How do i provisioning from a Windows template but with different SID?

Question
#1

Hi all:

I have made in CloudForms many templates from WIndows media, but recently, i found that if i try to make a forest in AD or working with the windows servers same template i can’t log-in with domain credentials. Searching in Microsoft and another webs, i have found that the problem is de SID of the Windows Server (are the same). So i have took one of this template and i have made a “sysprep /generalize” and then i have changed this VM to template again. The problem is that if i try to create new VMs from this template the wizard appears and ask me 3 things: language, license agreement and change admin password. How can i use a sysprep file to automate the last process to not interact with VMware (or whatever hypervisor)?What have i need to make a sysprep file of Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012?

THanks.

#2

In the past, I’ve found this article very helpful: http://jameskovacs.com/2007/07/11/How-To-Sysprep-Windows/
Skip to the second section: Creating a Cloned Server

#3

@jprause Thanks for your reply. The sysprep is working fine, but i need to in put manually this values:

Set the lenguage of my system and keyboard.
Accept the license agreement.
Change the administrator password.

How can i automate this process in Cloudforms to use them in a service catalog deployment?

Thanks.

#4

@DanielBello If you’re deploying to a VMware vSphere provider you can use a VMware Customization Spec.

https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-60/index.jsp?topic=%2Fcom.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc%2FGUID-CAEB6A70-D1CF-446E-BC64-EC42CDB47117.html

After the spec is created you will need to “Refresh Relationships and Power States” on your provider in Compute > Infrastructure > Providers. This action will allow CloudForms to pick up the specs.

Then, if you’re provisioning from Compute > Infrastructure > Virtual Machines > Lifecycle > Provision VM you can select your Custom Spec by going to the Customize tab and selecting “Specification” from the drop down.

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Also, we currently do not sysprep our images that we deploy with a custom spec since it handles SID randomization for us.

Hope this helps!

-Nick

2 Likes
#5

Hi @nmaludy

Thanks for your help. I have made the spec file. But when i try to provisioning from “Compute > Infrastructure > Virtual Machines > Lifecycle > Provision VM” and the VM is “power on” the spec file is not use, and i stay in the same part of installation, where i have to select the next values about:

  • Put lenguage for the system and keyboard.
  • Accept the licensing terms.
  • Change administrator password.

My provisioning use templates of Windows servers, with the sysprep option and generalize (OOBE). Maybe this option is no right for using spec file?

#6

@DanielBello

I’ve never used a Sysprepped Windows Template with a Custom Spec.

I’d try using a normal Windows Template with the Custom Spec first.

Also, you can try this from VMware directly to see if it will work.

https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-65/index.jsp#com.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc/GUID-F3E382AB-72F6-498A-BD26-7EC0BFE320A0.html

1 Like
#7

@nmaludy:
May i ask what is a “normal template”? At this moment all my templates are a VM turned to template, i mean, i have installed the SO and then i have turned it to template. Is there another way to give to Cloudforms the SO Template for provisioning?

#8

Hi i’m trying to deploy a windows template with a specification
in fase of deploying i have this error…

Server [EVM] Service [test] Step [checkprovisioned] Status [Creating Service] Message [VM Provisioning initiated] Current Retry Number [2]

#9

I give up with this option. So i have activated the VMRC connection to the Vm and then continue the installation of a Windows VM.

#10

Hi:

Again i need help with this item. I have tried again with the sysprep answer file using the “Customization Specifications Manager” from VMWare and is load ok, but i still getting that the sysprep file is not used by the provisioning proccess. Any ideas how to force to CloudForms use the sysprep file?

PD1: The proccess is using a template from VMware.
PD2: If i generate a new VM from the same template using VMware + the specification file, the proccess stays in the same status and the specification file is not used, so the problem is with the specification file or the templete? Should i enable something in the template?
Thanks.