# Create a VMware VM from a template using cloud-config or ignition?

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/create-a-vmware-vm-from-a-template-using-cloud-config-or-ignition/3866>\
**Category:** Get Help\
**Tags:** vmware, collections\
**Created:** [February 14, 2024, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/create-a-vmware-vm-from-a-template-using-cloud-config-or-ignition/3866 "2024-02-14T08:01:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![kastl-ars](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/kastl-ars/32/2315_2.png) [@kastl-ars](https://forum.ansible.com/u/kastl-ars)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 8:01am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/create-a-vmware-vm-from-a-template-using-cloud-config-or-ignition/3866/1 "2024-02-14T08:01:52Z")

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Hi everyone,

using the `community.vmware.vmware_guest` module and the [example from the docs](https://docs.ansible.com/ansible/latest/collections/community/vmware/docsite/vmware_scenarios/vmware_scenarios.html) I could successfully create a VM in vSphere.

I failed to find any hint on how to hand over cloud-init or ignition files to allow customization of the VM.

Is this just hidden somewhere I did not find it? Or is it simply not possible?

Kind Regards  
Johannes

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**Author:** ![mariolenz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/mariolenz/32/108_2.png) [@mariolenz](https://forum.ansible.com/u/mariolenz)\
**Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/create-a-vmware-vm-from-a-template-using-cloud-config-or-ignition/3866/2 "2024-02-14T19:06:07Z")

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It looks like it should be possible: [How to customize virtual machine using Cloud-init metadata and user data in vSphere 7.0 Update 3](https://kb.vmware.com/kb/82250)

But I don’t think this is implemented yet. I’m not 100%, though… might be possible somehow.

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**Author:** ![kastl-ars](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/kastl-ars/32/2315_2.png) [@kastl-ars](https://forum.ansible.com/u/kastl-ars)\
**Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 5:33am UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/create-a-vmware-vm-from-a-template-using-cloud-config-or-ignition/3866/3 "2024-02-15T05:33:46Z")

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Hi Mario,

in general (from VMware side) it is possible, I can use ignition or cloud-init configuration (depending on the OS) in Terraform with “regular” templates or OVA templates.

It’s just that I found no hint on how to do that with Ansible…

Kind Regards,  
Johannes