InputObject2 · November 12, 2025 04:27 · Nov 12, 2025 · May 16, 2020 · May 16, 2020 · May 16, 2020
diff --git a/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1 b/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ function Create-VM {
     param($VMObject, $vmname, $path)
 
     Write-host "Creating new virtual machine." -NoNewline
-    New-VM -Name $vmname -MemoryStartupBytes ([int]($VMInfo.startMemory)*1GB) -BootDevice VHD -VHDPath "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx" -Path "$path\" -Generation 2 -SwitchName (Get-VMSwitch -SwitchType External).name | out-null
+    New-VM -Name $vmname -MemoryStartupBytes ([int]($VMInfo.startMemory)*1GB) -BootDevice VHD -VHDPath "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx" -Path "$path\" -Generation 2 -SwitchName (Get-VMSwitch -SwitchType External).name | out-null
     Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
 }
 
@@ -139,20 +139,20 @@ function Get-NextVMNumber {
     return $prefix.ToUpper()
 }
 
-function Add-VMVHD {
+function Add-VMVHD {
     param($vmname, $path, $parent)
 
     if(-not (Test-Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx")) {
 
         if (-not (Test-Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks")) { New-Item -Force -ItemType Directory -Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks" | out-null }
         Write-host "Creating new VHD from parent $parent." -NoNewline
-        New-VHD –Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx" –ParentPath $parent –Differencing | Out-null
+        New-VHD -Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx" -ParentPath $parent -Differencing | Out-null
 
         Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
     }
 }
 
-function Set-VMProperties {
+function Set-VMProperties {
     param($VMObject, $vmname)
 
     Write-host "Customizing virtual machine." -NoNewline
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ function Set-VMProperties {
     Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
 }
 
-function Set-VMNetworkProperties {
+function Set-VMNetworkProperties {
     param($vmname)
     # This function sets the VLAN
 

diff --git a/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1 b/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ users:
     sc "$($path)\Bits\meta-data" ([byte[]][char[]] "$metadata") -Encoding Byte
     sc "$($path)\Bits\user-data" ([byte[]][char[]] "$userdata") -Encoding Byte
 
-    # Create meta data ISO image
+    # Create meta data ISO image - this thing apparently outputs in stderr so it shows as red but it's not errors, it's just the progress for it.
     & $oscdimgPath "$($path)\Bits" $metaDataIso -j2 -lcidata | Out-null
 }
 

diff --git a/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1 b/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@ function Get-Info {
     $DynamicMemory = Read-Host "Dynamic Memory ? (y/n) " 
     Switch ($DynamicMemory) 
      { 
-       Y {Write-host -foreground green "Yes, let's use a modern OS!`n"; $dynMem=$true} 
-       N {Write-Host -foreground yellow "No, I'm gonna be using some weirdly done apps or a database.`n"; $dynMem=$false} 
+       Y {Write-host -foreground green "Yes, dynamic memory!`n"; $dynMem=$true} 
+       N {Write-Host -foreground yellow "No, I want to set min and max and startup memory.`n"; $dynMem=$false} 
        Default {Write-Host -foreground yellow "Default is that we're using it, because we believe in the power of Myth !`n"; $dynMem=$true} 
      }
 

