to input the serial number for the OS type you are installing and use the Per server listing with 1000 connections

14) You do not need to enter any password information; this has been defined within the template this VM is being created from.

15) Enter the Time Zone for the server.

16) Click Next to the Guest Customization Wizard, we have no scripts that will be deployed at this juncture.

17) Click Next to the network setting page.

18) Click Next to the Domain assignment page this will put the VM into a Workgroup.

19) Ensure the “Generate New Security ID” check box is checked. VirtualCenter will then use SysPrep to create New SIDs for the new VM.

20) Click Next to the customization settings page.

23 Click Finish to begin the creation of the VM. You can observe the progress of the VM creation by clicking on the and on the Inventory tab, then click on the ESX server the VM is being created on. Then click on the tasks tab located in the right hand window.

Note – It Takes several minutes before the VM process is stated showing a completion bar as to its progress. This delay is normal.