Templates

Available templates

In addition to the option of installing virtual machines (VMs) from an ISO file, we provide a selection of templates in the images catalog. These are regenerated regularly and optimized for use within the nEC.

The following templates are currently available:

• Windows Server 2019 Standard/Datacenter English/German (Core)
• Windows Server 2022 Standard/Datacenter English/German (Core)
• Windows Server 2025 Standard English
• Debian 12 and 13
• AlmaLinux 8 and 9
• Ubuntu 22.04 LTS / 24.04 / 26.04 LTS

Important notes about the templates

Linux (Debian, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux)

• The templates are recreated every Sunday.
• Configuration uses both cloud-init and the OS Guest Customizations of open-vm-tools. Specifically, network configuration is done via open-vm-tools, while further customization is performed by cloud-init.
• For the customizations to be applied at VM startup, this must be explicitly enabled under Guest OS Customization.
• The cloud-init default user is noris.
• During template provisioning, the following attributes can be passed:
  • ssh-keys: SSH public keys to be deployed for the root user as well as the default user.
  • password: initial password for the default user, must be changed after the first login.
  • user-data: cloud-init configuration (see the cloud-init documentation).
  • user-data Encoding: defines how the user-data parameter is encoded. base64 or base64 with gzip (gzip+base64).

Windows

• Licensing is handled automatically via Microsoft SPLA licenses and billed via cloud points (Microsoft SPLA End User License Terms).
• OS Guest Customizations are disabled by default, an administrator password must be set when the virtual machine starts.
• The templates are recreated on the 3rd day of every month.
• A full reference of the settings can be found in the following section.

Windows templates: settings reference

This reference lists the VMware and deployment settings of the Windows templates.

VMware settings

• NIC type: templates ship without a network adapter, one must be added manually (type vmxnet3).
• Memory HotPlug enabled.
• CPU HotPlug enabled.
• VMware Tools: checked and updated before every power-on.
• The VM setting “Devices.Hotplug” is disabled, adding network adapters while the VM is running is therefore not possible.

Settings applied via MDT deployment

• Windows feature “Telnet Client” installed.
• At least .NET Framework 4.8 installed.
• Time zone: W. Europe Standard Time.
• VMware Tools installed.
• Windows Update: automatic download, manual installation.

Settings applied via custom scripts

Networking:

• RDP allowed.
• NLA for RDP disabled.
• IPv6 tunnel interfaces disabled.

Performance options:

• Adjusted for best performance.
• Automatic pagefile management.
• Power options set to “High Performance”.
• Hibernation disabled (powercfg.exe /h off).
• Startup and recovery: default value reduced from 30 to 5 seconds for faster reboots. Write debugging information: small memory dump (256 KB).
• System drive indexing disabled.

Internet Explorer:

• Enhanced Security Configuration turned off for administrators, left on for users.
• Google set as the default search engine.

Windows Firewall:

• ICMP rules enabled (IPv4 & IPv6).
• RDP rules enabled.

Local administrator: password valid for one day only.

Windows Explorer settings:

• File extensions shown.
• Hidden files shown.
• Starts with the “This PC” overview.
• Notification area: always show all icons and notifications on the taskbar.

Server Manager autostart: disabled.

Other settings:

• Data collection/telemetry services and scheduled tasks disabled.
• SMBv1 disabled.
• Automatic activation with SPLA product key.
• Extended event logs for System & Application (retention 7 days, maximum size 100 MB, overflow behavior: overwrite oldest entries).