Shared VM Templates for Hyper-V
Hyper-V has no built-in template sharing. eryph adds a template library with downloadable base VMs and team configurations.
Every Hyper-V team struggles with template sharing
No central library means duplicate work everywhere
Dev Teams
Can't share configs
Everyone rebuilds
IT Departments
No template library
Manual distribution
MSP Providers
Client templates isolated
Can't reuse work
Training Centers
Instructor templates
Not shareable
The Pattern
Every organization hits the same wall: Manual VM provisioning doesn't scale. What starts as "just a few VMs" becomes a full-time job, blocking your team from actual work.
Ready to enable template sharing?
Give your Hyper-V the template library it deserves
Hyper-V golden image limitations
Why traditional Hyper-V templates hit a wall with complex environments
Static Templates Only
Golden images are fixed snapshots, can't be composed or extended
→ Limited reusability
No Template Hierarchy
Can't build one template from another
→ Duplicate base configurations
Manual Golden Image Updates
Must rebuild entire image for any change
→ Time-consuming maintenance
No Configuration Inheritance
Each template contains full OS + app configuration
→ Large, monolithic images
Template Sprawl
Need separate golden image for each environment type
→ Storage and management overhead
SCVMM = IT Bottleneck
Only IT admins can manage templates, not developers
→ Teams can't self-serve
eryph enables true template sharing
Download base VMs from genepool, add your configs, share with your team
Hyper-V Alone
- ✗No template library
- ✗Manual VHDX copying
- ✗Settings lost in transfer
- ✗No versioning
- ✗Can't build on others' work
- ✗IT bottleneck (SCVMM admin-only)
Hyper-V + eryph
- Central genepool library
- Download base catlets instantly
- Configuration travels with VM
- Full Git versioning
- Inherit and extend templates
- Everyone can share (not just IT)
How it works
1. Define as Code
VMs are YAML files, not binary images
2. Inherit & Extend
Base genes + your changes = new version
3. Version Control
Store in Git, track every change
4. Deploy Fast
5-minute deployments, every time
See it in action
# Base Windows template (reusable)
name: windows-base
parent: dbosoft/windows-2022/latest
fodder:
- source: gene:myorg/base-config
---
# SQL Server template (inherits everything from base)
name: windows-sql
parent: gene:myorg/windows-base
fodder:
- source: gene:myorg/sql-server-2022
---
# Dev environment (inherits from SQL)
name: windows-dev
parent: gene:myorg/windows-sql
fodder:
- source: gene:myorg/visual-studio
- source: gene:myorg/dev-tools
# Deploy any template in 5 minutes
gc windows-dev.yaml | New-Catlet
How eryph solves Hyper-V's template gap
Three simple concepts that transform template management:
1. Genepool Library
Download base VMs (catlets) from the public genepool
Limitation: Windows Server and Ubuntu ready to use, build your own on top
2. Configuration as Code
Define your customizations in YAML that travels with the template
Limitation: No more lost settings or manual reconfiguration
3. Template Inheritance
Build on base catlets or team templates without duplication
Limitation: Your improvements benefit everyone automatically
4. PowerShell Native
Manage everything through familiar PowerShell cmdlets
Limitation: No new tools to learn, works with existing scripts
The eryph Solution:
Example: Define a YAML config with `parent: dbosoft/ubuntu-22.04`, then `gc yourconfig.yaml | New-Catlet` downloads the Ubuntu base, applies your team settings, and deploys in 5 minutes. Share configs via Git, not 50GB files.
Template sharing transforms team productivity
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything about shared VM templates for Hyper-V
Still have questions?
Contact our expertsEnable Template Sharing Today
Join teams building shared VM libraries without SCVMM complexity.
Your potential time savings:
*Based on 30 VMs/month at $50/hour