sysprep - windows rearm/update issues

asked 2016-12-16 16:47:29 +0300

This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >75 is welcome to improve it.

Hello, My question regarding to this " updating windows images sysprep "

I want to update openstack windows-server image which was created recently but when I convert this template to VM and turn it on, do some things/commands etc. and convert it back to template I can see issue like this:

Deployed Windows-server has same machine ID as template's ID (seems like a sysprep didn't run) a.k.a each new server will have same machine ID

In question, asked before (which I regarding to) is mentioned that before shutdown and convert back to template I must Delete CloudBase registry and also run sysprep with shutdown option.

Also, Can Someone explain me full windows-based image creation? I've read all the documentation to cloudbase-init but I still not fully undestood the concept.

Question about cloudbase config:

In default cloudbase configuration I can see Unnatend.xml where is this section? <component name="Microsoft-Windows-PnpSysprep" .....="" what="" command="" this="" "microsoft-windows-pnpsysprep"="" calls?<="" p="">
How can I automate process of auto-syspreping also Cloudbase registry removing,, when I convert image to VM and back? Is it possible, at all.
Please simply describe me right approach for creating template/image for openstack.

Basic info:

Openstack Kilo
VMware 5.5 hypervisor
Windows Server 2012 R2

Thanks. :)

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answered 2016-12-21 15:07:02 +0300

jrack
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Thus far I am having some pretty good success on not sysprepping and having to worry about rearm if I need to do an unseal/reseal operation. Doesn't mean that I won't stumble across some rogue software that relies on machine sid for key identity processes, but going ok thus far.

The manual says sysprep for all clones I get it, but as others have talked about in this forum even Russinovich leaves it a bit open ended.

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answered 2016-12-21 14:36:15 +0300

This post is a wiki. Anyone with karma >75 is welcome to improve it.

Hello,

Very thanks for quick response, I don't want to automate this process.

I mean this case:

Install VM with windows os
Install Cloudbase-init and run sysprep / then shutdown
Convert VM into VMware template
Discover template by openstack and use it as image

But when I want to make change in this template how can I do that? I mean this:

Convert template back to VM and run it
Make some changes in VM / then shutdown
Convert back to template / to use it in openstack as image.

Is this way ok?Or should I run sysprep manually when I convert template back to VM?

Also, can you help me with understanding Cloudbase workflow? When I Create VM with Windows and just install cloudbase-init then shutdown, is this way good? Or Is needed more? I mean can you fully explain steps, how to make Windows image? As I wrote above, Just steps.

Thanks Michail

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In your case, I suggest to leave a golden like image, which deos not have cloudbase-init installed and make changes on that one. If you already have a VMware template, if you start the VM from that template, you already "taint" the image and you need to re-sysprep and reinstall cloudabase-init.

avladu ( 2016-12-21 14:50:25 +0300 )edit

The new image steps are very good, in that order. But the modified image steps -- this is highly dependent on your environment. The right approach would be to use the golden image as a starting point for the changes. The golden image is unsyspreped and does not have cloudbase-init installed.

avladu ( 2016-12-21 14:53:23 +0300 )edit

Very thanks for quick response, again :), Okay, that's great to know these things, Also now I already know where was the problem with my re-converted image. So I'll create golden image and if I'll be forced to make any changes in image, I'll create antoher one from golden. Again Very thanks Adrian.

Michail Smirnov ( 2016-12-21 15:09:19 +0300 )edit

My pleasure. Glad to be of help!

avladu ( 2016-12-21 15:47:54 +0300 )edit

Also I have another one question: How to deploy Windows VM from VMware template by openstack (VMware Template = clean golden image without sysprep!), so the deployed Windows VM would be syspreped, with beautiful new hostname and IP address?

Michail Smirnov ( 2016-12-21 23:41:03 +0300 )edit

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answered 2016-12-19 17:47:17 +0300

avladu

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Hello,

In this case I suggest to use as a starting point the automated tool to create Windows images: https://github.com/cloudbase/windows-...

But if I am correct, you need to use the cloudbase-init installer to perform the sysprep for you. You can download the installer from here: https://cloudbase.it/cloudbase-init/

If you need to update an already created image, this depends on many factors like: the creation tool you used, if the image already has cloudbase-init, if it has been syspreped before, if it has been already started, etc. Can you give more details on the image?

Thank you,
Adrian Vladu

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If you already have a VMware template, if you start the VM from that template, you already "taint" the image and you need to re-sysprep and reinstall cloudabase-init.Also now I already know where was the problem with my re-converted image. Thanks http://driverrestore.com/

mariakatosvich ( 2017-01-03 09:58:56 +0300 )edit

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