How to Create and Deploy a Virtual Machine from a Blank Virtual Hard Disk
Updated: May 13, 2016
Applies To: System Center 2012 SP1 - Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, System Center 2012 - Virtual Machine Manager
Use the following procedure to create a virtual machine from a blank virtual hard disk in Virtual Machine Manager (VMM). After you create the virtual machine, you can install an operating system from an .iso image, from a CD or DVD, or from a network boot if a Pre-Boot Execution Environment (PXE) server is available.
Before you complete this procedure, note the following:
To complete the procedure, you must be a member of the Administrator or Delegated Administrator user role, or you must be a self-service user who has the Deploy action in the scope of their user role.
For a self-service user to store a virtual machine in the library, the following is required:
The self-service user role must have the Store and re-deploy action assigned.
The self-service user must first deploy the virtual machine to a private cloud, and then store it in the library.
Static IP address settings can only be customized when you create a virtual machine from a virtual machine template.
As of System Center 2012 Service Pack 1 (SP1), you can use VMM to configure the availability settings for the virtual machine. For more information, see Configuring Availability Options for Virtual Machines Overview.
Creating a Virtual Machine
Use the following procedure to create a virtual machine from a blank virtual hard disk.
To create a virtual machine from a blank virtual hard disk
Open the VMs and Services workspace.
On the Home tab, click the Create Virtual Machine drop-down arrow, and then click Create Virtual Machine.
The Create Virtual Machine Wizard opens.
On the Select Source page, click Create the new virtual machine with a blank virtual hard disk, and then click Next.
Specify identity options as follows, and then click Next:
With VMM in System Center 2012 SP1 or System Center 2012, on the Specify Virtual Machine Identity page, enter the virtual machine name and optional description.
As of VMM in System Center 2012 R2, on the Identity page, enter the virtual machine name and an optional description. In the Generation box, select Generation 1 or Generation 2. For more information, see Understanding Generation 1 and Generation 2 Virtual Machines in VMM.
On the Configure Hardware page, either select the profile that you want to use from the Hardware profile list, or configure the hardware settings manually, and then click Next. Note the following:
In Compatibility, if you want to deploy the virtual machine to a private cloud, select a capability profile that is available to the private cloud.
As of VMM in System Center 2012 R2, the hardware profiles and hardware options that are available are those of the generation that you selected in the previous step. For more information, see Understanding Generation 1 and Generation 2 Virtual Machines in VMM.
In Bus Configuration, if you want to install an operating system from a DVD or an .iso image, ensure there is a virtual DVD drive that is configured to use an available option such as the Existing ISO image file option. If you want to use an ISO image file, the file must be present in the VMM library.
If you want to store the virtual machine in the VMM library before you deploy it to a host, use of one of the blank virtual hard disks that by default are provided in the VMM library. Do this as follows:
In Bus Configuration, click the virtual hard disk.
In the details pane, click Use an existing virtual hard disk. Then click Browse. Click one of the blank disk choices, and then click OK.
For VMM in System Center 2012 SP1 or System Center 2012, if the virtual machine will boot from the network to install an operating system, in Network Adapters, be sure to use the legacy network adapter type. This type is indicated by the network adapter name, for example, Legacy Network Adapter 1.
As of VMM in System Center 2012 R2, if the virtual machine is a generation 1 virtual machine that will boot from the network to install an operating system, in Network Adapters, use the legacy network adapter type. This type is indicated by the network adapter name, for example, Legacy Network Adapter 1.
On the Select Destination page, specify how the virtual machine should be deployed:
Select Deploy the virtual machine to a private cloud to place the virtual machine in an existing private cloud. Then follow the instructions in Deploying the virtual machine in a private cloud.
Select Place the virtual machine on a host to place the virtual machine on an existing virtual machine host. Then follow the instructions in Deploying the virtual machine on a host.
Select Store the virtual machine in the library to store the virtual machine. Then follow the instructions in Storing the virtual machine in the library.
Deploying the virtual machine in a private cloud
Use the following procedure to deploy the virtual machine in a private cloud.
To deploy the virtual machine in a private cloud
On the Select Cloud page, select the private cloud on which you want to place the virtual machine. If you are connected as an Administrator, you can select the host on which the virtual machine should be deployed in the private cloud. The cloud suggestions are based on a 0-5 star rating. For more information, see Understanding Virtual Machine Placement and Ratings in VMM. Verify the settings and modify if required:
Expected utilization—For a virtual machine that is created from a blank hard disk, the expected utilization is based on standard defaults. For a virtual machine that is created from an existing virtual machine, the default settings are based on past performance of the existing virtual machine. VMM updates host suggestions and ratings in response to modifications made to the expected virtual machine utilization.
Make this VM highly available—With this option selected, only hosts that are located in a cluster are available for selection.
Details—Indicates the status of the host, the operating system, and the type and status of the virtualization software.
Rating Explanation—Provides an explanation if a host received a zero rating.
