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title description services documentationcenter author manager editor ms.assetid ms.service ms.workload ms.tgt_pltfrm ms.devlang ms.topic ms.date ms.author
Comparing custom images and formulas in DevTest Labs | Microsoft Docs
Learn about the differences between custom images and formulas as VM bases so you can decide which one best suits your environment.
devtest-lab,virtual-machines
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tomarcher
douge
a3cb259a-7d80-40ec-8ee8-45105704d589
devtest-lab
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article
11/25/2016
tarcher

Comparing custom images and formulas in DevTest Labs

Overview

Both custom images and formulas can be used as bases for created new VMs. However, the key distinction between custom images and formulas is that a custom image is simply an image based on a VHD, while a formula is an image based on a VHD in addition to preconfigured settings - such as VM Size, virtual network and subnet, artifacts, and so on. These preconfigured settings are set up with default values that can be overridden at the time of VM creation. This article explains some of the advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons) to using custom images versus using formulas.

Custom image pros and cons

Custom images provide a a static, immutable way to create VMs from a desired environment.

Pros

  • VM provisioning from a custom image is fast as nothing changes after the VM is spun up from the image. In other words, there are no settings to apply as the custom image is simply an image without settings.
  • VMs created from a single custom image are identical.

Cons

  • If you need to update some aspect of the custom image, the image must be recreated.

Formula pros and cons

Formulas provide a dynamic way to create VMs from the desired configuration/settings.

Pros

  • Changes in the environment can be captured on the fly via artifacts. For example, if you want a VM installed with the latest bits from your release pipeline or enlist the latest code from your repository, you can simply specify an artifact that deploys the latest bits or enlists the latest code in the formula together with a target base image. Whenever this formula is used to create VMs, the latest bits/code are deployed/enlisted to the VM.
  • Formulas can define default settings that custom images cannot provide - such as VM sizes and virtual network settings.
  • The settings saved in a formula are shown as default values, but can be modified when the VM is created.

Cons

  • Creating a VM from a formula can take more time than creating a VM from a custom image.

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