
Creating Virtual Machines
Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
- Create and provision a virtual machine
- Describe how to import a virtual appliance OVF template
- Explain the importance of VMware Tools
- Install VMware Tools
About Provisioning Virtual Machines
You can create VMs in several ways:
- Use the New Virtual Machine wizard to create a single VM using:
- —The vSphere Client
- —VMware Host Client
- Use the vSphere Client to deploy VMs in the following formats:
- —New VMs from existing templates or clones
- —VMs, virtual appliances, and vApps stored in OVF format
Creating VMs with the New Virtual Machine Wizard (1)
You can use the New Virtual Machine wizard in the vSphere Client to create a VM.
Creating VMs with the New Virtual Machine Wizard (2)
You can use the New Virtual Machine wizard in VMware Host Client to create a VM.
New Virtual Machine Wizard Settings
VM configuration settings are based on prior choices that you made about the operating system.
Installing the Guest Operating System
Installing a guest operating system in your VM is similar to installing it on a physical computer.
Deploying OVF Templates
You can deploy any VM or virtual appliance stored in OVF format. Virtual appliances are preconfigured VMs:
- They are usually designed for a single purpose.
- They are also available from VMware Solution Exchange.
About VMware Tools
VMware Tools is a set of features that enhance the performance of a VM’s guest operating system. Benefits and features include:
- Device drivers
- —SVGA display
- —VMXNET/VMXNET3
- —Balloon driver for memory management
- —Sync driver for quiescing I/O
- Increased graphics performance
- Improved mouse performance
- Guest OS heartbeat service
- Time synchronization
- Ability to shut down the VM
Installing VMware Tools
- Ensure that you select the correct version of VMware Tools for your guest operating system.
- To find out which VMware Tools ISO images are bundled with vSphere 7, see the vSphere 7 Release Notes.
- The method for installing VMware Tools depends on the guest operating system type.
Downloading VMware Tools
You can download a specific version of VMware Tools from the VMware vSphere product download page.
Review of Learner Objectives
After completing this lesson, Creating Virtual Machines, you should be able to meet the following objectives:
- Create and provision a virtual machine
- Describe how to import a virtual appliance OVF template
- Explain the importance of VMware Tools
- Install VMware Tools