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Machine Creation for vSphere

May 8, 2020
Contributed by:  E

This article explains considerations and requirements when publishing layered images to machine creation, and building your layers in vSphere.

Platform layer

You need a platform layer for publishing images in machine creation running in vSphere.

  • If you have been using BIOS machines and you want to start using UEFI machines, a new version of the platform layer is required.
  • If you want to publish images to a new location in vSphere, it is recommended that you create a specific platform layer for the new location.

Platform layer requirements

When publishing images to a Horizon View environment, you need the following resources to create the platform layer:

When to install VMware vSphere tools on the platform layer

If the OS was created on a hypervisor other than vSphere, install the VMware vSphere software on the platform layer. Also, install the App Layering agent and OS Machine Tools. You need:

  • Access to the VMware hypervisor software installer

  • App Layering Agent and PowerShell Snap-in, if using a Script as part of the connector configuration: If you include a script to run on layered images, make sure the App Layering agent and PowerShell Snap-in are running.

Connectors

You need these connector configurations to create layers and publish layered images to machine creation:

  • Machine Creation for vSphere connector configuration: Supplies the appliance with the credentials it requires to publish to a machine creation location.

  • VMware vSphere connector configuration: Gives the appliance the credentials to create layers and publish images in a specific vSphere location.

UEFI machines

This section explains how to switch from using BIOS machines to UEFI machines.

To configure UEFI, select a UEFI-configured virtual machine template from your vCenter server. EFI machines and VMware Cloud both require the template. Otherwise, it is optional. Select the template to use for the platform layer.

To start using UEFI if your existing machines are BIOS

To start using UEFI machines in Machine Creation when your existing machines are BIOS:

  1. Create a Machine Creation in vSphere connector configuration with the Offload compositing feature enabled.
  2. Select a virtual machine template with UEFI configured.
  3. Create a platform layer, or add a version to an existing one. Select the connector configuration that has UEFI enabled.
  4. Publish UEFI images using this platform layer, and select a connector configuration that has UEFI enabled.

You can publish images using the new UEFI-enabled platform layer and connector configuration with your existing OS and app layers.

You can keep revising your OS and app layers using a BIOS connector configuration.

To start using UEFI in a fresh deployment

The Create OS layer feature supports UEFI machines. You can also add support for UEFI to an existing OS layer. Use a connector configuration with Offload Compositing and UEFI enabled.

  1. Create a VMware vSphere connector configuration with UEFI and Offload compositing enabled.
  2. In the connector configuration, select a virtual machine template with UEFI configured.
  3. Create UEFI-enabled app layers using the same VMware vSphere connector configuration.
  4. Create and publish images using an image template with the following things selected:
    • Your UEFI-enabled OS layer.
    • A platform layer with Machine Creation installed.
    • A UEFI-enabled Machine creation for vSphere connector configuration.
    • Your app layers.

Machine Creation for vSphere

May 8, 2020
Contributed by:  E

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