wikiCreate an individual ESXi 5.0 Image with vSphere ESXi Image Builder
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With the VMware vSphere ESXi Image Builder it is possible to create individualized VMware ESXi images. In this article, we will show you how you can clone an existing image and add new or updated vSphere Installation Bundles (VIBs) to it and finally export it as an ISO or offline bundle.
vSphere PowerCLI 5.0
VMware vSphere ESXi Image Builder is a component of VMware vSphere PowerCLI 5.0.
VMware recommends setting the PowerShell execution policy to RemoteSigned after the installation of PowerCLI. To do this, right-click the VMware vSphere PowerCLI icon after installation and select Run As Administrator. After that, set the execution policy using the following command:
Set-ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned
You can now run VMware vSphere ESXi Image Builder.
vSphere ESXi Image Builder
The example will show how you update an Adaptec driver for an existing ESXi 5.0 (Build 469512) image and add an LSI CIM provider.
Note: Download the ESXi 5.0 offline bundle (zip file) as the initial image. The ISO cannot be used at the initial image.
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot
First, add the initial image as the software depot:
PowerCLI C:\> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot E:\vsphere-5-esxi\VMware-ESXi-5.0.0-469512-depot.zip Depot URL --------- zip:E:\vsphere-5-esxi\VMware-ESXi-5.0.0-469512-depot.zip?index.xml
Get-EsxImageProfile
The Get-EsxImageProfile command will now display the existing image profiles:
PowerCLI C:\> Get-EsxImageProfile Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level ---- ------ ------------- ---------------- ESXi-5.0.0-469512-no-tools VMware, Inc. 19.08.2011 0... PartnerSupported ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard VMware, Inc. 19.08.2011 0... PartnerSupported
From ESXi version 5.0 Update 1, images contain both the previous General image profile as well as the security-only image profile. The latter will be indicated by an s in the name.[1]
Add-EsxSoftwareDepot (Updated Driver, New CIM Provider)
You can add files to the offline bundle. Both offline bundle files used in this example came from the following sites:
- VMware ESXi 5.0 Driver for PMC-Sierra SAS RAID Controller (downloads.vmware.com)
- MegaRAID SAS 9260-4i (lsi.com) - download the VMWare SMIS Provider VIBCertified (OS:VMWare ESX 5.x) option from their Support & Downloads -> Management Software and Tools links.
Unpack the respective ZIP files in order to open the *offline_bundle*.zip files.
Afterwards, the bundles may simply be added:
PowerCLI C:\> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot E:\Adaptec\aacraid-1.0.1-offline_bundle-560288.zip Depot URL --------- zip:E:\Adaptec\aacraid-1.0.1-offline_bundle-560288.zip?index.xml PowerCLI C:\> Add-EsxSoftwareDepot E:\LSI\VMW-ESX-5.0.0-LSIProvider-500.04.V0.24-261033-offline_bundle-456178.zip Depot URL --------- zip:E:\LSI\VMW-ESX-5.0.0-LSIProvider-500.04.V0.24-261033-offline_bundle-4561...
