Create a Customization Specification for Windows in the vSphere Web Client

Procedure

1. Log in to the VMware vSphere Web Client as someone with administrative privileges.
2. Select Policies and Profiles from the Menu.

   Figure 1. Policies and Profiles

   

3. Click on Customization Specification ManagerVM Customization Specifications.
   The browser displays a page, similar to the following:

   Figure 2. VM Customization Specification

   
   

   

   
   

4. Click the plusCreate a new specification icon (highlighted in the preceding figure for emphasis).
   The browser displays the New VM Guest Customization Spec Wizard similar to the following:

   Figure 3. New VM Guest Customization Spec

   

5. Select Windows as the Target VM Operating SystemTarget guest OS (if not already selected).
6. Enter a name for the customization specification in the Customization Spec NameName field. VMware suggests choosing a name that makes it easy for the LaMa Administrator to identify the contents of the customization specification. The Description field should contain a brief description of the customization specification. Note: It cannot contain periods (.) or blank spaces or Backslash (\) or Forward Slash (/) and cannot be made up of digits only
7. Click Next.
   The browser displays the Set Registration Information Registration information dialog of the Wizard similar to the following:

   Figure 4. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Registration Information

   
   

   

   
   

8. Type the virtual machine's Owner name and Owner organization. Then click Next.
   The browser displays the Set Computer Name Computer name section of the Wizard similar to the following:

   Figure 5. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Computer name

   
   

   

   
   

9. Choose Use the virtual machine name and click Next.
   The browser displays the Enter Windows License Windows license section of the wizard similar to the following:

   Figure 6. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Windows license

   
   

   

   
   

10. Provide licensing information for the Windows Operating System and click Next.
    The browser displays the Set Administrator Password Administrator password section of the Wizard similar to the following:

    Figure 7. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Administrator password

    
    

    

    
    

11. Configure the administrator password for the virtual machine. Confirm the password and click Next.
    The browser displays the Time Zone Time zone section of the wizard similar to the following:

    Figure 8. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Time zone

    
    

    

    
    

12. Select the time zone for the virtual machine and click Next.
    The browser displays the Run Once Commands to run once section of the wizard similar to the following:

    Figure 9. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Commands to run once

    
    

    

    
    

13. (Optional) Specify commands to run the first time a user logs into the guest operating system. See the Microsoft Sysprep documentation for information about Run Once commands.
14. Click Next.
    The browser now displays the Configure Network Network dialog of the Wizard.

    Figure 10. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Network

    
    

    

    
    

    It allows to configure every network interface of the customization specification. By default, wizard defines one network interface, called NIC1, that use DHCP to get IP parameters.
15. (Optional) Edit an existing network interface, including IP parameters:
    • Select Manually select custom settings radio button.
    • Select the network interface to edit.
    • Click the Edit(pencil) icon. The Wizard browser displays the Edit Network page, similar to the following:
    • Click the three dots icon (highlighted in the preceding figure for emphasis) and select Edit. The Wizard browser displays the Edit Network page, similar to the following:

    Figure 11. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Network-Edit Network-IPv4

    

    • Choose IPv4 (if not already selected).
    • Choose the method vCenter Server uses to assign the IP address to this network interface (one of the following):
      1. Use DHCP to obtain an IPv4 address automaticallyUse DHCP to obtain an IP address automatically.
      2. Prompt the user for an IPv4 address when the specification is usedPrompt the user for an address when the specification is used.
      3. Use the following IP settingsUse custom settings - Static IP settings. Enter appropriate values.
    • Choose DNS.

      Figure 12. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Network-Edit Network-DNS

      

    • Enter the DNS servers that the virtual machine should use.
    • Click OK.
16. (Optional) Add a network interface by clicking the green plusADD icon. VMware recommends creating a Guest Customization Spec per each permutation of number of NICs and the IP configuration (DHCP, Static IP, and Prompt for IP) that may be needed for your environment. Edit new network interface using the previous step.
17. (Optional) Delete network interface:
    • Select Manually select custom settings radio button.
    • Select the interface to delete.
    • Click the X icon
    • Click the three dots icon (highlighted in the preceding figure for emphasis) and select Delete .
18. Click Next.
    The browser displays the Set Workgroup or Domain Workgroup or domain section of the wizard similar to the following:

    Figure 13. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Workgroup or domain

    
    

    

    
    

19. Enter the workgroup or the domain for the virtual machine. Click Next.
    The browser displays the Set Operating System Options Ready to Complete section of the Wizard similar to the following:

    Figure 14. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Set OS Options

    
    

    

    
    

    Figure 15. New VM Guest Customization Spec-Ready to Complete

    

20. Choose whether you want to create a new Security ID for the VM. A Windows Security ID (SID) is used in some Windows operating systems to uniquely identify systems and users. If you do not select this option, the new virtual machine has the same SID as the virtual machine or template from which it was cloned or deployed. Duplicate SIDs do not cause problems when the computers are part of a domain and only domain user accounts are used. However, if the computers are part of a Workgroup or local user accounts are used, duplicate SIDs can compromise file access controls. For more information, see the documentation for your Microsoft Windows operating system. Click Next.
    The browser displays the Ready to Complete section of the wizard similar to the following:

    Figure 16. VWC-New VM Guest Customization Spec-Ready to Complete

    
    

    

    
    

21. Click Finish to create the customization specification.
    The new customization specification is now listed in the Customization Specification Manager VM Customization Specifications list.

Results

This customization specification can now be used to customize virtual machine guest operating systems.