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This page describes how to create a Windows base image.

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

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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 database
• VMware 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.

VMware Only: Create a Virtual Machine

Create a Virtual Machine

VMware ESX, ESXi 4, 5, vcenter

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

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

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• SCSI controller: LSI Logic SAS
• Disk: Create a new virtual disk
  • Capacity: 24 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.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

• • Enter the private MAC address you retrieved earlier
  • Click Finish
• Click Finish

Start the VM and Install Windows

• Select the win7 VM
• Click the play button to power on 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...

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

Addition Windows install notes:

Install Windows for a Base Image

VMware Only: Install VMware Tools

1. Power on the VM if it is not already powered on
2. Install VMWare Tools  (Note: you must have a CD-ROM drive configured for the VM in order to install VMware Tools)
   1. Click on the VM menu and select "Install VMWare Tools"
   2. Select Typical and proceed through the setup pages accepting the defaults
   3. Reboot the VM when installation is complete

Install Cygwin SSHD

Follow the steps: Install & and Configure Cygwin SSHD

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