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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 (KVM, VMware, etc.).
Requirements
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You will need the following:
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- Windows XP installation ISO file
- Windows XP product key
The following instructions assume the following locations on the management node:
The following must be done before an image can be captured:
- 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
- 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
- VMWare Server RPM: /install/VMware-server-1.0.8-126538.i386.rpm
- Windows XP ISO: /install/WinXP+SP3.iso
These instructions assume you have root access and are using a bash shell:
Make Sure The Host Computer Is Not Running A Xen Kernel
VMWare Server cannot be installed on a computer running a Xen kernel. To determine if a Xen kernel is being used:
The following output indicates a Xen kernel is being used:
Linux blade1g6-4 2.6.18-92.el5xen #1 SMP Tue Jun 10 19:20:18 EDT 2008 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
Replace the Xen Kernel with the following commands:
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yum update ecryptfs-utils -yyum install kernel kernel-devel -yyum remove xen kernel-xen -y
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Check the grub.conf file to make sure it is not configured to boot using the Xen Kernel
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less /boot/grub/grub.conf
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The grub.conf file should NOT look like this:
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# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda3
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.18-92.el5xen)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /xen.gz-2.6.18-92.el5
module /vmlinuz-2.6.18-92.el5xen ro root=LABEL=/ pci=nommconf
module /initrd-2.6.18-92.el5xen.img
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The grub.conf file SHOULD look like this:
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# grub.conf generated by anaconda
#
# Note that you do not have to rerun grub after making changes to this file
# NOTICE: You have a /boot partition. This means that
# all kernel and initrd paths are relative to /boot/, eg.
# root (hd0,0)
# kernel /vmlinuz-version ro root=/dev/sda3
# initrd /initrd-version.img
#boot=/dev/sda
default=0
timeout=5
splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
hiddenmenu
title CentOS (2.6.18-128.1.14.el5)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /vmlinuz-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5 ro root=LABEL=/1 pci=nommconf
initrd /initrd-2.6.18-128.1.14.el5.img
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After removing the Xen kernel, reboot the computer:
Install VMWare Server
- Install the VMWare Server RPM:
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rpm \-ivh /install/VMware-server-1.0.8-126538.i386.rpm
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- Run the following command to configure VMWare Server:
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vmware-config.pl
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Create a Virtual Machine
- Launch the VMWare Server console:
- Connect to Local Host
- Copy a Windows XP ISO image to the VMWare Server machine
- Create a new VM
- Type: Typical
- Guest OS: Microsoft Windows, Version: Windows XP Professional
- Name: Windows XP Base
- Network connection: Use bridged networking
- Disk size: 8.0 GB
- Allocate all disk space now: no
- Split disk into 2GB files: yes
- Configure the VM CD-ROM drive to use the Windows XP ISO image
- Connection: Use ISO image: browse to path of Windows XP ISO image:
/install/WinXP+SP3.iso
Install Windows XP on the Virtual Machine
- Power on the the VM
- Press ESC as soon as VM begins to start to display the boot menu
- Boot from the CD-ROM drive
- Press a key to boot from the CD (if displayed at bottom of screen as soon as VM begins to boot)
- Proceed through Windows XP installation
- Press Enter to setup up Windows XP now
- Press F8 to agree to the license agreement
- Configure the Windows partition
- Press Enter to set up Windows XP on the selected item (should be called "Unpartitioned space")
- Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)
- Enter a name and organization
- Enter the Windows XP product key
- Enter a computer name and password
- Select a timezone
- Networking settings: Typical
- Member of a domain: No, leave default workgroup settings
- Do not turn on automatic updates
- Enter "root" as the user name
Delete ISO Image From Management Node & Reconfigure VM CD-ROM Drive
- If your management node is actually a VCL image, delete the Windows XP ISO image from the management node's hard drive to reduce the image size
- Reconfigure the VM CD-ROM
- Use physical drive
- Location: Host
Configure the Windows XP Virtual Machine
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Create a Virtual Machine
KVM, VMware ESXi, vCenter
The instructions assume that 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:
- Click File > New > Virtual Machine
- Configuration: Custom
- Name: win10
- Datastore: datastore
- Virtual Machine Version: 7
- Guest Operating System: Windows
- Version: Microsoft Windows 10 (64-bit)
- Number of virutal sockets: 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: 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 Windows10.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
- Start the VM
- 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 settings
- Select Allow remote connections to this computer
- Click OK
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 computer using Remote Desktop
- Login to the RDP session as root
Disable User Account Control
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. 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.
- Open the Control Panel
- Click System and Security > Change User Account Control settings (Under Security and Maintenance)
- Move the slider to the bottom: Never notify
- Click OK
- Reboot the computer
Addition Windows install notes (mostly outdated):
Install Windows for a Base Image
VMware Only: Install VMware Tools
- Power on the VM if it is not already powered on
- Run Microsoft Update
- Configure the root user account
- Set root's password: either the user management GUI or execute the following command:
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net user root <PASSWORD>
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Make sure root is a member of the Administrators group using the user management GUI or execute the following command: No Format |
net localgroup Administrators root /ADD
- Install VMWare Tools (Note: you must have a CD-ROM drive configured for the VM in order to install VMware Tools)
- Click on the VM menu and select "Install VMWare Tools"
- Select Typical and proceed through the setup pages accepting the defaults
- Reboot the VM when installation is complete
Install
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Cygwin SSHD
- Download and run the Cygwin installer: http://cygwin.com/setup.exe
- Install from Internet
- Root Directory: C:\Cygwin
- Install For: Just Me
- Default Test File Type: DOS/text
- Local Package Directory: *C:*
- Internet Connection: Direct Connection
- Download Site: choose one (.edu FTP sites seem the fastest)
- Select Packages: Net: openssh
- Create icon on Desktop: No
- Add icon to Start Menu: No
- Delete the local package directory: C:\ftp%...cygwin...
Configure Cygwin SSH service
- Launch C:\Cygwin\Cygwin.bat
- Download the cygwin-sshd-config.sh script to the following location on the Windows VM:
C:\Cygwin\home\root\cygwin-sshd-config.sh - Make sure the script is set to executable:
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chmod \+x /home/root/cygwin-sshd-config.sh
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- Launch C:\Cygwin\Cygwin.bat
- Run the script and specify the root account password as an argument, enclose the password in ticks in case special characters are used in the password:
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/home/root/cygwin-sshd-config.sh '<PASSWORD>'
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Note: the sshd service probably will not start until the next step is completed - Open Start -> Run -> services.msc
- Double-click the Cygwin sshd service
- Open the Log On tab
- Enter the root account password twice and click OK, you should see a message stating root has been granted the Log On As A Service Right
- Click the General tab
- Click Start
Create an SSH key pair on the Management Node and Copy the Public Key to the authorized_keys File on the Windows XP VM
- Download the gen-node-key.sh script to the following location on the management node:
/root/gen-node-key.sh - Set the script to be executable:
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chmod \+x /root/gen-node-key.sh
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- Run the script and specify the node as an argument (either the node's DNS name or IP address can be used):
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/root/gen-node-key.sh 192.168.22.55
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- Attempt to connect from the management node to the Windows VM via SSH using the key:
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ssh \-i /etc/vcl/vcl.key 192.168.22.55
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Follow the steps: Install and Configure Cygwin SSHD
Capture the Base Image
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| Capture A Base Image |
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| Capture A Base Image |
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Common Problems
You may see the following dialog box when powering on a VM which has been saved in a VCL image. Click on Always Keep:
Image Removed