In this recipe, we will create virtual machine templates that use generalized images as the source.
VMM virtual machine templates are used to perform the automated installation and configuration of servers, dramatically reducing the time to release a server, and automate all these processes in a simple and uncomplicated deployment method.
Before you can create the virtual machine template, you need to create a new VM and install a vanilla OS (fresh Windows install) into it that will be used as the base for the template. Refer to the Creating and deploying virtual machines recipe of this chapter.
To create a VM template, you can select the source for which the template will be created from an existing template, a virtual disk (VHD) with a preinstalled operating system, or even a virtual machine that is being used in any host managed by VMM.