Creating Linux Templates for SCVMM 2012 SP1 (GA)

Configuring a VHD

Configuring a VHD for use in a Linux VM template involves the following steps:

Create a virtual machine (or use an existing one) and install your Linux operating system. For more information, see Creating a VM Template.
Note
You cannot create a template directly from the Virtual machine. You have to store the template in the library and then use the VHDX to create a linux template. This process is different from creating templates for Windows OS.
Install or update the latest Hyper-V Linux Integration Services. For more information, see Installing the Hyper-V Linux Integration Services.
Install the VMM Agent for Linux - the VMM Agent for Linux is a small agent that receives incoming configuration from VMM and applies the OS configuration. Following a successful VM deployment, the agent removes itself. For more information, see Installing the VMM Agent for Linux.
To make this prepared VHD available for templates, shut down the VM, and copy the VM to a VMM Library share and refresh the VMM Library.

The steps to create a VM Template are:

In the Library pane of the VMM console, launch Create VM Template
Select Use an existing VM template or virtual hard disk stored in the library, click Browse, and select your template VHD.
Provide a name for the VM template and click Next.
Select an existing hardware profile, or configure a new one. The Hardware Profile configuration is common to both Windows and Linux Virtual Machines. Click Next.
On the Configure Operation System page, select Create new Linux operating system customization settings. Alternatively, you can create a Linux OS Profile before launching the VM template wizard and select it here.

To install Linux Integration Services Version 3.4:

Open Hyper-V Manager: Click Start, point to Administrative Tools, and then click Hyper-V Manager.
Create a new virtual machine where you will install Linux: In the Actions menu, click New, and then click Virtual Machine.
Specify the Linux installation media: Right-click the virtual machine that you created, and then click Settings. In IDE Controller, specify one of the following:
- An image file in ISO format that contains the files required for installation
- A physical CD/DVD drive that contains the installation media
Turn on the virtual machine: Right-click the virtual machine that you created, and then click Connect.
Begin installing Linux.
When prompted, restart the virtual machine and complete any first-boot configuration tasks.
Note
Unless a legacy network adapter was added during the virtual machine's initial configuration, the virtual machine will not have any network support.
Log on to the virtual machine.
In Hyper-V Manager, configure LinuxICv34.ISO (located in the directory where you extracted the downloaded files) as a virtual CD/DVD drive on the virtualmachine.
Once configured, the LinuxICv34.ISO should appear mounted under /media/CDROM if automount is enabled.
If automount is not enabled, use the following command to mount the ISO file:
# mount /dev/cdrom/media
As the root user, change to the directory relevant to your distribution: and run the command:
/install-rhel57.sh

On the VMM management server, open a command prompt session, with administrative rights.
Go to the C:\Program Files\Microsoft System Center 2012\Virtual Machine Manager\agents\Linux folder.
Copy all the agent installation files from that folder to a new folder on the virtual machine, and then, on the virtual machine on which Linux is running as a guest operating system, open the new folder.
Run the following command:
chmod +x install
Run either of the following commands, as appropriate:
./install scvmmguestagent.1.0.0.544.x64.tar
./install scvmmguestagent.1.0.0.544.x86.tar
Note
This is the only process with which templates can be created. Currently the following two options are not allowed.
1. Template creation via Virtual Machine for Redhat
2. Template creation using VHD,
  If we select the option of "do not customize" the OS type for VM will be seen as Others.