I am ready to make this a template, but am not sure if i should run the sysprep process. I wish to clone a server, the os of which is windows server 2008. The password for the local administrator account on the virtual machines is set to blank. Insert the windows operating system cd into the cd. Server 2008 r2 sysprep is included, we dont need to include the files into vmwares vcenter directories.
The process has changed significantly since previous versions of windows. Find answers to issues trying to sysprep a windows 2008 r2 server fatal error occured from the expert community at experts exchange. How to sysprep windows server 2008 james kovacs weblog. Windows server 2008 and sysprep in a vmware enviroment a. Or, you can configure windows to boot to the outofbox experience oobe. Use this workaround until vmware vi allows you run sysprep against a win2008 server change the source or templates guest operating systemsetting to vista 32 bit or vista 64 bit depending on the installation of the windows 2008 server installation.
The vcenter server installer creates a sysprep directory in allusersprofile. Sysprep on windows server 2008 r2 template marvista sep 18, 20 3. Nov 12, 2010 this is also a good resource, but still, the last part of sysprep is undercovered to me. Insert the windows operating system cd into the cdrom drive, often the d. Creating an activated windows server 2008 r2 vmware template. Cab file in the \support\tools directory on the cd. Hi i have created a new vmguest running windows 2008 r2. Windows server 2008, on the other hand, has sysprep built right into the os, found at c. This is great so you can sysprep a virtual machine copy the vhd or vhdx file and use it for the first boot of different vms. I was going sysprep a base image of windows server 2008 this. Sysprep generalize a windows installation microsoft docs. Windows server 2008, windows vista, and windows 7 use an xml file called sysprep.
Customize windows during cloning or deployment vmware. Ive cloned loads of servers before, but now our external hardware support guys are stating we should be using sysprep on the clone to ensure it has a unique sid. Of course i asked, how so and thus began the adventure. Sorry if the link i used in my posting confused anyone i find this problem with the original version of windows server 2008. Microsoft sql server 2008 r2 express is a powerful and reliable data management system that delivers a rich set of features, data protection, and performance for embedded applications, lightweight web sites and applications, and local data sto. You can create these files using a text editor, or you can use the microsoft setup manager utility to generate them. Microsoft includes the system tool set on the installation cdrom discs for windows 2000, windows xp, and windows 2003. Windows 2008 r2 clone with sysprep on vsphere 5 youtube. Windows sysprep for virtual machines thomas maurer. In windows server 2012 and windows 8, microsoft added an addition to sysprep called the mode switch mode. For the vmware vcenter server appliance, extract the contents of the deploy. Luckily, i found excellent solutions on the vmtn forums. Cloning windows server 2008 r2 use sysprep ray heffer. Sysprep is a windows system preparation tool that prepares an installation of a running windows for duplication, auditing and customer delivery.
Solved fatal error when running sysprep on server 2008 r2. While its stated that it works for vhd in hyperv environment, it should also work with vmware as well. Download the waik windows automated installation kit from microsoft. This software is present in all windows installations, and it is very important to prepare a system for cloning and distribution on multiple machines in the same network. Jan 04, 2020 when you have your vcenter running under windows 2008, the sysprep files are located at this path. Jul 27, 2015 if you look at the sysprep log in the panther folder for whatever reason, windows creates a panther folder when you run sysprep, it actually lists the particular dll that it is having trouble loading during the process. And after sysprep, i see that the new image is not booting up.
Insert the windows operating system cd into the cdrom drive. This clone will be used for testing, likely to be deleted within two weeks. I thought id document how to setup the new sysprep process equivalent on windows 2008 since the old setupmgr file for making fs doesnt exist anymore and neither does f. If youre running vcenter on windows 2003 r2 x64 then the location is here. How can i sysprep a vmware image and retain my additional hard drive. Server 2008 r2 sysprep is included, we dont need to include the files into vmware s vcenter directories. Cloning windows server 2008 r2 use sysprep no more newsid. The allusersprofile location is usually \documents and settings\all users\. This is also a good resource, but still, the last part of sysprep is undercovered to me. Prerequisites verify that you download the correct version for the guest operating system to customize. Sysprep on windows server 2008 r2 template vmware communities. The subfolders within the %allusersprofile%\application data\vmware\vmware virtualcenter\sysprep\ folder are. There are plenty of tools to do that these days ghost, acronis, platespin for p2v conversions, etc.
