Comprehensive Guide to Creating a Microsoft Windows Server 2025 VMware Template in ESXi 8.0

IT 6 Minutes

This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step process for creating a standardized and optimized Microsoft Windows Server 2025 virtual machine (VM) template on VMware ESXi 8.0. By creating a VM template, you can significantly streamline the deployment of new servers, ensuring consistency, reducing manual effort, and improving overall efficiency in your virtual infrastructure. A well-prepared template serves as a master image, pre-configured with the necessary settings, updates, and software, allowing for rapid and automated provisioning of new VMs.

This document will cover the entire workflow, from initial VM creation and guest operating system installation to the critical steps of generalization using sysprep and conversion to a template within the vCenter Server environment. We will also explore best practices for template management and optimization, ensuring your Windows Server 2025 deployments are secure, efficient, and ready for production workloads.

Prerequisites

Before you begin creating the Windows Server 2025 VM template, ensure you have the following resources and information available:

  • VMware vSphere Environment:
    • VMware ESXi 8.0 or later.
    • VMware vCenter Server 8.0 or later.
    • Sufficient permissions in vCenter Server to create and manage virtual machines and templates.
  • Windows Server 2025 Installation Media:
    • A legitimate ISO image of Microsoft Windows Server 2025.
  • VMware Tools:
    • The latest version of VMware Tools is recommended. As of this writing, the minimum supported version for Windows Server 2025 is VMware Tools 12.5.0.

Phase 1: Virtual Machine Creation and Configuration

The first phase involves creating and configuring a new virtual machine that will serve as the foundation for your template. This section details the recommended hardware specifications and configuration settings.

VMware vSphere Client - Virtual Machine Hardware Customization

Create a New Virtual Machine

  1. Log in to the vSphere Client and navigate to the desired host or cluster.
  2. Right-click the host or cluster and select New Virtual Machine.
  3. On the “Select a creation type” page, choose Create a new virtual machine and click Next.
  4. On the “Select a name and folder” page, provide a descriptive name for your VM (e.g., ws2025-template-base) and select a datacenter or folder.
  5. On the “Select a compute resource” page, choose the destination host or cluster.
  6. On the “Select storage” page, select a datastore for the VM’s files.
  7. On the “Select compatibility” page, choose ESXi 8.0 and later.
  8. On the “Select a guest OS” page, select Windows as the Guest OS family. For the Guest OS version, select Microsoft Windows Server 2022 (64-bit). As of the latest updates, “Windows Server 2025” may not be an available option, but selecting the 2022 version is the recommended workaround.

Customize Hardware

On the “Customize hardware” page, configure the virtual hardware settings for your template. The following table provides a recommended baseline configuration. Adjust these settings based on your specific workload requirements. Component Recommended Configuration CPU 2 CPUs (2 sockets, 1 core per socket) Memory 4 GB (minimum 2 GB for Desktop Experience, 2 GB for Server Core) Hard Disk 60 GB (minimum 32 GB), Thin Provisioned SCSI Controller VMware Paravirtual (PVSCSI) Network Adapter VMXNET 3 CD/DVD Drive Datastore ISO File (connect to the Windows Server 2025 ISO) Other Devices Remove any unnecessary devices such as floppy drives, COM ports, and LPT ports.

Click Next and then Finish to create the virtual machine.

Phase 2: Guest Operating System Installation and Configuration

With the virtual machine created, the next phase is to install and configure the Windows Server 2025 operating system.

Install Windows Server 2025

  1. Power on the newly created virtual machine.
  2. The VM will boot from the attached Windows Server 2025 ISO image.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows Server 2025. Select the Desktop Experience or Server Core installation option based on your requirements.
  4. When prompted for the installation type, choose Custom: Install Microsoft Server Operating System only (advanced).
  5. Select the virtual hard disk you created and click Next to begin the installation.
  6. The installation process will proceed, and the VM will reboot several times.
  7. After the installation is complete, set a password for the local Administrator account.

Install VMware Tools

VMware Tools is a critical component that enhances the performance and management of the virtual machine. It is essential for features like Guest OS Customization.

VMware Tools Installation Wizard on Windows Server
  1. In the vSphere Client, right-click the virtual machine and select Guest OS > Install VMware Tools.
  2. This will mount the VMware Tools installer ISO inside the guest operating system.
  3. Log in to the Windows Server 2025 VM, open File Explorer, and navigate to the CD/DVD drive.
  4. Run setup.exe or setup64.exe to start the VMware Tools installation.
  5. Follow the prompts in the installation wizard, selecting the Typical installation type.
  6. Once the installation is complete, reboot the virtual machine.