New-EsxImageProfile
PowerCLI C:\> New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard -Name "ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons" Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level ---- ------ ------------- ---------------- ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons VMware, Inc. 19.08.2011 0... PartnerSupported
Get-EsxSoftwarePackage
PowerCLI C:\> Get-EsxSoftwarePackage Name Version Vendor Release Date ---- ------- ------ ------------ net-ixgbe 2.0.84.8.2-10vmw.500.0.0.46... VMware 19.08.201... ehci-ehci-hcd 1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-atiixp 0.4.6-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-megaraid2 2.00.4-9vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... uhci-usb-uhci 1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-r8168 8.013.00-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ohci-usb-ohci 1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-qla4xxx 5.01.03.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-sil680 0.4.8-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-megaraid-sas 4.32-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-mpt2sas 06.00.00.00-5vmw.500.0.0.46... VMware 19.08.201... scsi-aic79xx 3.1-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-megaraid-mbox 2.20.5.1-6vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-bnx2 2.0.15g.v50.11-5vmw.500.0.0... VMware 19.08.201... misc-drivers 5.0.0-0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-aacraid 5.0.5.1.7.28700-1OEM.500.0.... Adaptec... 17.12.201... scsi-fnic 1.5.0.3-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-lpfc820 8.2.2.1-18vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-hpsa 5.0.0-17vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-bnx2i 1.9.1d.v50.1-3vmw.500.0.0.4... VMware 19.08.201... sata-sata-sil 2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-igb 2.1.11.1-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-e1000e 1.1.2-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-forcedeth 0.61-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... sata-ata-piix 2.12-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-qla2xxx 901.k1.1-14vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-adp94xx 1.0.8.12-6vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-sky2 1.20-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ipmi-ipmi-msghandler 39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-be2net 4.0.88.0-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ipmi-ipmi-devintf 39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ipmi-ipmi-si-drv 39.1-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-nx-nic 4.0.557-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... sata-ahci 3.0-6vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-ips 7.12.05-4vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... LSIProvider 500.04.V0.24-261033 LSI 28.07.201... sata-sata-promise 2.12-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-cmd64x 0.2.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... sata-sata-svw 2.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-via 0.3.3-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... esx-tboot 5.0.0-0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-pdc2027x 1.0-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... misc-cnic-register 1.1-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-s2io 2.1.4.13427-3vmw.500.0.0.46... VMware 19.08.201... net-e1000 8.0.3.1-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... block-cciss 3.6.14-10vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-enic 1.4.2.15a-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-bnx2x 1.61.15.v50.1-1vmw.500.0.0.... VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-hpt3x2n 0.3.4-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... sata-sata-nv 3.5-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-serverworks 0.4.3-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-cnic 1.10.2j.v50.7-2vmw.500.0.0.... VMware 19.08.201... scsi-mptsas 4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-aacraid 1.1.5.1-9vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... tools-light 5.0.0-0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... ima-qla4xxx 2.01.07-1vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... esx-base 5.0.0-0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-tg3 3.110h.v50.4-4vmw.500.0.0.4... VMware 19.08.201... ata-pata-amd 0.3.10-3vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... net-r8169 6.011.00-2vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201... scsi-mptspi 4.23.01.00-5vmw.500.0.0.469512 VMware 19.08.201...
Add-EsxSoftwarePackage
PowerCLI C:\> Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons -SoftwarePackage scsi-aacraid Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level ---- ------ ------------- ---------------- ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons VMware, Inc. 20.03.2012 1... PartnerSupported PowerCLI C:\> Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons -SoftwarePackage LSIProvider Name Vendor Last Modified Acceptance Level ---- ------ ------------- ---------------- ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons VMware, Inc. 20.03.2012 1... PartnerSupported
Compare-EsxImageProfile
PowerCLI C:\> Compare-EsxImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons
Equal : False
PackagesEqual : False
RefAcceptanceLevel : PartnerSupported
CompAcceptanceLevel : PartnerSupported
OnlyInRef : {}
OnlyInComp : {LSI_bootbank_LSIProvider_500.04.V0.24-261033}
UpgradeFromRef : {Adaptec_Inc_bootbank_scsi-aacraid_5.0.5.1.7.28700-1OEM.5
00.0.0.406165}
DowngradeFromRef : {}
Export-EsxImage-Profile
PowerCLI C:\> Export-EsxImageProfile -ImageProfile ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons -FilePath E:\ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons.iso -ExportToIso
PowerCLI C:\> dir E:\ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons.iso
Directory: E:\
Mode LastWriteTime Length Name
---- ------------- ------ ----
----- 20.03.2012 16:04 313225216 ESXi-5.0.0-469512-RAID-Addons.iso
Alternatives
The Windows Tool ESXi-Customizer can integrate VIBs in individual ISOs:
References
- ↑ VMware ESXi 5.0, Patch ESXi50-Update01: VMware ESXi 5.0 Complete Update 1 (VMware Knowledge Base)
Additional Information
- Using vSphere ESXi Image Builder CLI (pubs.vmware.com)
- VMware vSphere 5–Using Image Builder For Custom Installation (virtualbill.wordpress.com)
Related articles
Current version information VMware vSphere 5
Esxcli - Display Installed VIBs
Esxcli - Installing VIB on an ESXi 5.0 host
