4.2.5. Create a Windows Template
To make a Windows virtual machine template, use the Windows virtual machine you created earlier as a basis.
Before a template for Windows virtual machines can be created, it has to be sealed with sysprep. This ensures that machine-specific settings are not propagated through the template.
Note that the procedure below is applicable for creating Windows 7 and Windows 2008 R2 templates. If you wish to seal a Windows XP template, refer to the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization Administration Guide.
To seal a Windows virtual machine with sysprep
- In the Windows virtual machine to be used as a template, open a command line terminal and type regedit.
- The Registry Editor window displays. On the left pane, expand → → .
- On the main window, right click to add a new string value using → . Right click on the file and select Modify. When the Edit String dialog box displays, enter the following information in the provided text boxes:
- Value name:
UnattendFile - Value data:
a:\sysprep.inf
- Launch sysprep from
C:\Windows\System32\sysprep\sysprep.exe- Under System Cleanup Action, select Enter System Out-of-Box-Experience (OOBE).
- Tick the Generalize check box if you need to change the computer's system identification number (SID).
- Under Shutdown Options, select Shutdown.
Click OK. The virtual machine will now go through the sealing process and shut down automatically.