How to Update The Provisioning Services (PVS) Agent or Hypervisor Tools The Easy Way

Either you are updating the Provisioning Services (PVS) client on a target device or you are updating the hypervisor tools, there are a few methods to choose from.  One of the quickest and least error prone (in my opinion) methods to perform this is by using the VHD attach method.  This method works with XenServer, Hyper-V, and VMware.  I have also used this method using PVS 5.6 and 6.1.  Instead of reverse imaging, or keeping a master VM to re-image from, all you need is the latest merged VHD.  I say merged because you will need to perform a merge (versions + base) into a single VHD if using PVS 6.1. Below are the steps to perform this in a XenServer or VMware environment.  Hyper-V is almost self-explanatory, as you can boot to the VHD without much effort.

VMware

I have used this method to migrate PVS images from VMware 4.x to 5.x, updating the VMware tools and hardware versions as well as applying PVS agent hotfixes.  This method is a bit more involved than using Hyper-V or XenServer, but it works well.

1. Merge all versions and the base image into one VHD from within PVS.
2. Download and install WinImage.  There is a 30 day trial for WinImage, which should be fine to complete this process.
3. Using WinImage, convert the VHD file to VMDK.
4. Copy the VMDK file to the VMware datastore.
5. Create a new VM using the VMDK you just copied.
6. Log in with the local administrator account (you may have to rejoin the domain).
7. Uninstall the PVS agent and reboot.
8. Install any VMware tools updates or VMware hardware version updates.
9. Install the PVS agent.
10. At this point you can either copy the VMDK image and use WinImage to convert the image back to VHD, or use the PVS agent wizard.

XenServer

Using XenServer is a bit quicker than using VMware as you don't have to perform any VHD conversions.

1. Create a NFS share on the PVS server:
1. Windows 2003:
1. Using WinSCP, copy the following files from XenServer to the desktop:
1. /etc/passwd
2. /etc/group
2. Install NFS on Windows:
1. Launch the Add/Remove Windows Components Wizard in the Control Panel
2. Select the following:
1. Other Network File and Print Services | Microsoft Services for NFS
2. Other Network File and Print Services | Microsoft Services for NFS | User name mapping
3. Configure NFS:
1. Open Microsoft Services for NFS.
2. Right-click "User name mapping" and click "Properties".
3. Select "Use password and group files".
4. Browse to the passwd file you downloaded to your desktop for the password file.
5. Browse to the group file you downloaded to your desktop for the group file.
6. Click "OK".
7. Right-click "User maps" and click "Create map".
8. Verify the domain and select an administrator account.
9. For the Unix user specify "root".
10. Click "Add".
4. Create a NFS share:
1. Create a new directory.
2. Right-click the new directory and select "NFS Sharing" tab.
3. Select "Share this folder".
4. Check "Allow anonymous access".
5. Click "Permissions".
6. Check "Allow root access".
7. Set the "Type of access:" to "Read-Write".
8. Click "OK".
9. Click "OK".
2. Windows 2008:
1. Install the file role service "Services for Network File System".
2. Create a NFS share:
1. Create a directory.
2. Right-click the directory and select "NFS Sharing" tab.
3. Enable sharing and specify a name.
4. Click "Manage NFS Sharing".
5. Click "Permissions".
6. Set "Type of access" to "Read-Write"
7. Check "Allow root access".
8. Click "OK".
9. Click "OK".
10. Click "OK".
2. Create a new SR in XenServer and point to the NFS share you created earlier.  Remember, the NFS share is case sensitive.
3. Create a new VM in XenServer with the same specifications as the existing target devices.  Choose the new NFS SR to hold the vDisk for this VM.  Do not start this VM automatically.
4. Within PVS, set the image you want to update to private mode.
5. Copy or cut the VHD to the NFS share directory.  You should see another VHD in the NFS share directory with the UUID of that VHD.
6. Rename the VHD you just copied into the NFS share directory with the same name of the VHD that was created when you created the VM within XenServer.
7. Boot the VM within XenServer.
8. Uninstall the PVS agent.
9. Restart the VM and update any hypervisor tools.
10. Install the new PVS agent.
11. Shutdown the VM and cut or copy the VHD back to the PVS store and rename it appropriately back to the original name.
12. Boot to the image using one of your target devices to make sure all is working and then close the image as you normally do.