SAN Explanation or Deployment and Transfer Explanation—Lists any factors that make a storage area network (SAN) transfer unavailable. VMM does not recognize a virtual machine that is stored on a SAN as available for deployment by using SAN transfer if the virtual machine was stored directly in the library when it was created or was added to the library during a library refresh. To avoid this issue, deploy the virtual machine to a host by using a LAN transfer, and then store the virtual machine in the same VMM library, library share, and logical unit number (LUN).
In addition, as of System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, the Deployment and Transfer Explanation tab provides an explanation if fast file copy cannot be used. Fast file copy is a feature introduced in VMM in System Center 2012 R2, based on the Windows Offloaded Data Transfers (ODX) feature introduced in Windows Server 2012 R2. For information about ODX, see Windows Offloaded Data Transfers Overview.
On the Configure Settings page, review the virtual machine settings:
In Locations, either accept the default virtual machine path on the host to store the virtual machine files, or click Browse to specify a different location. Optionally, select the Add this path to the list of default virtual machine paths on the host check box.
In Machine Resources, click Virtual Hard Disk. Accept the default values, or select a different destination path on the host for the virtual hard drive file (.vhd or .vhdx file). To change the file name, enter a new name in the File name box.
Tip
To prevent placement from choosing a different value for these settings, click the pin icon next to the setting. Note that self-service users do not see this option.
On the Select Networks page, if the page appears, optionally, select the virtual machine network that you want to use, the virtual network, and the virtual LAN (VLAN) ID, if applicable, and then click Next.
On the Add Properties page, configure the action to take when the host starts or stops, and the operating system that you will install on the virtual machine. Click Next.
On the Summary page, confirm the settings, and then click Create. To confirm that the virtual machine was created, in the VMs and Services workspace, in the VMs and Services pane, expand Clouds, and then click the private cloud where you deployed the virtual machine. On the Home tab, in the Show group, click VMs. The virtual machine appears in the VMs pane.
Deploying the virtual machine on a host
Use the following procedure to deploy the virtual machine on a host.
To deploy the virtual machine on a host
On the Select Host page, view the ratings, click the host on which you want to deploy the virtual machine, and then click Next. The host suggestions are based on a 0-5 star rating. For more information, see Understanding Virtual Machine Placement and Ratings in VMM. Note the following settings:
Expected utilization—For a virtual machine that is created from a blank hard disk, the expected utilization is based on standard defaults. For a virtual machine that is created from an existing virtual machine, the default settings are based on past performance of the existing virtual machine. VMM updates host suggestions and ratings in response to modifications that are made to the expected virtual machine utilization.
Make this VM highly available—With this option selected, only hosts in a cluster are available for selection.
Details—Indicates the status of the host, the operating system, and the type and status of the virtualization software.
Rating Explanation—Provides an explanation if a host received a zero rating.
SAN Explanation or Deployment and Transfer Explanation—Lists any factors that make a SAN transfer unavailable. VMM does not recognize a virtual machine that is stored on a SAN as available for deployment by using SAN transfer if the virtual machine was stored directly in the library when it was created or was added to the library during a library refresh. To avoid this issue, deploy the virtual machine to a host by using a LAN transfer, and then store the virtual machine in the same VMM library, library share, and logical unit number (LUN).
In addition, as of System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager, the Deployment and Transfer Explanation tab provides an explanation if fast file copy cannot be used. Fast file copy is a feature introduced in VMM in System Center 2012 R2, based on the Windows Offloaded Data Transfers (ODX) feature introduced in Windows Server 2012 R2. For information about ODX, see Windows Offloaded Data Transfers Overview.
On the Configure Settings page, review the settings for the virtual machine:
In Locations, either accept the default virtual machine path on the host to store the virtual machine files, or click Browse to specify a different location. Optionally, select the Add this path to the list of default virtual machine paths on the host check box.
In Machine Resources, click Virtual Hard Disk. Accept the default values, or select a different destination path on the host for the virtual hard drive file (.vhd or .vhdx file). To change the file name, enter a new name in the File name box.
Tip
To prevent placement from choosing a different value for these settings, click the pin icon next to the setting. Note that self-service users do not see this option.
On the Select Networks page, if the page appears, optionally, select the virtual machine network that you want to use, the virtual network, and the virtual LAN (VLAN) ID, if applicable, and then click Next.
On the Add Properties page, configure the action to take when the host starts or stops, and the operating system to install on the virtual machine. Then click Next.
On the Summary page, confirm the settings, and then click Create.
Storing the virtual machine in the library
Use the following procedure to store the virtual machine in the library.
To store the virtual machine in the library
On the Select Library Server page, click the library server that you want to use, and then click Next.
On the Select Path page, specify the library share location to store the virtual machine. Click Browse to select a library share and an optional folder location, click OK, and then click Next.
On the Summary page, confirm the settings, and then click Create.
To confirm that the virtual machine was created, in the Library workspace, in the Library pane, expand Library Servers, expand the library server where you stored the virtual machine, and then click Stored Virtual Machines and Services. The stored virtual machine appears in the Physical Library Objects pane.
See Also