Issue with Windows Image Deployment

[Delodien]

Hi there,

We have recently deployed a trial of HPE VM Essentials. I've managed to deploy a base image of Windows Server 2022, installed drivers etc. and all is well.

I wanted to create a custom Server 2022 image and found the "Import as Image" option. I ran sysprep on the Server 2022 VM and kept drivers in tact, powered it down and imported the image to the Image Library.

However, when I try deploy another Server 2022 instance based on this imported sysprep'd image - the deployment hangs on "Uploading Image" it gets to 99% and then just hangs there indefinitly.

For context, I also tried this on a Ubuntu 24 VM I deployed, imported the image and this deployed correctly afterwards.

Any assistance appreciated.

[cbunge]

Any chance your storage location on the cluster ran out of space?  If you're not using a shared storage location on the cluster, each host would have the image uploaded to it on first provision to that server.

How large is your Windows image? What does Viritual Images show?

[karata]

Hello Deldian

Create A fresh Window Server installation

Apply all updates. and install cloud base init

Do not click sysprep in the cloudbase init. also check the checkbox to allow cloud init  to run as a local service.

then at the end do not sysprep the vm.

now if you want unattend installation add this to the unattend.xml 

<Conf.....>

<OOBE>..........................</OOBE>

<UserAccounts>

<AdministratorPassword>

<PlainText>true</PlainText>

<Value>YourPassword</Value>

</AdministratorPassword>

</UserAccounts>

<Conf....>

then save file. shut server down and import as image

Kudos.... Hope this helps

[karata]

Hello @Delodien 

Did this solve your problem?

[cbunge]

Hi @karata ,

Cloud-Base Init is not the recommendation for Windows.  A sysprepped, or non-sysprepped system is supported VME/Morpheus.  Morpheus will automatically run unattend as long as you set the flag on the virtual image.

Also, the initial ask was timing out on upload so the image creation steps aren't necissarily applicable.  Assumption (with out seeing a response about free storage) is storage space ran out on the upload location or a timeout could have occurred.  

[karata]

Hello @cbunge 

Just try that way, If it fails then no problem. but i am very sure it works

[cbunge]

Original Poster... Let me know if you still have questions / issues.