Let's say I want to create a number of VMs for different potential user groups. Each group needs some unique configuration, however each VM will share the same basic configuration. For example:
- Windows 7
- Latest Windows updates
- IE 9
- A few global software tools (that all users in the organization need)
Ideally, I would have a single "base VM" with all the above components, and then I would create additional VMs with specific additions (software for specific user groups, departments, etc).
So if I want to create 3 unique images for Departments X, Y and Z, I would already have a base VM to start from in each case, rather than have to do 3 complete VM installations from scratch.
How should I handle this? Should I just create the base VM and then copy/paste it on my PC, rename it and tweak it further for each VM? Are differencing images related to this at all?
Just trying to find out what the best practices are here rather than waste time (and hard drive space) on lots of duplicate VMs.
Thanks
Jesse