6.0.1

Create a Customization Specification for Windows Using a Custom Sysprep
Answer File in the vSphere Web Client
A custom sysprep answer file is a file that stores a number of customization settings such as computer
name, licensing information, and workgroup or domain settings. You can supply a custom sysprep answer
file as an alternative to specifying many of the settings in the Guest Customization wizard.
Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP use a text file called sysprep.inf. Windows Server 2008, Windows
Vista, and Windows 7 use an XML file called sysprep.xml. You can create these files using a text editor, or
use the Microsoft Setup Manager utility to generate them. For more information about how to create a
custom sysprep answer file, see the documentation for the relevant operating system.
You can prevent Windows from assigning new virtual machines or templates with the same Security IDs
(SIDs) as the original virtual machine. 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.
Prerequisites
Ensure that all requirements for customization are met. See “Guest Operating System Customization
Requirements,” on page 47.
Procedure
1 From the vSphere Web Client Home inventory page, select Policies and Profiles > Customization
Specification Manager.
2 Click the Create New Specification icon.
3 In the Guest Customization wizard, select Windows from the Target Virtual Machine OS menu.
4 (Optional) Select Use Custom Sysprep Answer File.
5 Under Customization Specification Information, enter a name for the specification and an optional
description and click Next.
6 Select the option to import or create a sysprep answer file and click Next.
Option Description
Import a Sysprep answer file
Click Browse and browse to the file.
Create a Sysprep answer file
Type the contents of the file in the text box.
7 Select the type of network settings to apply to the guest operating system.
Option Action
Typical settings
Select Typical settings and click Next.
vCenter Server configures all network interfaces from a DHCP server
using default settings.
Custom settings
a Select Custom settings and click Next.
b For each network interface in the virtual machine, click the ellipsis
button (...) .
c Enter IP address and other network settings and click OK.
d When all network interfaces are configured, click Next.
8 To specify IPv4 related settings, select IPv4 and enter IP address and other network settings.
Chapter 2 Deploying Virtual Machines
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