Creating a template virtual machine in Nutanix Acropolis Community Edition

Upload Windows OS and Fedora Windows VirtIO drivers images to Nutanix CE cluster

1. Login to Nutanix Web Console.

2. On the top right hand side of the screen click on "gear" icon > Image Configuration:

   

3. In the Image Configuration dialog click on Upload Image button:

   

4. Specify the parameters:

   • Name: Name your Image file (this does not have to exactly match the ISO filename)
   • Image Type: Select ISO
   • Storage Container: Specify where you want to store the ISO
   • Image Source: Either provide a direct link to the .iso or upload it

   

   Click on Save and the upload process will start with a progress window.

5. Repeat steps 2-4 to upload image with Windows VirtIO drivers. Stable virtio-win iso can be found here: Windows VirtIO Drivers:

   

Create Windows Virtual Machine

1. On the top left hand side of the screen click on Home > VM:

   

2. On the top right hand side of the screen click on Create VM:

   

3. Specify the parameters according to your needs:

   • Name
   • VCPU(s)
   • Number of Cores per vcpu

   • Memory

     

   • In the Disks pane click on Remove button to delete default CD-ROM disk settings:

     

   • In the Disks pane click on Add New Disk button to add virtual hard disk:

     • Type - DISK
     • Operation - Allocate on Storage Container
     • Bus Type - IDE/SATA
     • Size - Required virtual hard disk size
     • Click on Add button

     

   • In the Disks pane click on Add New Disk button to add CD-ROM disk with Windows installation image:

     • Type - CD-ROM
     • Operation - Clone from Image Service
     • Bus Type - IDE/SATA
     • Image - Windows Installation image

     • Click on Update button

       

   • In the Disks pane click on Add New Disk button to add CD-ROM disk with Windows VirtIO Drivers:

     

   • In the Network Adapters (NIC) pane specify NIC or click on Add New NIC button if it is not yet added:

     

   • Click on Add Network button in the Create NIC dialog:

     

   • Click on Create Network in Network Configuration dialog:

     

     Specify VLAN ID - 0 for default bridged network and click on Save button:

     

   • Add NIC and Save VM

     

4. On the top left hand side of the screen click on Table, then on Power On, then on Launch Console to install Windows VM:

   

5. Configure Windows template.
6. Shutdown Windows template VM.
7. In the Nutanix Web Console on the top left hand side of the screen click on VM > Table, select template and click on Update button located next to Power on and delete configured CD-ROM disks.