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45 Replies Last post: Oct 13, 2009 10:23 AM by syousef

Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize

Feb 18, 2008 9:12 AM

mawillis 4 posts since
Mar 17, 2007

I am running a Virtual Center 2.5 and ESX server 3 environment. I have just created a new Windows Server 2008 RTM (32bit) Template and would like to deploy using the customization wizard within Virtual Center 2.5. When I get to the customization screen, I see the following message:

"Warning: Customization of the guest operating system 'winLonghornGuest' is not supported in this configuration. Microsoft Vista (TM) and Linux guests with Logical Volume Manager are supported only for recent ESX host and VMware Tools versions."

I have a Vista Template that I am able to use the customization wizard with. Has any body else seen this problem with a Server 2008 template?

Thanks.

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Feb 19, 2008 2:32 AM

mawillis 4 posts since
Mar 17, 2007

For anyone else with this problem, I am able to work around it for the time being by changing the specified Guest Operating System for the VM in VirtualCenter, from Windows 2008 to Vista. This at least allows me to deploy this windows 2008 server VM from a template. I do not know if there are any side affects to doing this though so would still appreciate any advice on how to fix the original problem.

Thanks.

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Mar 10, 2008 2:18 AM

in response to: mawillis

Garfied 15 posts since
Jan 24, 2007

Hi,

same problem here. Is there any explaination about this kind of issue? I'm looking for it for days but i could not find anything.

Thanks,

Enry

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Mar 10, 2008 3:14 AM

in response to: Garfied

piercelynch 84 posts since
Feb 26, 2008

Probably simply because it is not a support OS for the customisation wizard yet... remember it has only just been released.

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize May 4, 2008 11:32 AM

in response to: piercelynch

Mike_Laverick 4,059 posts since
Jan 5, 2004 Moderator

I can confirm the same error message...

I found setting the guest OS type to Vista, and then copying the sysprep.exe files from W2K3 allowed the guest customization process to go ahead...

After it completing - I powered of the VM, and set it back to being Windows 2008

Regards
Mike

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize May 4, 2008 1:20 PM

in response to: Mike_Laverick

Mike_Laverick 4,059 posts since
Jan 5, 2004 Moderator

Actually, I spoke to soon... although I got the VMware Image creation - the netbios name remained the same, IP settings did not take affect, and it didn't join the domain.

I think we will be running sysprep manually (like we used to with Vista) until we get offical support...

Regards
Mike

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize May 4, 2008 7:45 PM

in response to: Mike_Laverick

Jasemccarty 3,805 posts since
Apr 5, 2005

Hey Mike,

Vista doesn't require any sysprep type files to customize a Windows Vista guest.

And the current workaround, is to change the guest type to Vista, from Windows 2008.

I've comfirmed in my environment that this works.

Thanks,

Jase

Jase McCarty
http://www.jasemccarty.com

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize May 5, 2008 2:44 AM

in response to: Jasemccarty

Mike_Laverick 4,059 posts since
Jan 5, 2004 Moderator

mmm, thats funny. I was told by VMware a couple of weeks - to put the vista sysprep files in the 1.1 directory to get sysprep working for vista - specifically related to VDM...

As for W2K8. When I tried that work around it ran sysprep but ignored the customization settings utterly.

I wonder what it is I am doing differently. Where have you put your W2K8 sysprep files in All Users?

Regards
Mike

ps not upgraded to update 1 yet. Maybe that has something to do with it?

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize May 5, 2008 7:16 AM

in response to: Mike_Laverick

Jasemccarty 3,805 posts since
Apr 5, 2005

Mike I might have mispoken... But let me quantify by detailing the files that I have...

Sysprep files are in the standard location:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\sysprep

I have the 1.1, 2k, svr2003, & XP loaded with the appropriate sysprep files.

But... I removed them to test my comments.

Even after removing the above mentioned files, I was able to clone a Windows 2008 Server, and customize the settings.

The reason this works, is because the method in which Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 are sysprepped, is different than the way Windows 2000/XP/2003 are sysprepped.

Vista and Server 2008 have the sysprep functionality built into the OS.

Here's a link with more information on how the Vista/Server 2008 sysprep process works:
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsVista/en/library/fd2f79c9-3049-4b8c-bcfd-4e6dc5771ace1033.mspx

Thanks,

Jase

Jase McCarty
http://www.jasemccarty.com

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Jun 25, 2008 3:48 AM

in response to: Jasemccarty

5truja 20 posts since
Oct 24, 2005

But what did you remove? Did you pick a certain directory or did you remove all files? What is the winning combination in order to be able to have both (w2k3 and w2k8) cutomisation spec working

Thanks in advance

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Jun 25, 2008 5:17 AM

in response to: 5truja

Jasemccarty 3,805 posts since
Apr 5, 2005

I didn't have to remove anything.

The SYSPREP process for Vista and Windows 2008 doesn't require any additional files. The required files are included in the installation of Vista or Windows 2008 (inside the guest).

The only issue I have personally witnessed, is that you have to change the OS Type from Windows 2008 to Vista. I will mention that some others have seen some issues (at least it looks that way in some of the posts), but I haven't seen any personally.

Additionally, I don't actively have a requirement for any Windows 2008 boxes, so my success has only been with deploying test systems.

Jase McCarty
http://www.jasemccarty.com
Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center
(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Jun 25, 2008 5:40 AM

in response to: Jasemccarty

RickPollock 73 posts since
Jul 25, 2007

On the template VM I just ran sysprep and selected shutdown after completed. After the OS shutdown I created a template from that VM. I am able to successfully deploy Windows 2008 Server from this template with the Guest OS set to Windows 2008

Rick

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Jun 25, 2008 5:44 AM

in response to: RickPollock

Jasemccarty 3,805 posts since
Apr 5, 2005

I'm wondering if something has changed with some of the last round of patches...

Wait a minute... Are you using the customization process in VirtualCenter are you? Or are you running SYSPREP from inside the guest, shutting down the guest, converting it to a template, and then deploying from there?

If that's true, that's not where the issue is. The issue is that currently VC 2.5 (& U1) doesn't allow the use of the Customization Specifications with Windows 2008.

If not, then what's your setup?

Jase McCarty
http://www.jasemccarty.com
Co-Author of VMware ESX Essentials in the Virtual Data Center
(ISBN:1420070274) from Auerbach

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Jun 25, 2008 5:45 AM

in response to: Jasemccarty

5truja 20 posts since
Oct 24, 2005

Thanks a lot

5truja

Reply Re: Deploy Server 2008 from Template and Customize Jun 25, 2008 5:47 AM

in response to: 5truja

Jasemccarty 3,805 posts since
Apr 5, 2005

Thanks a lot?

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