Customize Template Causes Blue Screen

[adamadamadam]

Hi Everyone

I've come across something odd.

I have a Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (64x) template.

Its a standard build, with nothing on it accept the latest updates.

When I got to deploy machine from template the deployed machine works fine.

But when I choose to customise the machine (as I would like it to generate a new SSID) and fill in all the details, the VM blue screens and reboots constantly.

Any suggestions?

Im trying to get a copy of the blue screen but havent figured out how to stop it from rebooting yet.

(ESXi 4.1)

[Rubeck]

You need to have vCenter 4.1 Update 1 installed to customize 2008 R2 SP1.... Is this what you've got?

/Rubeck

[adamadamadam]

I've got:

VMware vCenter Server

Version 4.1.0

Build 258902

Is that right?

[Rubeck]

Im afraid not :-( The build version for vCenter 4.1 Update 1 is Build 345043

See release notes here: http://www.vmware.com/support/vsphere4/doc/vsp_vc41_u1_rel_notes.html , which states:

Additional Guest Operating System Customization Support: vCenter Server now supports customization of the following guest operating systems:

• Windows 7 SP1 (x32 and x64)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1  (x32 and x64)
• RHEL 6.0 (x32 and x64)
• RHEL5.5 (x32 and x64)

/Rubeck

[adamadamadam]

Thanks, at least I know whats causing the problem now.

Thank you for the help.

[Rubeck]

You're most welcome.. :-)

/Rubeck

[ChrisTurner]

Hi,

I am having the same issue. The version I am running is ESX, 4.1.0, 348481 but i belive that the version stated in the forum is an earlier one.

Does any one know whether you need the specified version?

Thanks

Chris

[Rubeck]

ESX version is one thing, vCenter another.... What build is your vCenter version?

/Rubeck

[ChrisTurner]

Hi

Thanks for the quick reply. In the about section of my Vsphere client it tells me this,

Regards

Chris

[Rubeck]

Which is all OK.... Hmmm.. Has to be something in that template VM which might be causing it.

I've got an enviroment here with identical build numbers, and deploying a R2 SP1 VM from template works just fine...     The template VM is clean, with only updated VMTools installed...

Besides this, Im kinda lost to what the issue might be. Sorry :-(

/Rubeck

[ChrisTurner]

The template was a test server for a big citrix xenapp6 role out. I basically have a clean install of enterprise 2008 r2 fully patched and installed a basic setup of citrix without any database connections. I have also previously tried freshly installed 2008 r2 and no joy. Oh and yes the tools are fully up to date.

I’m stuck

Chris

[savagej]

For what it's worth, I'm also running into this issue, but only with Server 2008 R2 SP1. Without SP1, customization works fine. I also have the same vCenter version as Chris.

I know we don't need special sysprep files for Windows versions from 2008-on, but where does "support" for customizing SP1 come from? Is there a file we could check?

[ChrisTurner]

I finally got it working!!

I did a few thing so not sure which one worked but here is what I did,

1. Logged onto original machine

a. Removed it from the domain

b. Removed a snapshot (I didn’t know was there)

c. Shut down the machine

2. I cloned the machine to a template but stored it in a network location accessible to all the ESX servers rather that a local RAID.

3. Once complete I deployed from template using the wizard.

After all the cloning was done the original boot up took around 25mins but came up with all the new settings.

Hope this helps

Chris

[NachoHeeledge]

This worked a treat for me, thanks :smileyhappy:

[Superenigmatix]

There is now a KB article about this here:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2004505

I tried the second solution as it was quicker and it worked for me. I don't have the latest version of VCenter and I will now upgrade, but the fix still worked.

Cheers

sE