This article explains my best practise for creating a Windows 2008 R2 template. You will need to be running a VMWare virtual center server to use VMware templates.
Step 1 Build VM
- Install windows 2008 r2
- Install VMware tools
- Apply windows updates (including other Microsoft updates)
- Activate windows
- Install any other standard software you install on all servers (AV, monitoring software etc).
- Reboot as necessary
Step 2 SysPrep
Go to the start menu, then type in the box sysprep. The below folder should appear double click on sysprep and choose the options below.
Step 3 Clone to template
Once the server has shutdown. In VI Client right click on the VM you have created and choose template clone to template.
This process is likely to take several minutes but once complete you have a working template from which you can create as many servers as you like.