Specifications

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vSphere Command-Line Interface Reference is a reference to vicfg- and related vCLI commands.
NOTE If you press Ctrl+C while an esxcli command is running, the command-line interface exits to a new
prompt without displaying a message. However, the command continues to run to completion.
For ESXi hosts deployed with vSphere Auto Deploy, the tools VIB must be part of the base booting image
used for the initial Auto Deploy installation. The tools VIB cannot be added separately later.
VIBs, Image Profiles, and Software Depots
Upgrading ESXi with esxcli commands requires an understanding of VIBs, image profiles, and software
depots.
The following technical terms are used throughout the vSphere documentation set in discussions of
installation and upgrade tasks.
VIB
A VIB is an ESXi software package. VMware and its partners package
solutions, drivers, CIM providers, and applications that extend the ESXi
platform as VIBs. VIBs are available in software depots. You can use VIBs to
create and customize ISO images or to upgrade ESXi hosts by installing VIBs
asynchronously onto the hosts.
Image Profile
An image profile defines an ESXi image and consists of VIBs. An image
profile always includes a base VIB, and might include more VIBs. You
examine and define an image profile using the Image Builder PowerCLI.
Software Depot
A software depot is a collection of VIBs and image profiles. The software
depot is a hierarchy of files and folders and can be available through an
HTTP URL (online depot) or a ZIP file (offline depot). VMware and VMware
partners make depots available. Companies with large VMware installations
might create internal depots to provision ESXi hosts with vSphere Auto
Deploy, or to export an ISO for ESXi installation.
Understanding Acceptance Levels for VIBS and Hosts
Each VIB is released with an acceptance level that cannot be changed. The host acceptance level determines
which VIBs can be installed to a host.
The acceptance level applies to individual VIBs installed by using the esxcli software vib install and
esxcli software vib update commands, to VIBs installed using vSphere Update Manager, and to VIBs in
image profiles.
The acceptance level of all VIBs on a host must be at least as high as the host acceptance level. For example,
if the host acceptance level is VMwareAccepted, you can install VIBs with acceptance levels of
VMwareCertified and VMwareAccepted, but you cannot install VIBs with acceptance levels of
PartnerSupported or CommunitySupported. To install a VIB with a less restrictive acceptance level than that
of the host, you can change the acceptance level of the host by using the vSphere Web Client or by running
esxcli software acceptance commands.
Setting host acceptance levels is a best practice that allows you to specify which VIBs can be installed on a
host and used with an image profile, and the level of support you can expect for a VIB. For example, you
would probably set a more restrictive acceptance level for hosts in a production environment than for hosts
in a testing environment.
Chapter 7 Upgrading and Migrating Your Hosts
VMware, Inc. 201