70-247 Series: Part 24

Configure and Deploy Virtual Machines and Services (17%)

Configure Profiles

Host Profiles

Host Profiles are used to standardise the deployment of Hyper-V hosts. The deployment of an operating system to a computer that does not have an operating system installed is typically referred to as "Bare-Metal Deployment" Host Profiles contain settings such as:

  • The location of the Operating System image
  • Hardware settings
  • Operating System configuration settings

Before creating a host profile, the following prerequisites should exist in the library:

  • A generalised virtual had disk must exist in a library share
  • All drivers required for the physical hardware

The GUIRunOnce Commands can be used to configure the host operating system. Remote Desktop can be enabled and additional static IP addresses can be configured. Scripts can also be run after install by right-clicking the host in the fabric and selecting Run Script Command.

Guest Operating System Profiles

A Guest Operating System Profile specifies the operating system settings that you want the virtual machine to use when the virtual machine is created and deployed. A Guest Operating System Profile contains the following settings:

  • Profile Name
  • Computer Name - Use @Name@ to prompt for a name or Server### to use an auto-incrementing name
  • Local Administrator Password
  • Product Key
  • Operating System

Create a Guest OS Profile

I'm going to create a Guest OS Profile for App Controller Servers. These servers have some specific requirements that I'll need to configure including:

  • A specific Computer Name
  • Software Prerequisites

In the Library workspace, click Create and select Guest OS Profile

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You can complete each tab in the Profile. In the example below, I have configured an auto-incrementing name with the prefix APPCTR

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In the example below, I am configuring the Operating System prerequisites for App Controller. These Roles and Features will only apply if the Virtual Machine Template is deployed as part of a service.

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Capability Profiles

A Capability profile specifies limits and constraints of Hypervisors so that a hardware profile cannot have settings that are not able to be used on a given Hypervisor.

Create a Hardware Profile

I'm going to create 3 hardware profiles. They will be:

  • Bronze - 1vCPU 1GB RAM
  • Silver - 2vCPU 2GB RAM
  • Gold - 4vCPU 4GB RAM

Hardware Profiles

A Hardware Profile specifies the hardware specifications for a Virtual Machine. Hardware profiles include the following settings:

  • Number of processors
  • Amount of static or dynamic memory
  • Logical Network settings
  • Highly-Available (HA) configuration

In the Library workspace, click create and then select Hardware Profile

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Enter a Name and then select the Hardware Profile tab

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Select the relevant tabs to configure the hardware profile

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In the example below, I have removed the Legacy Network Adapter and added a Network Adapter. I've also connected it to a logical network and selected that it will receive a static IP Address from a Pool I have previously configured.

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In the example below, I am configuring the Silver Hardware Profile

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In the example below, I am configuring the Gold Hardware Profile

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SQL Server Profiles

SQL Server Profiles provide instructions for customising an instance of SQL Server for a SQL Server DAC when deploying a virtual machine as part of a service.

How to install SQL Server using SYSPREP - Preparation

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Shutdown the virtual machine

Create a template from the virtual machine

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Create SQL Server Profile

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Enter a name, then click SQL Server Configuration

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Fill in the required information on each tab, see below

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And click OK when you're done

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Application Profiles

An Application Profile provides instructions for installing the following types of applications:

  • Server App-V applications
  • Microsoft Web Deploy Applications
  • Microsoft SQL Server data-tier applications (DACs)
  • Scripted application installations

Application Profiles have the following limitations:

  • Application Profiles can only be used when deploying a virtual machine as part of a service
  • Application Profiles are not supported for Linux Virtual Machines

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