How to create customized ESXi image: ISO or zip (bundle file) including 3rd VIB?

Sometimes we need to upgrade our ESXi hosts with installed 3rd vSphere Installation Bundle (VIBs). Before I show you how to customize ESXi image (using Image Builder), let's clarify some important things about VIBs. VIB is comprised of three parts:

1. A file archive - contains the files that make up the VIB.
2. An XML descriptor file - describes the contents of the VIB.
3. A signature file - is an electronic signature used to verify the level of trust associated with the VIB. There are four acceptance levels:

• VMwareCertified:  VIBs created and tested by VMware.
• VMwareAccepted:  VIBs created by a VMware partners that are approved by VMware.
• PartnerSupported:  VIBs created and tested by a trusted VMware partner.
• CommunitySupported:  VIBs created by individuals or partners outside of the VMware partner program.

ESXi image customization - prerequisites

There are two prerequisites:

• The VMware PowerCLI installed on a Windows platform. You can download it here.
• ESXi depot (.zip file). You can download it from https://my.vmware.com
• 3rd offline bundle (.zip file) including VIB(s). In my case Cisco VEM

Customizing ESXi image

OK, let's customize our ESXi image. I will add Cisco VEM to the ESXi image and export it to ISO and bundle .zip file.

1. Start the VMWare PowerCLI application.
   

   VMWare PowerCLI

2. Load the ESXi depot by using the command:

   Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -depoturl path_to_ESXi_bundle_zip

   

3. Display the image profiles by using the command:

   Get-EsxImageProfile

   

4. Load the Cisco Nexus 1000V VEM offline bundle by using the command:

   Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -depoturl path_to_3rd_bundle_zip

   

5. Clone the ESXi standard image profile by using the command:

   New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile Image_Profile_name -Name new_profile_name -Vendor vendor_name

   

6. Get VEM package name and add into the cloned image profile by using the commands:

   Get-EsxSoftwarePackage cisco*

   Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -SoftwarePackage package_name -ImageProfile Image_Profile_name

   

7. Export the image profile to an ISO and zip file by using the commands:

   Export-EsxImageProfile -ImageProfile Image_Profile_name -FilePath path_for_iso_file -ExportToIso

   Export-EsxImageProfile -ImageProfile Image_Profile_name -FilePath path_for_zip_file -ExportToBundle

   

We have created a customized ISO and bundle (.zip) files. Now you can use VMware Update Manager (VUM) or ESXCLI to install/deploy it on ESXi hosts. 🙂