How to Modify the Properties of a Virtual Machine Template
Applies To: Virtual Machine Manager 2008, Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2, Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 SP1
You can modify the settings in an existing Virtual Machine Manager (VMM) template. The updated settings will be incorporated into new virtual machines that you create from the template, however, the updated template will not affect existing virtual machines that you created previously from the template.
When you modify an existing template, there are additional properties than those available when creating the template in the New Template Wizard. Use the following procedure to navigate to a specific template and to modify template properties.
To modify the properties of a template
In Library view, expand the Library Server node in the navigation pane, navigate to the library server on which the template is stored, click VMs and Templates, and then double-click the template.
On the General tab, modify any of the following fields.
Name (required). Identifies the template to Virtual Machine Manager.
Description (optional). Describes the characteristics and purpose of this template.
Owner (required). Identifies the Active Directory domain account of the owner of this template.
Cost Center (optional). Specifies the cost center for a virtual machine created from this template. Identifying a cost center enables you to collect data about the allocation of virtual machines (or resources allocated to virtual machines) by cost center.
Tag (optional). Specifies a word or phrase that you can use to group specific virtual machines as a set. You can use the tag as a filter to search for that set of virtual machines.
On the Hardware Configuration tab, Use the procedures available in one or more of the following topics to modify hardware components on this template.
Startup Order—Select the order of devices to start the operating system.
CPU Requirements—Specify the processor requirements of a virtual machine on a new host.
Memory—Specify the amount of memory to allocate on a host for a new virtual machine, and whether to use Dynamic Memory.
Note
Support for Dynamic Memory was introduced in VMM 2008 R2 with Service Pack 1 (SP1).
Floppy Drive—Configure the virtual floppy drive to read a physical floppy disk on the host or to read a virtual floppy disk file stored in the library.
Video Adapter—Configure the virtual video adapter for a virtual machine.
Note
Support for video adapter settings was introduced in VMM 2008 R2 with SP1.
DVD or CD Drive—Add a virtual DVD or CD drive to an IDE bus.
Virtual Hard Disk—Add a virtual hard disk to an IDE device or a SCSI adapter.
Network Adapters—Configure one or more virtual network adapters for a virtual machine.
Priority and Availability—Configure how CPU and memory resources are allocated and whether virtual machines are highly available.
Note
Support for memory resource priority was introduced in VMM 2008 R2 with SP1.
On the OS Configuration tab, modify the guest operating system settings. For more information about modifying guest operating system settings, see How to Customize the Operating System of a Virtual Machine.
On the Custom Properties tab, add or modify the custom fields (optional).
You can add up to 10 custom properties to each virtual machine that is created by using this template. For more information about custom properties, see How to Add and Display Custom Properties for a Host.
On the Settings tab, add or modify Quota Points (optional).
Quota points are used only for self-service users who share a self-service policy. You can specify a value for the Quota Points setting if the virtual machines that will be created by using this template are for self-service users. You can use quota points to limit the number of virtual machines that self-service users can deploy at one time. The quota applies to all virtual machines deployed on a host, including virtual machines that are not currently running. For more information about quota points, see About Virtual Machine Self-Service.