VMware VirtualCenter 1.1 Support Documentation

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Customizing New Guest Operating Systems

The customizing process varies, depending upon the guest operating system to be used in the new virtual machine. Refer to VirtualCenter Guest Operating System Customization Requirements for a list of supported guest operating systems.

The customizing guest operating system topics are covered in the following sections:

Customizing a Windows Guest Operating System

To customize a Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional, or Windows Server 2003 guest operating system while deploying a template or cloning a virtual machine, perform the following.

Note: The use of dynamic disks with Windows 2000, is not supported in VirtualCenter.

To customize a Windows guest operating system:

Start the Guest Customization wizard.
You cannot start the Guest Customization wizard from a menu or toolbar option. The Guest Customization wizard starts indirectly from the VirtualCenter Template Deployment or Clone wizard.
- If you are deploying a template to create a new virtual machine. Refer to Creating Virtual Machines from a Template.
- If you are cloning an existing virtual machine. Refer to Creating Virtual Machines by Cloning an Existing Virtual Machine.
Confirm continuing with the Guest Customization wizard. Click Next.
Optionally, specify registration information.

The owner's name and organization are for your reference purposes only. They do not affect the functioning of the virtual machine.
Enter the name of a person, user, or group, and of the organization in the appropriate fields. Click Next.
Specify a computer name for the virtual machine. Click Next.

The host, or computer name, is the name given to the particular instance of a guest operating system. The operating system uses this name to identify itself on the network. On Windows systems it is called the computer name. On most other operating systems it is called the host name.
This is not the same as the virtual machine name. That was declared earlier in the Clone or Template Deployment wizard.
Specify a Windows license key for the new guest operating system. For Windows Server operating systems, enter the license mode. Click Next.
Specify the password for the Administrator account.

If you specify a new administrator password and the source Windows virtual machine or template already has one, then you must select the Delete all user accounts option in step 11. Otherwise the old administrator password is not changed.
Enter the password for the Administrative user. Enter it again in the Confirm Password field. Click Next.
Specify a time zone. Click Next.
Specify any commands to be run the first time the new virtual machine is started.

Type the command string in the field. Click Add. Use the Delete and Move options the commands in the appropriate order.
Select whether to use typical or customize network settings. Click Next.

The options are:
- Typical settings — VirtualCenter automatically configures all network interfaces from a DHCP server.
- Custom settings — You specify the network settings.
If you use custom network settings:
1. Select the network interface card (NIC) to customize. Click Next.
  
  Optionally, select the NIC, then click Customize to make additional specifications.
2. If you are customizing the NIC network properties, select the method and enter the IP and DNS server addresses.
  
  Specify an IP Address and DNS Server. Click OK to close this dialog box and return the previous dialog box. Then click Next on the Network Guest Customizations dialog box.
3. Specify the WINS address.
  
  Click the WINS tab. Type the appropriate IP addresses. Click OK to close this dialog box and return the previous dialog box. Then click Next on the Network Guest Customizations dialog box.
  Join a workgroup or domain.
  
  Enter the workgroup and domain identification information. Click Next.
Select additional guest operating system options.

The options are:
Generate New Security ID (SID) — This option is set to default.
Delete all user accounts — If you specify a new administrator password in step 6, and the source Windows virtual machine or template already has one, then you must select the Delete all user accounts option here. Otherwise the old administrator password is not changed.
Click the buttons to configure any desired options. Click Next.
Optionally, save the customized options as an .xml file.

Specify a filename and location. Click Next.
VirtualCenter saves the customized configuration parameters in an .xml file. Later, import these predefined customized parameters, when deploying a template or cloning an existing virtual machine.
If the customization settings are saved to a file then the administrator password of the Windows virtual machine and the domain administrator's password, as applicable, are stored in encrypted format in the .xml file.
Complete the Guest Customization wizard. Click Finish.
VirtualCenter closes the Guest Customization wizard and returns you to the Deploy a Template or Clone a Virtual Machine wizard to complete that wizard.

Customizing a Linux Guest Operating System

To customize a Linux RedHat Advanced Server or Linux SuSe guest operating system while deploying a template or cloning a virtual machine:

From the VirtualCenter Template or Clone wizard, start the Guest Customization wizard.
This wizard starts as a subset of one of the following wizards:
- Deploying a template to create a new virtual machine. Refer to Creating Virtual Machines from a Template.
- Cloning an existing virtual machine. Refer to Creating Virtual Machines by Cloning an Existing Virtual Machine.
Confirm continuing with the Guest Customization wizard. Click Next.
Optionally, specify a hostname and domain suffix for this virtual machine. Click Next.

The host, or computer name, is the name given to the particular instance of a guest operating system. The operating system uses this name to identify itself on the network. On Windows systems it is called the computer name. On most other operating systems it is called the host name.
This is not the same as the virtual machine name. That name was declared earlier in the Clone a Virtual Machine or the Deploy a Template wizard.
Select the network settings.

Select the appropriate radio button. Click Next.
- Typical settings — VirtualCenter automatically configures all network interfaces from a DHCP server.
- Custom settings — You specify the network settings.
If you use custom network settings:
1. Enter the DNS addresses.
  
  Enter a DNS name. Click Add. Enter the DNS addresses. Click Next.
2. Select the Network Interface Card (NIC) to customize. Click Next.
  
  Optionally, select the NIC, then click Customize to make additional specifications.
3. If you are customizing the NIC network properties, select the method and enter the IP and DNS server addresses.
  
  Click OK to close this dialog box and return the previous dialog box. Then click Next on the Network Customizations dialog box.
Optionally, save the customized options in an .xml file.

Specify a filename and location. Click Next.
VirtualCenter saves the customized configuration parameters in an .xml file. Later, import these predefined customized parameters, when deploying a template or cloning an existing virtual machine.
Complete the Guest Customization wizard. Click Finish.
VirtualCenter closes the Guest Customization wizard and returns you to the Deploy a Template or Clone a Virtual Machine wizard to complete that wizard.

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