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Gather Required Files & Information

You will need the following:

  • VMware Server RPM installation file
  • VMWare Server serial number
  • Windows XP installation ISO file
  • Windows XP product key

The following instructions assume the following locations on the management node:

  • VMWare Server RPM: /install/VMware-server-1.0.8-126538.i386.rpm
  • Windows XP ISO: /install/WinXP+SP3.iso

Install VMWare Server

  1. Establish root access: sudo bash
  2. Install the VMWare Server RPM: 
    rpm -ivh  /install/VMware-server-1.0.8-126538.i386.rpm
  3. Run the following command to configure VMWare Server: 
    vmware-config.pl

Create a Virtual Machine

  1. Launch the VMWare Server console: 
    vmware &
  2. Connect to Local Host
  3. Copy a Windows XP ISO image to the VMWare Server machine 
  4. Create a new VM
    1. Type: Typical
    2.  Guest OS: Microsoft Windows, Version: Windows XP Professional
    3. Name: Windows XP Base
    4. Network connection: Use bridged networking
    5. Disk size: 8.0 GB
      1. Allocate all disk space now: no
      2. Split disk into 2GB files: yes
  5. Configure the VM CD-ROM drive to use the Windows XP ISO image
    1. Connection: Use ISO image: browse to path of Windows XP ISO image:
      /install/WinXP+SP3.iso

Install Windows XP on the Virtual Machine 

  1. Power on the the VM
  2. Press ESC as soon as VM begins to start to display the boot menu
    • Boot from the CD-ROM drive
  3. Press a key to boot from the CD (if displayed at bottom of screen as soon as VM begins to boot)
  4. Proceed through Windows XP installation
    1. Press Enter to setup up Windows XP now 
    2. Press F8 to agree to the license agreement 
    3. Configure the Windows partition 
      1. Press Enter to set up Windows XP on the selected item (should be called "Unpartitioned space")
      2.  Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)
    4. Enter a name and organization 
    5. Enter the Windows XP product key 
    6. Enter a computer name and password
    7. Select a timezone
    8. Networking settings: Typical
    9. Member of a domain: No, leave default workgroup settings
    10. Do not turn on automatic updates
    11. Enter "root" as the user name

Delete ISO Image From Management Node & Reconfigure VM CD-ROM Drive

  1. 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
  2. Reconfigure the VM CD-ROM
    1. Use physical drive
    2. Location: Host

Configure the Windows XP Virtual Machine 

  1. Run Microsoft Update 
  2. Configure the root user account
    1. Set root's password: either the user management GUI or execute the following command: 
      net user root <PASSWORD>
    2. Make sure root is a member of the Administrators group using the user management GUI or execute the following command: 
      net localgroup Administrators root /ADD
  3. 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 

  1. 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
  2. Delete the local package directory: C:\ftp%...cygwin...

Configure Cygwin SSH service

  1. Launch C:\Cygwin\Cygwin.bat
  2. Download the cygwin-sshd-config.sh script to the following location on the Windows VM:
    C:\Cygwin\home\root\cygwin-sshd-config.sh
  3. Make sure the script is set to executable: 
    chmod +x /home/root/cygwin-sshd-config.sh
  4. Launch C:\Cygwin\Cygwin.bat
  5. 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: 
    /home/root/cygwin-sshd-config.sh '<PASSWORD>'
    Note: the sshd service probably will not start until the next step is completed
  6. Open Start -> Run -> services.msc
  7. Double-click the Cygwin sshd service
  8. Open the Log On tab
  9. 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
  10. Click the General tab
  11. 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

  1. Download the gen-node-key.sh script to the following location on the management node:
    /root/gen-node-key.sh
  2. Set the script to be executable: 
    chmod +x /root/gen-node-key.sh
  3. Run the script and specify the node as an argument (either the node's DNS name or IP address can be used): 
    /root/gen-node-key.sh 192.168.22.55
  4. Attempt to connect from the management node to the Windows VM via SSH using the key: 
    ssh -i /etc/vcl/vcl.key 192.168.22.55

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:

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