VMWARE and Windows Infrastructure Design (1) - Windows 2008 R2 Template

VM Hardware config:
1. Single vCPU
2. 4 GB RAM
3. 40 GB Primary Hard Drive (for Operating System)
4. 10 GB Secondary Hard Drive (for Page File
5. LSI Logic SAS SCSI Controller
6. VMXNet 3 Network Adapter
Building Process
1. First create a new VM
1.1. Select Custom Configuration
1.2. Enter VM Name and Inventory Location
1.3. Select Datastore
1.4. Select Virtual Machine Version: 7
1.5. Select “Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 (64-bit)” as OS Version
1.6. # of Virtual Processors: 1
1.7. Amount of RAM: 4GB
1.8. Network
1.8.1. # of NICs: 1
1.8.2. Adapter Type: VMXNET 3
1.8.3. Select “Connect at Power On
1.9. SCSI Controller: LSI Logic SAS
1.10. Create New Virtual Disk: 40GB
1.11. Advanced Options: No Change
2. Now prepare the virtual hardware:
2.1. Edit VM Settings > Options > General Section > Uncheck “Enable logging”
2.2. Boot Options > Check box to force going into the BIOS on next boot
2.3. Power on the VM (will go directly to BIOS) > Advanced > I/O Device Configuration:
2.3.1. Disable Serial port A
2.3.2. Disable Serial port B
2.3.3. Disable Parallel port
2.4. Exit and Save
3. OS Installation and Configuration
3.1. Install Windows 2008 R2 Standard – Full Install
3.2. After OS install and reboot, change Administrator Password (will prompt)
3.3. Disconnect Windows 2008 R2 ISO and set device type to Client Device
3.4. Set Time Zone
3.5. VMware Tools Install
3.6. Network Configuration
From Server Manager, select View Network Connections
Right click on Local Area Connection and select properties
Uninstall QoS Packet Scheduler and both Link-Layer Topologies (Mapper & Responder) if not required
Uncheck IPv6 and close network connection screens if not required
3.7. Server Name
From Server Manger select Change System Properties
On System Properties screen click Change on Computer Name Tab
Set Server Name and restart
3.8. Windows Updates
From Server Manager under Security Information, select Configure Updates
Select Let me choose
Under Important Updates, select Never check for updates, click ok
Start > All Programs > Windows Update > Check for updates and install all Recommended Updates
3.9. Enable Remote Desktop, choose “Allow connections from computers running any version of Remote Desktop” (2nd option)
3.10. Disable Windows Firewall
3.11. From Server Manager, select “Do not show me this console at logon” and close Server Manager
3.12. Taskbar Changes
Right click 3rd icon from Start Button (Windows Explorer) and select “Unpin this program from taskbar”
Right click 2nd icon from Start Button (Windows PowerShell) and select “Unpin this program from taskbar”
Right click Taskbar and choose Properties and choose Customize under Notification Area
Select “Turn system icons on or off”, and turn Volume Off, click Ok
3.13. System Performance
From Server Manager select Change System Properties
Select Advanced Tab > Settings and choose “Adjust for best performance”
3.14. Folder and Search Options
Open “Computer” > Select Organize > Choose Folder and search options
Under View Tab
3.14..1. Select “Show hidden files, folders and drives”
3.14..2. Uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”
3.15. IE ESC
From Security Information Section, select Configure IE ESC
Change Administrators to Off and leave Users On
3.16. Change IE Home Page to blank
3.17. Under Computer, right click c: and select properties, uncheck “Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties”
Apply changes to c: and all subfolder/files
Continue/Ignore on Access Denied errors
3.18. Power Options (from Control Panel)
Change option to High Performance
3.19. Disable Hibernation
Command Prompt, enter powercfg.exe –h off
3.20. Delete the Page file and reboot (so c: can be fully defragmented)
3.21. Run defrag
3.22. Page File
Edit VM Properties
Add a 2nd hard drive (10GB) and change to SCSI (1:0)
Run Disk Manager and format as Z: drive From Server Manager, select System Properties > Advanced > Performance Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory Change
Assign 1024MB Page file to c:
Assign 5120MB Page file to z:
3.23. SNMP
Server Manager > Add Features > SNMP
Server Manager > Configuration > Services > SNMP > Security
Accepted community names – Add your community (as READ ONLY)
Accept SNMP Packets from these hosts – Add your hosts (remember to leave localhost in there)

Reference: http://www.jasonsamuel.com/2010/05/07/how-to-build-a-vmware-vsphere-vm-template-for-windows-server-2008-r2/