How to Create Ubuntu 20 VM Template for VMware Automation?

Summary: Creating an Ubuntu 20 VM template but can’t get your network running? Here is what to do next.

Introduction

Canonical, the founder of Ubuntu released Ubuntu 20 with emphasized security and high performance. However, building an Ubuntu 20 VM Template that is ready to be used in VMware automation is something that seems complex for admins.

Therefore, we have come up with this technical documentation and here we will show you how to create Ubuntu 20 VM Template in 7 simple steps.

Prerequisites

    • Download the ISO file of Ubuntu-20 on your local PC
    • Go to your VMware ESXI Server

Automate VMware VPS with WHMCS


        • Create Ubuntu 20 VM Template

          Follow the steps below to create the Ubuntu 20 VM Template for VMware automation:

          Step 1. Download The ISO File

          1. Visit on the official website of Ubuntu. Click on the link below to download the Ubuntu 18.04 ISO

          Link :-https://releases.ubuntu.com/20.04/

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template


        • Step 2. Now, log in to your VMware ESXi

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template


        • Step 3. Upload the ISO Image to VMware ESXi Datastore

          1. Click on the Storage button, then select Datastore browser.Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          2. Click on the Create Directory and create the folder with the name of iso
          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          3. Hit the Upload button
          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          4. After that, choose the Ubuntu-20.04 ISO image from your local computer and click on the Open button.
          Ubuntu 20 VM Template


        • Step 4. Create a VMware ESXi Virtual Machine for Ubuntu-20.04 Installation

          1. Click on the Create / Register VM

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          2. Then select the option to Create a new virtual machine and click on Next.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          3. Enter VM name and select the Guest OS family to Linux and Guest OS version to Ubuntu Linux (64-bit). Then, click on Next.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          4. Select the datastore and click on Next.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          5. Configure the virtual machine hardware and click on CD/DVD Drive 1 and browse the Ubuntu-20.04 ISO file from the datastore. Click Next.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          6. Then choose the ISO file.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          7. Once done with the above steps click on Next >> Finish

          Now the new VM should be created on your VMware-ESXI. Click on Virtual Machine
          Ubuntu 20 VM Template


        • Step 5. Installation of Ubuntu-20.04 Operating System

          1. For the installation of OS, click on the VM or Power On button

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          2. Now installation is initialized, then only select language and press Enter.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          3. Press Enter on the interface ( ens160 ) to configure the IP address.

          Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          4. Then, click on the Edit IPv4 option.

          Edit IPv4 option | Ubuntu 20 VM Template
          5. Choose the manual option under IPv4 Method

          manual option under IPv4 Method
          6. Now configure the IP addressing according to your network. Hit the Save button.

          configure the IP addressing according to your network
          7. Enter the Continue button.

          continue without network
          8. Now configure the Storage Configuration. Select the option Use an entire disk and
          Click on Done

          guided storage configuration
          9. Again hit the Done button

          storage configuration
          10. Select the username and password for Profile Setup and click the Done button

          Profile Setup
          11. For SSH access, press the space button on the Install OpenSSH server and press Enter

          Install OpenSSH server
          12. Now installation is complete, press the Reboot Now Button

          Install OpenSSH server


    • Note: After all the steps, the Virtual Machine is ready to boot Ubuntu-20 from the virtual hard drive. Here enter the username and password.


        • boot Ubuntu-20


        • Step 6. Installation of VMware Tools on Ubuntu-20.04 VMware Virtual Machines

          1. On VMware ESXI, click on the Action button > Guest OS > Install VMware Tools. After the Install VMware Tools option, CD-Drive is automatically connected with your OS.

          Installation of VMware Tools on Ubuntu-20.04 VMware Virtual Machines
          2. Confirm the CD-Drive is connected properly. Run the below command

          web console
          3. After confirmation, execute the following command:-
          # mount /dev/sr0 /mnt
          # lsblk

          mount and unmount

          4. After the CD-Drive is mounted on /mnt directory, run the below command:-

          # cp -rv /mnt/VMwareTools-10.3.23-17030940.tar.gz /tmp
          # ls /tmp

          mnt directory

          5. Extract the VMwareTools-10.3.23-17030940.tar.gz file in /tmp directory.

          Run the below command.
          # cd /tmp
          # tar -xvzf VMwareTools-10.3.23-17030940.tar.gz

          VMwareTools-10.3.23-17030940.tar.gz file in /tmp directory

          6. Once done with extracting the file, you need to run the script under /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib directory.

          Execute the command that are mentioned below:-
          # cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib
          # ./vmware-install.pl

          /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib directory


        • Step 7. Check whether VMware tools are installed or not. Run the below command

          # systemctl status vmware-tools
          OR
          # systemctl status open-vm-tools
          # systemctl start vmware-tools
          # /etc/init.d/vmware-tools status
          # /etc/init.d/vmware-tools start

          !!!!! Reboot the Virtual Machine by running the command > init 6 !!!!!


        • Step 7. Convert the Virtual Machine to Template

          After the installation of the virtual machine and VMware tools on it. We are going to convert the virtual machine to a template.

          1. Go to your Vcenter server.

          2. After login you can see your virtual machine under the VMware-ESXi (host).

          Right-click on the virtual machine, then go to the Template option and choose the Convert to Template.

          Vcenter server

          …And you are done!


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