How to Create VM Templates in VMWare vCenter

A VM template provides a consistent way to deploy virtual machines with specified configurations in vCenter. Read this guide to learn how to create a VMWare virtual machine template in vCenter.

Step 1: Create a VM with the Required Settings

1. Right-click the vCenter cluster or host you want to create the VM and select New Virtual Machine…

I’m creating my VM in a cluster

2. On the first page of the wizard, click Next. Then, give the VM a name.

3. vCenter will perform a compatibility check and if everything is okay, click Next. Then, select a datastore to store the VM.

4. After that, select the VM’s configuration compatibility – the default should be okay.

5. Then, select the Operating System and version.

I’ll be installing Windows Server 2022 but the max available option for ESXi 7 is Windows Server 2019. So, I selected this option.

6. On the next page, customize the VM’s configurations. To install an OS with an ISO image, on the New CD/DVD Drive, click the client device drop-down and select Datastore ISO file.

Then, on the Select File pop-up, click the Datastore you uploaded your ISO images, select the ISO image, and click OK. Finally, click Next to continue.

6. Finally, review and click Finish to create the VM.

Before moving on to step 2, confirm that the VM was created successfully (may take a while) by selecting the cluster or host it was created and clicking the VM tab.

Step 2: Install an Operating System on the VM

1. From where you stopped in Step 1, left-click the VM to open it.

2. Next, power on the VM, then open its console (see my numbering in the screenshot below). When you click the second icon to launch the VM’s console, select Web console.

3. The VM’s web console will load the VM’s Boot Manager menu.
4. Click into the web console, then use the downward arrow key on your keyboard to select “EFI VMware Virtual Sata CD ROM drive,” then, press the enter key on your keyboard to continue Windows installation.

To release your mouse from the VM’s web console, move the mouse away from the web console into your desktop.

Follow the normal Windows installation steps to install the OS.

5. After installing the OS on the VM, Install VMWare tools on the VM. From vCenter, open the VM, then, click its ACTIONS menu > Guest OS > Install VMWare tools.

After step 5, log in to Windows, and open “This PC”. A DVD ROM will be loaded with the VMWare tools installation file. Double-click the drive to install VMWare Tools.

6. Finally, check and install Windows update, then, install apps, you want to be available in the template. You may also configure any customizations required.

Step 3: Convert the VM to a Template

When you convert a VM to a template, the VM will no longer be available. If you wish to keep the VM, clone it to a template instead.

1. Shut down the VM: open the VM, then from its ACTIONS menu, select Power > Shut Down Guest OS. Alternatively, log in to Windows on the VM and shut down the OS as normal.

2. Once the VM is shut down, right-click it, then select Template > Convert to Template.

3. Confirm that you want to convert the VM to a template by selecting Yes.

4. To view the template, click on the datacenter, cluster, or ESXi host node, then, select VM Templates.

Conclusion

Creating VM templates in vCenter is as easy as 1, 2, 3! In step 1, you create the VM, then, install the Operating System, customize and shut it down.

Finally, convert the VM to a VM template.

I hope I met my goal of simplifying the process for you. Kindly let me know by responding to the “Was this page helpful?” feedback request below.