Manage Virtual Machine Templates on vCenter Server

You can use PowerCLI to create virtual machines templates and convert them to virtual machines on vCenter Server.

Note: A virtual machine template is a reusable image created from a virtual machine. The template, as a derivative of the source virtual machine, includes virtual hardware components, an installed guest operating system, and software applications.

Prerequisites

Verify that you are connected to a vCenter Server system.

Procedure

  1. Create a template from the VM1 virtual machine.
    New-Template -VM VM1 -Name VM1Template -Location (Get-Datacenter DC )
  2. Convert the VM1Template template for use by a virtual machine named VM3.
    Get-Template VM1Template | Set-Template -ToVM -Name VM3
  3. Create a template from the VM2 virtual machine.
    New-Template -VM VM2 -Name VM2Template -Location (Get-Datacenter DC )
  4. Convert the VM2Template template to a virtual machine named VM4.
    Get-Template VM2Template | Set-Template -ToVM -Name VM4
  5. Convert the VM4 virtual machine to a template.
    Set-VM –VM VM4 –ToTemplate –Name “VM4Template”
  6. Create a template called VM3Template by cloning VM2Template.
    Get-Template VM2Template | New-Template -Name VM3Template –VMHost $targetVMHost