I'm trying to setup a vSphere Client vCenter v5.0.0 Build 455964 Template Customization Specification using a Windows Sysprep unattended answer XML file for Win2008R2.
However I didn't know how Sysprep worked before attempting this so it was a time-consuming nightmare (even after reviewing VMware vSphere ESXi 5's documentation)!  I think I've figure out what I'm supposed to be doing, but it's still not working.  The biggest problem at this point is that vSphere Client vCenter Customization Specification IP address information is not sticking when I load a Sysprep XML file with just 1 basic setting!  This can only be a bug.
Here is the process I'm using:
PROCESS for Windows - vSphere Client  Install Windows OS  install VM Tools  customize Windows (GPOs can be used to do this after deployment)  install Applications (GPOs can be used to do this after deployment too)  shutdown the VM  convert the VM to a template  create a custom Windows Sysprep XML answer file with desired customizations  View  Management  Customization Specifications Manager  create "New" Specification  for "Target Virtual Machine OS" select Windows  check "Use Custom Sysprep Answer File" (ADDS: Custom Sysprep File. KEEPS: Network (IP), Operating System Options (SID, Sysprep /generalize). REPLACES: Registration Information of Owner Name & Organization, Computer Name, Windows License (Key), Administrator Password, Time Zone, Run Once, Workgroup or Domain)  name it as "VMwareCS-OS####R#x32/64w/Sysprep-TEST" (CS=Customization Specification)  set Description as "Created YYYY/MM/DD by FLast"  NEXT  import a Sysprep answer file from secure location  NEXT  Custom settings  NEXT  click "..." box to right of "Use DHCP"  set "Use the following IP settings:"  for "IP Address" fill out the first 2 octets  set appropriate values for other 2-3 fields  set DNS server addresses  OK  NEXT  check "Generate New Security ID (SID)" ALWAYS as template is likely a domain-member computer so it can be updated occasionally  NEXT  Finish  View Inventory  VMs and Templates  right-click previously completed template  Deploy Virtual Machine from this Template  provide the new OS name (max15char)  select inventory location  NEXT  select Host/Cluster (wait for validation to succeed)  NEXT  select Resource Pool (wait for validation to succeed)  NEXT  select Storage location  NEXT  check "Power on this virtual machine after creation"  select "Customize using an existing customization specification"  select desired specification  select "Use the Customization Wizard to temporarily adjust the specification before deployment"  NEXT  NEXT  Custom settings?  NEXT  check "Generate New Security ID (SID)" ALWAYS as template is likely a domain-member computer so it can be updated occasionally  NEXT  Finish  Finish.
I know a community member named "brian" (http://serverfault.com/users/25904/brian) has worked with this scenario before, but I couldn't figure out how to contact him directly, so Brian if you see this message could you provide some information to help?
Thanks,
Brian