The sysprep tool is installed with windows by default, and is located in the following location, c. The sysprep removes system specific information such as sid, reset administrator password and reset the windows product activation. Sysprep is a critical step to deploying new system images both for client computers and servers. If you have already copied vhd file vpc or vmdk file vm ware for new virtual. If you do not run sysprep, you can quickly run in to problems when uniquely identifying information about your source machine is duplicated across the. If you look at the sysprep log in the panther folder for whatever reason, windows creates a panther folder when you run sysprep, it actually lists the particular dll that it is having trouble loading during the process. Customizing the guest helps prevent conflicts that can result if virtual machines with identical settings are deployed, such as duplicate computer names. Sysprep data location with vcenter running on windows 2008. For the vmware vcenter server appliance, extract the contents of the. Create a customization specification for windows using a. You can download and install the microsoft sysprep. How to sysprep in windows server 2008 r2 and windows 7. May 18, 2010 creating an activated windows server 2008 r2 vmware template using microsoft sysprep may 18, 2010 clement 61 comments edit. I thought id document how to setup the new sysprep process equivalent on windows 2008 since the old setupmgr file for making fs doesnt exist.
This blog post covers most people should be already familiar with that tool. For more information about how to create a custom sysprep answer file, see the documentation for the relevant operating system. Cloning windows server 2008 r2 use sysprep no more newsid posted on 30 jul 2010 by ray heffer. Dear all, in order to have vm template for win 2008 r2, i created a standard config.
Nov 29, 2009 the sysprep removes system specific information such as sid, reset administrator password and reset the windows product activation. Fixes an issue in which you cannot run the sysprep command on a vmware virtual machine. It has windows server 2008 r2, sql 2008 r2 and some other applications. It enables you to capture a customized windows image that you can reuse throughout an organization. Those os which sysprep files are not needed, because they are already integrated into the os are. This is a pretty good sized download almost 2 gb if i remember correctly so go and grab a cup of coffee or something, or watch the jack bauer power hour also known as 24, or something to pass the time while downloading. Procedure download the sysprep files from the microsoft. To perform a windows customization, you must install the sysprep tools either from your installation disc, or from the 1. This file contains updates to the deployment tools and documentation. Jul 30, 2010 cloning windows server 2008 r2 use sysprep no more newsid posted on 30 jul 2010 by ray heffer. A fatal error occurred error message when you run the. After you download and install the microsoft sysprep tool from the microsoft web site, you can use the vmware vcenter server appliance web console to upload the files to the appliance.
Microsoft includes the sysprep tool set on the installation cdrom discs for windows 2000, windows xp, and windows 2003. Learn how to use sysprep for windows vista and windows server 2008. Solved vmware template server 2008 r2 sysprep necessary. Mar 14, 2019 sysprep is a system preparation tool that allows you to edit windows images to bring them to a generalized state. I remember in windows 2003, you need to extract the fils and place in the windows 2003 folder and in c. May 31, 2016 for using the same system image for different virtual machines or physical computer, microsoft created a tool called sysprep. We do all our customization on the administrator profile on the image, now in windows 2008 r2, you cannot simply copy the admin profile to the default profile, instead you need to use this a method which calls sysprep. Sysprep file locations and versions 1005593 vmware knowledge. Cab file for the sysprep tool version you downloaded to etc vmware vpx sysprep. Solved fatal error when running sysprep on server 2008. Setting up sysprep for use with vmware in windows server 2003. But when it restarts after syspreping it ends with bsod. Sysprep data location with vcenter running on windows 2008 and.
