Create a Windows OS Image

Create an image of the Windows virtual machine configured per your site's requirements.

You must have already create a virtual machine, installed Accelerator on the VM and configured the VM per your site's environment.

The VM must first be generalized using Sysprep. For more information see Create a managed image of a generalized VM in Azure.

  1. Login in to your Microsoft Azure account.
  2. Using the search box, enter virtual machines.
    A list of search results is listed.
  3. Under Services, click Virtual machines.
  4. Select the Windows virtual machine created for cloud bursting by clicking its name.
  5. Click Connect.
  6. Click the RDP tab.
  7. Click Download RDP File.
  8. Open the file.
  9. Click Connect.
  10. Enter the password that was established for the Administrator Account when creating the virtual machine.
  11. Click OK.
  12. Click Yes to connect even if there are certificate errors.
    A connection is established with the Windows virtual machine.
  13. Open a Command Prompt window as an administrator.
  14. Using Windows Explorer, navigate to the directory C:\Windows\System32\Sysprep.
  15. Right-click sysprep.exe and select Run as Administrator.
  16. For System Cleanup Action, choose Enter System Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE).
  17. Enable the Generalize check box.
  18. For Shutdown Options, choose Shutdown.
  19. Click OK.
  20. Once the VM is shutdown, close the RDP session.
  21. Navigate to the browser window where the Azure portal is open and the VM details are displayed.
  22. Click Capture.
  23. For name, enter a name for the image.
    The name of the image should contain the string "windows" (case insensitive). For example, Windows Server 2012 R2 Datacenter.
  24. For Resource group, choose the previously created resource group.
  25. For Type the virtual machine name, enter the name of the VM.
  26. Click Create.
You can now delete the virtual machine so that you are no longer charged for it.