OS Configuration: Windows

Intended for use with Cassatt Active Response V5.0.

This document describes how to install Windows in a VMware ESX Server VM prior to capturing an image using a Cassatt Active Response blueprint. If you haven't read Understanding Blueprints for Deploying Applications, read that first for background and context.

Prerequisites

	Check the blueprints for your applications for application-specific requirements related to package selection and other OS installation options. Make sure to perform the application-specific steps at the appropriate time.
	Software requirements: Windows 2003 Server Windows 2003 Enterprise SP1

Step 1: Install Windows

Follow these steps in conjunction with the administration guide for your VMware product to install the Windows operating system on the virtual machine.

Preliminaries

1. Optional: Install the VMware remote console on a workstation using the instructions for your VMware product (ESX Server).
2. If you are using an .iso image, set up the image as directed in the VMware documentation, or insert the Windows CD into the image host's CD-ROM drive.
3. Start the VMware remote console and connect to the image host using the image host's IP address, root, and root password, and click Connect, or work directly on the image host by by running the following command:
   
   vmware

Windows installation

1. Select the VM onto which you want to install Windows and click OK.
2. Power on the VM by clicking Power On.
   
   The Windows installation begins in text mode.
   
3. Complete the installation, accepting the defaults with the following exception: at the Workgroup of Computer Domain page, select "No, this computer is not on a network, or is on a network without a domain. Make this computer a member of the following workgroup: WORKGROUP."
4. When the installation is complete and the VM reboots, log in as the Administrator.
5. Set networking to use a static IP with these values:
   
   

   Dynamic IP	Off
   IP	Select an unused IP address from within the Cassatt Active Response network but outside the contiguous IP address range
   Subnet mask	Use the values from the control node installation
   Gateway
   DNS1	Use the IP address of the control node

   
   
6. To monitor via SNMP:
   1. Install the SNMP software by selecting Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components > Management and Monitoring Tools.
   2. Enable SNMP access from remote hosts by selecting Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Services > SNMP Service > Security tab. Select the checkbox for Accept SNMP packets from any host. From the same tab, add the public community in 'READ ONLY' mode.

Enable Remote Desktop for Administration

By default, Remote Desktop for Administration is disabled. To enable it, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then click System.
2. Click the Remote tab, select the Allow users to connect remotely to your computer check box, and then click OK.

top

Step 2: Install Windows updates

Run the Windows Update to ensure you have all of the latest fixes and security updates.

If you are setting up Windows for the purpose of running MS Exchange, verify you run the appropriate Service Pack for both the server and the application. For more details, see System Requirements for Exchange Server 2003.

If you are setting up Windows for the purpose of running Microsoft Cluster Services (MSCS), verify you run the appropriate Service Pack on the server. Microsoft and VMware have an open issue regarding MSCS on Windows 2003 SP1 and ESX 2.x. For more details, see the VMware knowledge base.

Step 3: Activate Windows

Follow these steps to activate Windows using an Internet connection:

1. Select Start -> All Programs -> Accessories-> System Tools -> Activate Windows or select the pop-up activation reminder.
   
   The Windows activation wizard is displayed.
2. Follow the activation wizard, choosing whether to register and activate or just activate. If your data center has Internet access, continue in the wizard with the next few steps; if not, skip the rest of this section and follow the instructions to activate by phone.
   
   The wizard establishes a connection with an activation server, and then processes the activation request.
3. When activation is complete, the wizard displays the success message. Click OK.

top

Step 4: Install VMware tools

Install VMware tools from the VMware console: VM > Install VMware Tools.

Step 5: (Optional) Synchronize time

Depending on your configuration, synchronize time as recommended in the following table:

Follow these steps to synchronize the VMware console time with the VM clock:

1. Open VMware tools by double clicking the icon in the system tray.
2. Enable the Time Synchronization option.

top

Step 6: (Optional) Configure IIS

IIS may be required by your Windows application, or it may be the Windows application you want to run in the Cassatt Active Response environment. In either case, configure IIS now. Follow these steps to configure it on the image host:

To install and configure IIS, use the IIS deployment guide. Select Deployment guide > Migrating IIS Web Sites to IIS 6.0 > Deploying the Target Server > Install and configure IIS 6.0.

1. From the desktop, select Start > Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. During the wizard, make sure that you select the following:
• Application Server (IIS, ASP.NET)
• Both check boxes for Front Page Server Extensions and ASP.NET.

For instructions on setting up the web site for IIS, see: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/WindowsServer2003/
Library/IIS. Select Operations Guide > Page down and click on Site Setup > web site setup.

Configure the network for DHCP

Follow these steps to configure the Local Area Network for DHCP as follows:

1. From the desktop, right click My Network Places > Properties.
2. Right click Local Network Connection > Network Connections.
3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
4. Select Obtain IP address Automatically.
5. On the DNS server settings, select Obtain DNS server address automatically.
6. Click OK.

top

Step 7: (Optional) Configure Active Directory

Active Directory may be required by your Windows application (for example, MS Exchange or Microsoft Clustering Services). Configuring Active Directory requires that you set up Active Directory, DNS Server, WINS server, and Windows 2003 Support Tools on the image host. Optionally, you can install the Windows 2003 Resource Kit.

If your Windows application requires Active Directory, follow these steps to configure it on the image host:

Install and Configure Microsoft Active Directory

Active Directory is installed as part of the Windows Server 2003 installation performed in Step 1. Follow these steps to configure it:

1. From the desktop, select Administrative Tools > Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. During the wizard, make sure that you select the following:
• Select Domain Controller (Active Directory) and click Next.
• Follow the wizard for the Domain Controller. (The wizard also prompts to create a DNS server, which I recommend you do at this time.)
• Create a domain. Or, if you are creating a backup domain controller, join an existing Active Directory domain.
3. Follow the Active Directory installation wizard.

top

Install and Configure DNS Server

1. From the desktop, select Administrative Tools > Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. Click Add or Remove a role.
3. Click Next.
4. Select DNS and click Next.
5. Follow the DNS setup wizard.

Install and Configure WINS Server

1. From the desktop, select Administrative Tools > Configure Your Server Wizard.
2. Click Add or Remove a role.
3. Select WINS Server and click Next.
4. Follow the WINS setup wizard.

top

Configure the network for DHCP

If you have not already configured the network for DHCP in a previous step, do so now. Follow these steps to configure the Local Area Network for DHCP as follows:

1. From the desktop, right click My Network Places > Properties.
2. Right click Local Network Connection > Network Connections.
3. Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and click Properties.
4. Select Obtain IP address Automatically.
5. On the DNS server settings, select Obtain DNS server address automatically.
6. Click OK.

Install and Configure Windows 2003 Support Tools

1. On the Windows 2003 Enterprise SP1 CD, navigate to the \Support\Tools directory.
2. To install the support tools, double-click the SUPTOOLS.msi file.

Install and Configure Windows 2003 Resource Kit

This is an optional step.

1. Download the Windows 2003 Resource Kit from Microsoft.
2. Extract the contents to a local directory.
3. Run the installation program.

This completes the Windows installation; return to your blueprint to continue creating your image.

top

Was this article useful? Tell us what you think.
Email infocentral@cassatt.com.