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Deploy a Windows Server virtual machine

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You can deploy a Windows Server virtual machine using a standard template or using an ISO image.

Using a standard template

  1. From the control panel, open the Cloud Director panel: in the top menu, click Products → VMware-based cloud → the Cloud Director section.

  2. Open the virtual data center page.

  3. Go to the Compute → vApps section.

  4. Click NEW → New vApp.

  5. Enter a vApp name.

  6. Click Add virtual machine.

  7. Enter a Name.

  8. Enter a Computer Name.

  9. In the Type field, select the type of image from which the virtual machine will be created:

    • New — from your own image;
    • From Template — from a pre-made image in the ISO Library image repository.

  10. If you selected New in the Type field, choose the OS family in the OS family field, click ADD and upload an image with an OS version in the Datacenter edition.

  11. If you selected Type in the From Template field, in the Templates block, select one of the OS images in the Standard edition:

    • Windows Server 2012 R2
    • Windows Server 2016
    • Windows Server 2019
    • Windows Server 2022

  12. Optional: to power on the virtual machine immediately after creation, check the Power on checkbox.

  13. In the Storage Policy field, select the network volume type.

  14. Click OK.

  15. Click Create. Creating a virtual machine in a vApp container will take some time.

View administrator password

During the first OS boot, an automatic reboot and image customization occur. After the reboot, the standard authentication window will open.

  1. From the control panel, open the Cloud Director panel: in the top menu, click Products → VMware-based cloud → the Cloud Director section.
  2. Open the virtual data center page.
  3. Go to the Compute → Virtual Machines section.
  4. In the card of the required virtual machine, click DETAILS.
  5. Select Guest OS Customization and click EDIT.
  6. View the password in the Specify password field.

Using an ISO image

  1. From the control panel, open the Cloud Director panel: in the top menu, click Products → VMware-based cloud → the Cloud Director section.

  2. Open the virtual data center page.

  3. Go to the Compute → Virtual Machines section.

  4. Click NEW VM.

  5. Enter a virtual machine name.

  6. In the Type field, select New.

  7. In the OS family field, select Microsoft Windows.

  8. In the Operating System field, select the Microsoft Windows OS version. When creating a virtual machine with Windows Server 2019, select Windows Server 2016 in the OS type selection menu.

  9. In the Boot image field, select the OS ISO image.

  10. In the Select a Size field, select the amount of CPU and memory.

  11. In the Storage field, add the required number of disks, specify their sizes, and the storage policy:

    • for the Gold pool — vSSD or Fast vSSD;
    • for the Silver pool — Fast vHDD or vHDD.

  12. Optional: in the Networking field, add a network.

  13. Click OK.

  14. In the ACTIONS menu of the virtual machine, select Install VMware Tools.

  15. Click INSTALL.

  16. Optional: to use your own pre-configured OS installation image, add it to the corresponding private repository, see the Import a virtual machine guide for details.