Creating a Virtual Machine
A virtual machine (VM) is run on a computer by the NxTop Engine. In addition to the operating system and any installed applications, the VM can include virtualized applications and policies that control aspects of its operation, like backup, access, and USB use. When you create a VM, you are selecting and preparing the components for use.
A VM must include an operating system (OS). The operating system can be installed from an OS ISO file or from a VM:
- OS ISO File: An OS ISO file is an disk image of an operating system installation kit. When run or opened, it installs the operating system just as installation from a CD.
- Virtual Machine: A virtual copy of an installed operating system. A Virtual Machine (VM) is created from an installed operating system, including a (group) license. Also called a Virtual Hard Drive (VHD).
The ISO file or VHD need to be available in the NxTop Center Software Library. Click here for details about adding a file to the Software Library.
The steps below include creating a VM image, but do not include the steps required to assign an image to users or groups, or to make an image available to users (see Publishing a Virtual Machine and other tutorials).
Once you begin to create a VM, you can add, modify, or remove its components as needed without affecting users until the image is published.
Before you begin...
Import the components to be used in the VM image into the Software Library. The components must include one (and only one) operating system, either an OS ISO or a VM.
Define the operating policies to be used. Policies are good practice, but are optional. Policies can be assigned to a VM at a later point.
Step One
Click Virtual Machines in the navigation panel, then click Create.
Step Two
Identify the new VM, and select the operating system and its source (ISO or VM). Only use a 32-bit guest OS available from the dropdown list. More details
Step Three
For an ISO, decide whether to use automatic installation, and enter the information needed to run installation, including the administrator password and product key. More details
Step Four
For all VMs, enter the RAM and storage requirements to be used by the VM image for the system, user, and local disks. More details
Step Five
Select existing policies to assign to the VM. Policies can be assigned to a VM later also. See Creating Policies.
Step Six
Decide if this VM is Custom or Shared. Briefly, updates made to Shared VMs are propagated to users assigned to that VM; updates to Custom VMs are not automatically propagated. More details
You're Finished!
The VM is created. It appears in the Navigation tree in the list of virtual machines. The Image can be started, which opens the Console and starts the operating system.
For an image built around an ISO, the operating system installation starts. If the automatic installation option was not selected (see step 5), you must perform the installation manually.
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Use the Attach ISO action to add Hyper-V Integration Services (HIS) to the VM. HIS provides services when running the VM in the Console window.
When you are finished with the VM, either installing the operating system or adding included applications, shut it down from within the operating system (system Shut down). The VM can be published and then assigned to users.