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These instructions should work regardless of the provisioning engine being used (xCATKVM, VMware, etc.).  Ignore the VMware Only sections if you are attempting to create an image using xCAT or some other bare metal provisioning engine. 

Requirements

You will need the following:

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• The web, database, and management node has been installed and the management node is checking into the database.
• A computer for the machine being captured has already been added to the VCL databaseVMware Only:
• A VM host computer on which the guest is running as been added to the VCL database
• The guest VM has been assigned to the VM host via the Virtual Hosts link on the VCL website

These instructions assume you have root access and are using a bash shell.

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Create a Virtual Machine

KVM, VMware

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ESXi

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vCenter

The instructions assume that VMware the VM host has been configured with the following bridged networks:

• Private: bridged to private interface: eth0
• Public: bridged to public interface: eth1

Use an interactive client for your hypervisor to create a VM with

• 2 NICs (use MAC addresses from a VM you've already assigned to the VM host under Virtual Hosts in the VCL web interface)
  • use e1000 as the adapter type
• disk image large enough for the OS install, updates, and any desired software (typically 50-100 GB)
• 1 to 2 cores (typically)
• 4 to 8 GB RAM (typically)
• ensure all devices are configured to be attached at power on

Example instructions specifically for VMware vSphere VMware vSphere client for the following task:

• Click File > New > Virtual Machine
• Configuration: Custom
• Name: win7win10
• Datastore: datastore
• Virtual Machine Version: 7
• Guest Operating System: Windows
  • Version: Microsoft Windows 7 10 (3264-bit)
• Number of virutal sockets: 1 2
  
• Number of cores per virtual socket: 1
• Memory Size: 4 GB
• How many Nics: 2
  • NIC 1: Private, Adapter: E1000, Connect at Power On: Yes
  • NIC 2: Public, Adapter: E1000, Connect at Power On: Yes

• SCSI controller: LSI Logic SAS
• Disk: Create a new virtual disk
  • Capacity:  24 50 GB
  • Disk Provisioning: Thin Provision
  • Location: Specify a datastore or datastore cluster
    • Click Browse
    • Select the local datastore
    • Click OK
• Virtual Device Node: SCSI (0:0)
  • Mode: Not Independent (unchecked)
• Edit the virtual machine settings before completion: Yes
• In the Hardware pane, select Add...
  • Device Type: CD/DVD Drive
  • Select CD/DVD Media: Use ISO image
  • Select ISO Image:
    • Click Browse
    • Select the location datastore (were the ISO is located) 
    • Click Open
    • Select Windows7-SP1-32.ISOWindows10.iso
    • Click Open
  • Connect at power on: Yes (checked) 

Select the New NIC (adding) entry with Private listed next to it** Under MAC Address, select Manual

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Start the VM and Install Windows

• Select the win7 VM
• Click the play button to power on Start the VM
• View the *Console *tab to watch the VM boot
• wait for?
• Enter the regional information:
  • Language to install: English
  • Time and currency format: English (United States)
  • Keyboard or input method: US
• Click Next
• Click Install now
  Setup is starting...
• Click the checkbox next to "I accept the license terms"
• Click Next
• Click Custom (advanced)
• Where do you want to install Windows?: Disk 0 Unallocated Space
• Click Next
  Installing Windows...
  Windows restarts
  Starting Windows
  Setup is updating registry settings
• A screen titled "Set Up Windows" appears:
  • Type a user name: root
  • Type a computer name: it's best to name the computer after the OS (Example: win7sp1)
• Enter a password, password hint, and click Next
• Help protect your computer and improve Windows automatically: Ask me later
• Select a time zone, set the correct time, and click Next
  Windows is finalizing your settings
  Preparing your desktop
  Desktop appears
• If asked to set a network location, choose Work network
  The root account logs in...

Enable RDP

• Follow the installation process for Windows
• When asked for an initial user
  • use root as the username
    • ensure root is an admin user
  • use a password you will remember (VCL will change it later to what is configured in /etc/vcl/vcld.conf on the management node
• Complete the installation process
• Log in as the root user

Enable RDP

• Right click on the Windows start icon
• Open Control Panel > System and Security > System
• Click Remote settingsSelect 
• Select Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop (less secure)remote connections to this computer
• Click OK

Use an RDP client to connect to the Windows computer using either its public or private IP address as appropriate.

Connect via RDP

• Find the IP address assigned to your VM on the Public port:
  • Start->Search
  • Enter cmd
  • Run cmd
  • type ipconfig and look your public IPv4 address x.x.x.x address
• Connect to the Windows 7 computer using RDPRemote Desktop
• Login to the RDP session as root

Disable User Account Control

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User Account Control (UAC) is the mechanism that causes may of the pop-up windows to appear when you attempt to run programs on Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. VCL will disable it when the image is captured but you can disable it while configuring the base image to make things a little easier.

1. Open the Control Panel
2. Click System and Security > Change User Account Control settings (Under Action CenterSecurity and Maintenance)
3. Move the slider to the bottom: Never notify
4. Click OK
5. Reboot the computer

Addition Windows install notes (mostly outdated):

Install Windows for a Base Image

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Follow the steps: Install and Configure Cygwin SSHD