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Sysprepping templates SCVMM 2012R2 vs VMWare
When deploying VMWare templates with VMWare tools installed, sysprepping always happens when the new virtual machine is being deployed from the template. It looks to me that the process in SCVMM 2012 R2 is somewhat different. When creating a template in SCVMM 2012 R2 from a virtual machine, it gets destroyed and seems to be automatically sysprepped in the process(or so it seems judging by the result template and the messages given in the gui when performing this). When creating a template in SCVMM 2012 R2 from a virtual disk, it seems that I need to sysprep the OS on the virtual disk in advance. I can't find any sources that verifies this or the actual process regarding sysprep. Could anyone here comment on this and bring some sources or arguments that either backs this up or explains it differently?
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ASKER
OK - thanks for correcting :)
But how does the contents of the answer file end up in the guest OS?
But how does the contents of the answer file end up in the guest OS?
Answer file is created based on the Questions asked in the Customization Guest OS Wizard, and it's read by the OS, when it's mounted in the VM.
ASKER
I can't find any documentation on this, but I would assume that there would be no way for vmware to tell the OS to read the information it needs and start sysprep unless vmware tools is installed. The OS will not do it by itself, and there is no communication between the OS and VMWare unless tools is installed.
It bewonders me why both VMWare and Microsoft seem to keep such details on this topic seemingly not available, at least from the the Google perspective of what I have been able to find.
It bewonders me why both VMWare and Microsoft seem to keep such details on this topic seemingly not available, at least from the the Google perspective of what I have been able to find.
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OK I didn't think about that option.
Back to SCVMM, from the screenshot below it states that it is sysprepping the virtual machine I am converting to a template.
Despite of this, I ended up with the same GUID on the operating systems of two virtual machines deployed from the same template made the same way as in the above screenshot. This did not happen when I deployed from a template where the virtual machine was sysprepped manually before I converted it to a template.
Back to SCVMM, from the screenshot below it states that it is sysprepping the virtual machine I am converting to a template.
Despite of this, I ended up with the same GUID on the operating systems of two virtual machines deployed from the same template made the same way as in the above screenshot. This did not happen when I deployed from a template where the virtual machine was sysprepped manually before I converted it to a template.
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I used to think that the SID was very important to have unique for each VM. Is that true still?
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Thanks! That clarifies it.
ASKER
Summary:
1. VMWare syspreps automatically via VWare Tools when deploying from the template.
2. SCVMM syspreps the system disk automatically when converting a existing virtual machine to a template.
3. SCVMM does not sysprep the system disk automatically when creating a template from a disk in library.