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Create a Windows Template

Build a reusable Windows template from your own installation media. For what each setting means, see Templates.

Supply Your Windows Media​

Gallium does not distribute Windows media, so you provide a Windows or Windows Server ISO you are licensed to use. Supported releases are Windows Server 2016 through 2025 and Windows 10 and 11.

Create the Draft​

  1. Go to Inventory > Templates and select Create Template.
  2. Enter a Template Name and an optional Description.
  3. Set Operating System Type to Windows and set Minimum Memory to at least 4 GB.
  4. Turn on Cloud-Init Support. On Cluster and Standalone, this makes the Windows Configuration fields available when you create a virtual machine from the template.
  5. Select Configure Disks to save the draft.

Add the Disks for Your Deployment Target​

Windows does not include the VirtIO drivers by default, so how the drivers reach the guest depends on where you deploy the template. Add the disks in the order you want them attached:

  • Cluster or Standalone: add your Windows ISO with Upload ISO, then Add Blank Disk for the OS disk of at least 32 GB. The VirtIO drivers and QEMU guest agent are injected automatically during setup. See Windows Configuration for Cluster or Standalone.
  • Edge: add your Windows ISO and the VirtIO driver ISO with Upload ISO, then Add Blank Disk for the OS disk of at least 32 GB. Edge does not inject drivers, so you load them during installation. See Windows Configuration for the driver download and the in-guest steps.

If you might deploy the same template to Edge, include the VirtIO driver ISO; it does no harm on Cluster or Standalone.

Finalize the Template​

Select Finalize Template. The template becomes immutable and is ready to deploy.