Remote VMware ESXi

Setup Capture supports capturing (repackaging) on virtual machines, hosted on a remote VMware ESXi server.


PREREQUISITES:

  • VMware ESXi server version is 5.0 or newer.

  • VMware ESXi user has either administrative role or role with all of the following privileges:

    • All Privileges > Virtual machine > Guest operations > Guest Operation Program Execution

    • All Privileges > Virtual machine > Guest operations > Guest Operation Modifications

    • All Privileges > Virtual machine > Guest operations > Guest Operation Queries

    • All Privileges > Virtual machine > Interaction > Power on

    • All Privileges > Virtual machine > Snapshot management > Revert snapshot.

  • The virtual machine is running Windows that supports .NET 4.7.2 or newer.

  • The user account on the virtual machine has the administrative privileges.


CONFIGURATION INSTRUCTIONS:

To configure the virtual machine for remote capturing with Setup Capture perform the following:

  1. Run PACE Suite Launcher either from the Start Menu or Desktop shortcut on your work station (PC).

    img_start-menu-shortcuts img_desktop-shortcuts

  2. Click Settings.

    launcher-settings

  3. In the opened window, switch to the VM for capturing tab and click Add to run the configuration wizard.

    launcher-capturing-vm-add

  4. In the opened wizard select Remote VMware ESXi and follow the listed instructions.

    setup-capture-configure-esxi-1


PREREQUISITES AND CONFIGURATION INSTRUCTIONS FOR VIRTUAL MACHINE:

  • (1 of 5) Check Windows OS version.

    The supported operating system of the virtual machine is Windows that supports .NET 4.7.2 or newer:

    • Windows 10, version 1607 or newer

    • Windows 8.1

    • Windows 7 SP1

    • Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 or newer

    To check a version of your Windows, run winver command (Win + R).

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    Note

    It is recommended to use a clean Windows OS with a minimum set of preinstalled software in order to minimize the negative impact on capturing results.

  • (2 of 5) Check/install VMware Tools.

    VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine’s guest operating system and improves management of the virtual machine. Usually, these tools are already installed on virtual machines, which are hosted on VMware ESXi. If the tools are installed, you could either check their status on the Summary tab of vShpere client or find the VMware tools icon in the taskbar notification area.

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    If tools are not installed, see Installing and upgrading VMware Tools in vSphere online article.

  • (3 of 5) Run the automatic system configurator

    Copy the PACE Tuner for Setup Capture installer to the virtual machine and run it there to configure the system for the remote automated/manual capturing.

    Get PACE Tuner for Setup Capture clicking on the ‘PACE tuner’ link.

    setup-capture-configure-esxi-1-pacetuner By default, it is located at C:\Program Files (x86)\PACE Suite\Setup Capture\Tuner installation\PACE Tuner for Setup Cature.msi

    Warning

    PACE Tuner changes the security features of the operating system and must not be run on your work station (PC). The uninstall mechanism of PACE Tuner does not restore the changed security settings. Run PACE Tuner only on the virtual machine, which can be restored to the previous state.

    Find the list what PACE Tuner changes below in this article.

  • (4 of 5) Shut down the virtual machine

    Shut down the operating system of the virtual machine (Start > Power > Shut down).

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  • (5 of 5) Take a snapshot of the configured virtual machine

    Take a snapshot of the current state of virtual machine. Further, the virtual machine will be automatically restored to this snapshot before and after capturing. For more details, see Take a Snapshot in the vSphere Web Client or Take a Snapshot in the vSphere Client.

  1. Switch back to the Setup Capture wizard on your work station (PC) and tick the I have configured as requested checkbox. Then click Next.

    setup-capture-configure-esxi-1-configuredasrequested

  2. Specify the address, user name and password to connect to the VMware ESXi server. Then click Next.

    Note that the entered password will be encrypted with the auto-generated personal key.

    setup-capture-configure-esxi-2

  3. Using Browse… first select the configured virtual machine from the list, then select the previously taken snapshot of the configured state. Afterward, specify a user name and password to login into the operating system of the virtual machine and click Next.

    setup-capture-configure-esxi-3

  4. Wait a little, while Setup Capture is checking the connection and configuration of the virtual machine. Once the check is completed, click OK and Finish to close the wizard.

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    Now the virtual machine on VMware ESXi server is configured for remote capturing with Setup Capture.



LIST OF CHANGES MADE ON VIRTUAL MACHINE BY PACE TUNER:

  • Enables automatic login in Windows.

    Automatic login initialize the UI user session in which the specified source installation will be run and captured.

  • Disables User Account Control.

    Disabling the User Account Control (UAC) allows to run the specified source installation with the administrative privileges remotely in an unattended mode.

  • Disables non-essential services.

    Update, Search, Offline files, Security center, and Diagnostic policy services produce lots of system noise that could influence the capturing results.

  • Installs PACE broker service

    PACE broker service serves communication between Setup Capture and the virtual machine.



Note

PACE Suite covers the whole range of application packaging tasks - learn more.

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