A client who we recently did a wds windows 7 install for, needed to image a couple of windows xp machines, they had some software that either would not run, or was not supported on windows 7. Download the latest deployment tools for help installing windows server 2003 service pack 1 sp1 on multiple computers. The sysprep tool is built into the windows vista and windows 2008 operating systems. Browse the directory and copy the extracted files directly to the sysprep directory or extract the files from the deploy. This issue occurs when the virtual machine is running windows vista, windows server 2008, windows 7, or windows server 2008 r2. So here is a quick guide to sysprep a windows 2008 server in a vmware vi enviroment. If you do not run sysprep, you can quickly run in to problems when uniquely identifying information about your source machine is duplicated across the network. Creating an activated windows server 2008 r2 vmware. Im trying to sysprep a virtual machine which is clone of another one. If you want to sysprep a server then see the link above if you want to place the sysprep files on a 2008 vcenter server the location is c.
How to sysprep a windows 10 virtual machine for hyperv or vmware. How to run sysprep on windows server 2008 r2 plexuk. For microsoft vista, server 2008, and later operating systems, the system preparation tools are built into the windows operating system. Cab file for the sysprep tool version you downloaded to etcvmwarevpxsysprep. Windows 2008 r2 support is experimental, as it is officially released tomorrow, oct 22nd 2009, and has no builtin method of sysprep ing within vcenter, or to the best of my knowledge, any manual way like newsid either. Learn how to use sysprep for windows 7 and windows server 2008 r2. You can create these files using a text editor, or use the microsoft setup manager utility to generate them. It works the best when deploying the vhd to a different vm with a matching hardware profile. After we have allowed windows 2008 servers in our vmware vi enviroment, we been having problems sysprepping windows 2008 server. To deploy a windows image to different pcs, you have to first generalize the image to remove computerspecific information such as installed drivers and the computer security identifier sid. Always sysprep your servers, if you dont you will have major issues windows 2008 r2. Install the microsoft sysprep tool for vmware vcenter server.
It is not uncommon for system administrators to clone virtual servers or take an image of physical servers running windows server 2008 these days. The correct versions of the sysprep tool is installed for each guest operating system that you want to customize. It happens both if i try using the vcenter based customisation, and also by running the microsoft copy of sysprep that is supplied and installed in c. Too bad vmware doesnt add this diskpart step to their customization wizard, as it would make it so much simpler. Windows 2008 r2 sysprep firestartah jun 17, 2010 3. Today, i ran into an interesting problem using virtualcenters clone to new machine which integrates sysprep functionality.
Install the microsoft sysprep tool from the windows. Browse other questions tagged windows server 2008 sysprep answerfile or ask your own question. Where should i put the sysprep file for windows 2008 and how do i download the sysprep file. Sysprep on windows server 2008 r2 template jdptechnc sep 12, 20 1. How to build a vmware vsphere vm template for windows server. Issues trying to sysprep a windows 2008 r2 server fatal. Apparently, guest customization of windows 2008 is not supported at this time 582008. Apparently, guest customization of windows 2008 is not supported at this time 58 2008. Sysprep prepares a windows installation windows client and windows server for imaging, allowing you to capture a. Sysprep is a system preparation tool that allows you to edit windows images to bring them to a generalized state.
Browse other questions tagged windowsserver2008 sysprep answerfile or ask your own question. I ran into this problem after cloning an existing windows 2008 r2 server with vmware vcenter when i used the vmware customization wizard and when i used sysprep myself. Install the microsoft sysprep tool from a microsoft. During bootup i see one cmd prompt window opens up during setting up services screen, throws some red colored text in the cmd prompt and then reboots. You can customize windows guest operating systems for the virtual machine when you deploy a new virtual machine from a template or clone an existing virtual machine. Install the microsoft sysprep tool for vmware vcenter. How to sysprep in windows vista and windows server 2008.
How to sysprep a windows 10 virtual machine for hyperv or. Programdata\ vmware \ vmware virtualcenter\ sysprep. Install the microsoft sysprep tool from the windows operating. Vmware clones and windows sysprep using vmwares clone option is half the battle ok, so i called customer gl the other day to check on how his vmware esx farm was doing and he said great, but im having a problem using the os templates.
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