Creating VM Templates Using the Create InstallAnywhere VM Template Wizard
InstallAnywhere 2021
To create a VMware vCenter/vSphere Server template, you need to first obtain VMware Tools, and then you need to use the Create InstallAnywhere VM Template Wizard to create the VM template.
Obtaining VMware Tools
Before you can create a VMware vCenter/vSphere Server template in InstallAnywhere, you need to obtain VMware Tools in *.tar.gz format. VMware Tools is a pack of utilities that enhance the functioning of the guest operating system on the virtual machine and that helps in managing it.
To obtain VMware Tools, you can either use a virtual machine that is running on a vSphere Server, or you can download VMware Tools.
Obtaining VMware Tools from a Virtual machine that Is Running on a vSphere Server
To obtain VMware Tools from a virtual machine that is running on a vSphere Server:
| 1. | Launch an existing CentOS or Red Hat virtual machine (with GUI mode) running on a vSphere Server. |
Note:Ensure that the CD-ROM drive is enabled for the VM.
| 2. | Launch the vSphere Client. |
| 3. | Right-click the virtual machine, point to Guest, and then click Install/Upgrade VMware Tools. VMware Tools is available in the CD-ROM drive of the virtual machine as a *.tar.gz file. |
| 4. | Download the *.tar.gz file to your local machine. |
Downloading VMware Tools
To download the VMware Tools:
| 1. | Follow the instructions in the following KB article to download the Linux i386 version of the VMware Tools for Console and GUI VMs: |
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?cmd=displayKC&externalId=1022525
| 2. | Using the instructions in the KB article, GZIP the downloaded VMware Tools files so that they are in *.tar.gz format on an existing virtual machine with or without GUI. |
| • | GUI—On a GUI virtual machine, the *.tar.gz file is displayed as an icon on the desktop. |
| • | Console—On a console virtual machine, follow the steps described in the KB to copy the *.tar.gz file onto a virtual CD drive and then download it. |
| 3. | Download the *.tar.gz file to the InstallAnywhere build machine and use it as input for building the VM templates. |
Creating a VM Template
To create a VMware vCenter/vSphere Server VM template:
| 1. | In the Advanced Designer, on the Tools menu, click Wizards, and then click Create VM Template. The Create InstallAnywhere VM Template wizard opens. |
| 2. | Complete each of the panels in the wizard as needed. |
For information about each of the panels in the wizard, see Create InstallAnywhere VM Template Wizard.