Configure the Operating System

Before creating the template, it is essential to configure the operating system with the desired settings and optimizations. This ensures that all VMs deployed from this template will have a consistent and secure baseline configuration.

  1. Install Windows Updates: Connect the VM to the internet and install all available Windows Updates. This is a critical step to ensure your template is secure and up-to-date.
  2. Enable Remote Desktop: If you need to manage the server remotely, enable Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).
  3. Configure Time Zone: Set the correct time zone for your environment.
  4. Install Common Software: Install any common applications, agents, or tools that should be present on all servers (e.g., monitoring agents, backup clients).
  5. Optimize the OS: For performance and security, consider the following optimizations:
    • Disable unnecessary services.
    • Uninstall unnecessary Windows features.
    • Configure the firewall.
    • Delete temporary files.

Phase 3: Generalization with Sysprep

The System Preparation (Sysprep) tool is a crucial component for creating Windows templates. It removes unique information from the Windows installation, such as the computer name, security identifier (SID), and IP address, allowing the image to be safely cloned. This process is known as generalization.

Windows Server Command Prompt - Sysprep Command Execution

Prepare for Sysprep

Before running Sysprep, ensure the following:

  • The VM is not joined to an Active Directory domain.
  • The VM is configured to obtain an IP address via DHCP.

Run Sysprep

  1. Open a Command Prompt as an administrator.
  2. Navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep directory.
  3. Run the following command:

sysprep.exe /generalize /oobe /shutdown

  • /generalize: Removes system-specific information from the Windows installation.
  • /oobe: Configures the computer to start in the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) mode on the next boot.
  • /shutdown: Shuts down the computer after Sysprep completes.

Sysprep will now prepare the image and shut down the virtual machine. Do not power the VM back on after it shuts down.

Phase 4: Create the VM Template

With the virtual machine prepared and shut down, the final phase is to convert it into a template in vCenter Server.

Convert to Template

  1. In the vSphere Client, locate the virtual machine you prepared.
  2. Right-click the VM and select Template > Convert to Template.
  3. A confirmation dialog will appear. Click Yes to proceed.

Alternatively, you can clone the VM to a template, which preserves the original VM:

  1. Right-click the VM and select Clone > Clone to Template.
  2. Follow the prompts in the wizard to name the template, select a location, and specify the compute and storage resources.

Phase 5: Deploying a VM from the Template

Once the template is created, you can use it to deploy new virtual machines.

VMware vSphere Template Deployment Workflow
  1. In the vSphere Client, navigate to the VMs and Templates view.
  2. Locate your new template, right-click it, and select New VM from This Template.
  3. Follow the wizard to name the new VM, select a location, and specify compute and storage resources.
  4. On the “Select clone options” page, you can choose to customize the operating system. This allows you to use a Guest Customization Specification to automate the configuration of the new VM’s computer name, IP address, and other settings.

Best Practices for Template Management

  • Regularly Update Your Template: Periodically convert your template back to a VM, apply the latest Windows Updates and software patches, and then convert it back to a template. This ensures your new VM deployments are always up-to-date.
  • Use a Naming Convention: Adopt a clear naming convention for your templates to easily identify their purpose and version.
  • Document Your Templates: Maintain documentation for each template, detailing its configuration, installed software, and any specific settings.
  • Store Templates in a Central Location: Use a dedicated folder in vCenter Server to store your templates for better organization and access control.
  • Leverage Guest Customization Specifications: Create and use Guest Customization Specifications to automate the post-deployment configuration of your VMs, saving time and reducing errors.

Conclusion

Creating a Windows Server 2025 VMware template is a fundamental practice for efficient and scalable virtual infrastructure management. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can create a standardized, optimized, and secure master image that will serve as the foundation for all your future Windows Server 2025 deployments. This will not only save you significant time and effort but also ensure a consistent and reliable server environment.

References

  1. VMware. (2024, November 7). VMware Tools 12.5.0 is ready for the latest Windows Operating Systems. VMware Blogs. Retrieved from https://blogs.vmware.com/cloud-foundation/2024/11/07/vmware-tools-12-5-0-is-ready-for-the-latest-windows-operating-systems/
  2. Broadcom. (2025, February 27). Installing Windows Server 2025 on a VMware Virtual Machine. Broadcom Knowledge Base. Retrieved from https://knowledge.broadcom.com/external/article/371350/installing-windows-server-2025-on-a-vmwa.html
  3. Microsoft. (2025, July 22). Hardware Requirements for Windows Server. Microsoft Learn. Retrieved from https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/get-started/hardware-requirements
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