diff --git a/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1 b/Create-Unix-VM-cloud-init.ps1
@@ -0,0 +1,201 @@
+<#
+Create Unix VM's.
+
+PREREQUISITES:
+    - A VM that has been installed with an OS that supports cloud-init
+    - cloud-init is installed on the vm
+
+How it works:
+    - Asks for a bunch of parameters
+    - Creates a disk from parent vhdx for speed
+    - Gets the vm name from the params and the existing vm with matching name
+    - Creates a cloud-init config for the vm (currently sets only hostname and ansible user ssh key)
+    - Sets up everything then starts the vm
+    - if you ask for more than one, it creates in sequence
+
+WHAT TO DO: 
+    - Replace the values for baseVMpath, parentDiskPath and sshPubKey then run the script.
+
+FUTURE THINGS TO WORK ON :
+    - Adding parameters for baseVMpath, parentDiskPath and sshPubKey
+    - Adding the option to pass the other info in parameters as well so you don't have to redo it by hand
+        -> with 2 parameter sets, depending on dynamic memory or not
+
+Helpful links (much thanks to the people who wrote these) :
+    - https://computingforgeeks.com/how-to-create-centos-8-kvm-image-template-for-openstack/
+    - https://devops.ionos.com/tutorials/deploy-a-centos-server-customized-with-cloud-init/
+    - https://cloudinit.readthedocs.io/en/latest/topics/examples.html
+    - https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/Virtualization-Documentation/blob/master/hyperv-samples/benarm-powershell/Ubuntu-VM-Build/BaseUbuntuBuild.ps1
+#>
+
+function Get-Info {
+
+    clear
+
+    $DynamicMemory = Read-Host "Dynamic Memory ? (y/n) " 
+    Switch ($DynamicMemory) 
+     { 
+       Y {Write-host -foreground green "Yes, let's use a modern OS!`n"; $dynMem=$true} 
+       N {Write-Host -foreground yellow "No, I'm gonna be using some weirdly done apps or a database.`n"; $dynMem=$false} 
+       Default {Write-Host -foreground yellow "Default is that we're using it, because we believe in the power of Myth !`n"; $dynMem=$true} 
+     }
+
+     if($dynMem) {
+        $maxMem = Read-Host "Maximum memory ? (GB) "
+        $minMem = Read-Host "Minimum memory ? (GB) "
+        $startMem = Read-Host "Startup memory ? (GB) "
+     } else {
+        $startMem = Read-Host "Memory ? (GB) "
+     }
+
+     $cores = Read-Host "vCPU's ? (Cores) "
+     $prefix = Read-Host "Prefix to use for these ? (A string) "
+
+    $VMObject = New-Object -TypeName psobject
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "UseDynamicMemory" -Value $dynMem
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "maxMemory" -Value $([int]$maxMem)
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "minMemory" -Value $([int]$minMem)
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "startMemory" -Value $([int]$startMem)
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "cores" -Value $([int]$cores)
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "nestedVirtualization" -Value $false
+    $VMObject | Add-Member -MemberType NoteProperty -Name "prefix" -Value $prefix
+
+    return $VMObject
+}
+
+function Setup-VM {
+    param($VMObject, $basepath, $parent, $sshPubKey)
+
+    $vmname = Get-NextVMNumber($VMObject.prefix)
+    $path = "$basepath\$vmname"
+
+    write-host "Starting script...`n`nThis will create a VM with name $vmname.`nLet's go!`n`n"
+
+    Add-VMVHD -vmname $vmname -path $path -parent $parent
+    Create-VM -VMObject $VMObject -vmname $vmname -path $path
+    Create-CloudInit -vmname $vmname -path $path -sshPubKey $sshPubKey
+    Set-VMProperties -VMObject $VMObject -vmname $vmname
+    Set-VMNetworkProperties -vmname $vmname
+    Add-VMDvdDrive -VMName $vmname
+    Set-VMDvdDrive -VMName $vmname -path "$($path)\metadata.iso"
+    Start-VM $vmname
+
+}
+
+function Create-VM {
+    param($VMObject, $vmname, $path)
+
+    Write-host "Creating new virtual machine." -NoNewline
+    New-VM -Name $vmname -MemoryStartupBytes ([int]($VMInfo.startMemory)*1GB) -BootDevice VHD -VHDPath "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx" -Path "$path\" -Generation 2 -SwitchName (Get-VMSwitch -SwitchType External).name | out-null
