Windows 2008 r2 sysprep

[morciod]

Hi.. I have created a new vmguest running windows 2008 R2. I am ready to make this a template, but am not sure if I should run the sysprep process

(found in C:\windows\system32\sysprep

before or after I convert the vm to template..

I am thinking before since this template will be used to create additional machines....

Thanks

[firestartah]

it depends if you are going to use the customisation tools in vcentre or not. If not then do sysprep and select shutdown. once shutdown you cna convert it to a template then each time it's created it will be at the customisation page after sysprep

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Gregg Robertson, VCP3,4 , MCSE, MCSA, MCTS, MCITP

[morciod]

Thank you...

I read and believe to understand that the VM customization tools (which prompt during creating vm from template) are not available with Win 2008 r2. you have to use the the executable.

Is this not true?

[firestartah]

It's the other way round windows 2008 has sysprep already part of it as you've noted so it should work perfectly fine without having to add anything to the sysprep folder on the virtual centre server like normal.

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Gregg Robertson, VCP3,4 , MCSE, MCSA, MCTS, MCITP

[khughes · Accepted solution]

All you need to do is build out your server as a base, complete, everything type of machine and then set it as a template without running sysprep on it. Like the other poster noted you can deploy from template through vCenter, which if you copy the 2008 sysprep files onto the vCenter server (directions on how to do that here - http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40_u1/vsp_40_u1_admin_guide.pdf (pg 327)). It'll actually go through the customization process and run sysprep for you each time you deploy from that template.

Not running sysprep before you make it a template also helps because you can change it back to a VM, power it up, make changes / install updates to it then switch it back to a template extremely easy. That way your template is always up to date and ready to go.

• Kyle

[morciod]

I just looked at the documentation link.. and it does not indicate that this is available for Windows 2008 servers.... '

I am aware and we are able to do this for Win2003...

Are you saying I can and should use the same procedure to enable sysprep for Win2008 via Vsphere????

That being said if we cannot do sysprep via Vsphere, my understanding is to

do not run sysprep on vm

make this new vm a template

then after deploying a vm using this tempalte run sysprep

[khughes]

Actually, I forgot 2008 doesn't use SysPrep anymore (was phased out), all the information you'll need to deploy a Windows 2008 Server template you can read here - http://vmetc.com/2009/08/13/windows-server-2008-deploy-from-template-guest-customization-update/

hope that answers all your questions.

• Kyle

[firestartah]

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[masterivan]

running sysprep worked for me, while running VM customazation gave me an error at boot.

I am happy with sysprep, but I am looking for a quick and easy way of sqeezing an answer file in there.

I miss the good old days of unnatend.txt

Can anyone help me out with it?