Administrators use vSphere Auto Deploy to define the rules that assign image profiles and host profiles to hosts.
Sends information to the vSphere Auto Deploy server which image profile and which host profile to serve to which host. The vSphere Auto Deploy infrastructure consists of several components.įor more information, watch the video "Auto Deploy Architecture": Use the host profile UI to check the host profile compliance, and respond to the prompt to customize the host. When vSphere Auto Deploy applies a host profile that requires user provided information, the host is placed in maintenance mode. You can create a host profile that requires user input for certain values. Host customization information, stored by vCenter Server during first boot. State that is based on user input, for example, an IP address that the user provides when the system starts up, cannot automatically be included in the host profile. Virtual machine information sent by vCenter Server to vSphere Auto Deploy must be available to supply virtual machine information to vSphere Auto Deploy. The virtual machines stored on a host and virtual machine autostart information (subsequent boots only). The runtime state that is generated by the running software, for example, generated private keys or runtime databases. Host profile, created by using the host profile UI.
The configurable settings that determine how the host is configured, for example, virtual switches and their settings, driver settings, boot parameters, and so on. Image profile, created with vSphere ESXi Image Builder.
The executable software to run on an ESXi host. vSphere Auto Deploy Stores Information for Deployment Information Type Information about the location of image profiles and host profiles is initially specified in the rules that map machines to image profiles and host profiles. VSphere Auto Deploy stores the information for the ESXi hosts to be provisioned in different locations. Instead, the vSphere Auto Deploy server manages state information for each host.
When you start a physical host that is set up for vSphere Auto Deploy, vSphere Auto Deploy uses PXE boot infrastructure in conjunction with vSphere host profiles to provision and customize that host.