topic Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching in VMware PowerCLI Discussions

Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

Adv-CODE-R — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:35:04 GMT

Hi LucD,

I have a query..

1. Convert Template to VM
2. Power On the VM
3. Patch the VM with
3. Power Off
4. Convert to Template

Operating System: Linux

Looking forward to your reply, thanks for the help.

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

LucD — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:38:10 GMT

What is in fact the question?
All these steps, besides 3, are simple cmdlets.
And 3 is of course Guest OS dependent

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

Adv-CODE-R — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:29:18 GMT

LucD,

Thank you for the response.

I was able to figure out about template to VM to template cmdlets and it works. But I'm stuck at assigning the IP address to the VM (Linux OS) using PowerShell - is there any possibility to assign IP address to the VM using powerCLI cmdlets.

I came across this cmdlet but this is for windows, not really sure if this works for Linux:

New-NetIPAddress

Kindly help.

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

LucD — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:49:59 GMT

I'm afraid you will have to do that inside the Guest OS itself.
Most Linux systems allow you to do that via config files.
You can for example do that via Invoke-VMScript and run a sed command inside the Guest OS.

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

Bruticusmaximus — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:09:26 GMT

We have a static IP address on all our templates. Changing the IP is part of the deployment of a VM.

We time the convert from template to VM and power on with our patch window. When SCCM or Satellite pushes patches, the VM is up and running. Then, power off and convert back to a template. When things don't work correctly, it's usually on the SCCM or Satellite side.

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

pmoralesc — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 05:35:15 GMT

You can set the IP using Invoke-VMScritp, with this command you need to run a OS command to set IP for the guest

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

LucD — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 09:47:30 GMT

Thanks for basically repeating my answer.

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

Adv-CODE-R — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 15:12:11 GMT

Thank you for your response earlier

Luc, I have another question:

I want to assign a IP address to the linux VM so, I would be running this script:

$VM = Get-VM -Name "Linux-Test-TemplateRHEL7"
$code = @'
ls > "tmp/test.txt"
ip address add 1.1.1.1/24 dev ens199 (network interface)
'@
Invoke-VMScript -VM $VM -ScriptType bash -ScriptText $code -GuestUser "<string>" -GuestPassword "<string>"

So the question is.. Do we have any way/cmdlets to get the information about the network interface of the linux VM? without logging into the VM after converting it from template to VM.

Because right now my script works but I was successful only after logging into the VM and manually finding the network interface (ens199).

Kindly help. Thanks in advance

Re: Convert Template to VM to Template after Patching

LucD — Fri, 29 Oct 2021 16:34:38 GMT

Afaik, no.

The advantage of using Invoke-VMScript is that it only requires the VMware Tools to be running.
There is no need for a network connection in the Guest OS.
So instead of logging on, you can launch the required command in the Guest OS, analyse the output and then set the network.

No need to logon at least