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Creating Virtual Machines from a Template

A template is a golden image of a virtual machine. This image typically includes a specified operating system and configuration which provides virtual counterparts to hardware components. Typically, a template will include an installed guest operating system and a set of applications. Templates are a reservoir of specifically configured virtual machines ready to be deployed to a host within VirtualCenter.

VirtualCenter uses templates to create new virtual machines. This is called deploying a template. You can deploy a template to any host in the VirtualCenter environment. The deploying process includes selecting the appropriate template and designating a VirtualCenter target host to receive the new virtual machine. When complete, the deployed virtual machine is added to the inventory panel farm where the host resides.

The figure below illustrates creating a customized virtual machine. Refer to Abbreviations for a description of abbreviations.

Deploying a Template

The deploying template topics are covered in the following sections:

Manually Deploying Virtual Machine from a Template

To manually start the Template Deployment wizard:

Start VirtualCenter and log on to the VirtualCenter server.
Choose a method for starting the Deploy Virtual Machine from Template wizard.
From the inventory panel:
1. Click the Inventory option in the navigation bar.
  The inventory panel and the information panel display the managed farms, hosts, and virtual machine information. The Inventory toolbar appears.
2. Expand the inventory as needed, and click the target host.
  This is the host on which the new virtual machine will be located.
3. Start the Deploy Virtual Machine from Template wizard.
  From the main or right-click popup menu, select Deploy Virtual Machine from Template.
4. Select the template to deploy.
  
  From the templates panel:
5. Click the Templates option in the navigation bar.
6. Select the template to deploy.
7. Click the Deploy button in the templates toolbar.
Confirm the start of the Deployment wizard. Click Next.
Specify the new virtual machine name. Click Next.

Enter a name for the new virtual machine. Click Next.
Note: The virtual machine name cannot exceed 40 characters.
Select the farm on which to deploy the new virtual machine. Click Next.
Specify the host on which to deploy the new virtual machine. Click Next.
Select the datastore on which to store the new virtual machine configuration file and virtual disks. Click Next.

This specifies the location for the new virtual machine configuration and disk files.
The virtual machine must be placed on a datastore. Select from the list.
Note: On ESX Server, the disks files are not pre-allocated. That is the virtual disk files start small and grow as you add application files and data to your virtual machine.
Select the network interface card (NIC) to use for the new virtual machine. Click Next.
Specify a resource allocation level. Click Next.
Select whether to customize the new virtual machine as it is deployed.

The options are:
- Start the guest customization wizard — Opens the customization wizard. Refer to Customizing Guest Operating Systems for information on using the Guest Customization wizard.
- Import customization from an XML file — Browse for and select an existing XML file with customization already defined.
  Click Browse and select the appropriate XML file. Click Next.
- Do not customize the guest operating system — Proceeds with the current deploy and does not make any additional changes to the guest operating system.
  Select the appropriate option and click Next.
Complete the Template Deployment wizard. Click Finish.
VirtualCenter displays the Tasks inventory panel for reference, makes a copy of the template, applies changes as specified, and stores the new virtual machine on the designated host location.

Creating a Scheduled Task to Deploy a Template

To deploy a virtual machine from a template as a scheduled task:

Display the Tasks panel.
Click the Tasks option in the navigation bar. The list of scheduled tasks appears.
Start the New Task wizard. Click New in the toolbar.
Confirm continuing with the New Task wizard. Click Next.
Select the task to create.
Click the pull-down menu and select the Deploy Virtual Machine from a Templates option. Click Next.
Select the template to deploy. Click Next.
Select virtual machine group in which to place new virtual machine. Click Next.
Select a host on which to place new virtual machine. Click Next.
Specify a name for the new virtual machine. Click Next.
Select the datastore volume on which to store the new virtual machine configuration file and virtual disks.

The virtual machine disk files must be placed on a data store. Select from the list. Click Next.
Select the network interface card (NIC) to use for the new virtual machine. Click Next.
Specify a resource allocation level. Click Next.
Select whether to customize the virtual machine as it is deployed. Click Next.
Set when you want the virtual machine to be deployed. Click Next.

Click Later, then click the drop-down arrow to select a date from the displayed calendar. A red circle indicates today's date and a dark circle indicates the scheduled date.
Confirm creating the task. Optionally, specify an email address for notification when task is performed. Click Finish.
VirtualCenter adds the new task to the scheduled task list and completes it at the designated time. When it is time to perform the task, VirtualCenter first verifies that the user who created the task still has permission to complete the task. If the permission levels are not acceptable, VirtualCenter logs a message and the task is not performed.

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