+    Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
+}
+
+function Create-CloudInit {
+    param(
+        $vmname,
+        $path,
+        $sshPubKey
+    )
+
+    $oscdimgPath = "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Kits\8.1\Assessment and Deployment Kit\Deployment Tools\amd64\Oscdimg\oscdimg.exe"
+    $metaDataIso = "$($path)\metadata.iso"
+
+$metadata = @"
+instance-id: uuid-$([GUID]::NewGuid())
+local-hostname: $($vmname)
+"@
+
+$userdata = @"
+#cloud-config
+users:
+  - name: ansible
+    gecos: ansible
+    sudo: ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
+    groups: users, admin
+    ssh_import_id: None
+    lock_passwd: true
+    ssh_authorized_keys:
+      - $sshPubKey
+"@
+
+    # Output meta and user data to files
+    if(-not (Test-Path "$($path)\Bits")) {New-Item -ItemType Directory "$($path)\Bits" | out-null}
+    sc "$($path)\Bits\meta-data" ([byte[]][char[]] "$metadata") -Encoding Byte
+    sc "$($path)\Bits\user-data" ([byte[]][char[]] "$userdata") -Encoding Byte
+
+    # Create meta data ISO image
+    & $oscdimgPath "$($path)\Bits" $metaDataIso -j2 -lcidata | Out-null
+}
+
+function Get-NextVMNumber {
+    param($prefix)
+
+    if((Get-VM -name "$prefix*").count -gt 0){
+       $prefix += (([int](get-vm -name "$prefix*" | select @{ Label = 'Number' ;Expression = { $_.VMName.Substring($prefix.length,2) } } | sort number | select -Last 1).number) + 1).tostring().padleft(2,"0")
+    } else {
+        $prefix += "01"
+    }
+
+    return $prefix.ToUpper()
+}
+
+function Add-VMVHD {
+    param($vmname, $path, $parent)
+
+    if(-not (Test-Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx")) {
+
+        if (-not (Test-Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks")) { New-Item -Force -ItemType Directory -Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks" | out-null }
+        Write-host "Creating new VHD from parent $parent." -NoNewline
+        New-VHD –Path "$path\Virtual Hard Disks\$vmname.vhdx" –ParentPath $parent –Differencing | Out-null
+
+        Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
+    }
+}
+
+function Set-VMProperties {
+    param($VMObject, $vmname)
+
+    Write-host "Customizing virtual machine." -NoNewline
+
+    if($VMInfo.UseDynamicMemory) { Set-VMMemory -VMName $vmname -MaximumBytes ([int]($VMInfo.maxMemory)*1GB) -DynamicMemoryEnabled $true -MinimumBytes ([int]($VMInfo.minMemory)*1GB) }
+    Set-VM -VMname $vmname -ProcessorCount $VMInfo.cores -AutomaticStopAction ShutDown -AutomaticStartAction StartIfRunning -AutomaticStartDelay (Get-Random -Minimum 100 -Maximum 800)
+    Set-VMFirmware -VMName $vmname -EnableSecureBoot Off -FirstBootDevice (get-VMHardDiskDrive -VMName $vmname)
+    Get-VM -VMname $vmname | Enable-VMIntegrationService -Name *
+
+    if($VMInfo.nestedvirtualisation) { Set-VMProcessor -VMName $vmname -ExposeVirtualizationExtensions $true }
+
+    Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
+}
+
+function Set-VMNetworkProperties {
+    param($vmname)
+    # This function sets the VLAN
+
+    Write-host "Customizing networking." -NoNewline
+    Set-VMNetworkAdapterVlan -VlanId 1 -VMName $vmname -Access
+    Write-Host -ForegroundColor Green " Done."
+}
+
+#=====================================
+# The fun starts here
+#=====================================
+$baseVMpath = "D:\Virtual Machines\"
+$parentDiskPath = "D:\Virtual Machines Templates\Centos8.vhdx"
+# this is a full public key : ssh-rsa AAA[...]=="
+$sshPubKey = ""
+
+$VMInfo = Get-Info
+
+$total = Read-Host "How many VM do you want ? (1-...) "
+Write-Host "Starting timer.`n"
+$stopwatch =  [system.diagnostics.stopwatch]::StartNew()
+
+For ($i=1; $i -le $total; $i++) {
+
+    Write-host "Creating VM $i of $total."    
+    Setup-VM -VMObject $VMInfo -basepath $baseVMpath -parent $parentDiskPath -sshPubKey $sshPubKey
+
+}   
+
+$stopwatch.Stop()
+Write-host "Total time : $([math]::Round($stopwatch.Elapsed.TotalSeconds,0)) seconds for $many Virtual machines."