Specifications

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 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, a
CommunitySupported VIB might not be recommended for an ESXi server in a production environment.
VMware supports the following acceptance levels.
VMwareCertified
The VMwareCertified acceptance level has the most stringent requirements.
VIBs with this level go through thorough testing fully equivalent to VMware
in-house Quality Assurance testing for the same technology. Today, only
IOVP drivers are published at this level. VMware takes support calls for VIBs
with this acceptance level.
VMwareAccepted
VIBs with this acceptance level go through verification testing, but the tests
do not fully test every function of the software. The partner runs the tests
and VMware verifies the result. Today, CIM providers and PSA plugins are
among the VIBs published at this level. VMware directs support calls for
VIBs with this acceptance level to the partner's support organization.
PartnerSupported
VIBs with the PartnerSupported acceptance level are published by a partner
that VMware trusts. The partner performs all testing. VMware does not
verify the results. This level is used for a new or nonmainstream technology
that partners want to enable for VMware systems. Today, driver VIB
technologies such as Infiniband, ATAoE, and SSD are at this level with
nonstandard hardware drivers. VMware directs support calls for VIBs with
this acceptance level to the partner's support organization.
CommunitySupported
The Community Supported acceptance level is for VIBs created by
individuals or companies outside of VMware partner programs. VIBs at this
level have not gone through any VMware-approved testing program and are
not supported by VMware Technical Support or by a VMware partner.
Table 6‑8. VIB Acceptance Levels Required to Install on Hosts
Host Acceptance
Level
VMwareCertified
VIB
VMwareAccepted
VIB
PartnerSupported
VIB
CommunitySupporte
d VIB
VMwareCertified x
VMwareAccepted x x
PartnerSupported x x x
CommunitySupported x x x x
Match a Host Acceptance Level with an Update Acceptance Level
You can change the host acceptance level to match the acceptance level for a VIB or image profile that you
want to install. The acceptance level of all VIBs on a host must be at least as high as the host acceptance
level.
Use this procedure to determine the acceptance levels of the host and the VIB or image profile to install, and
to change the acceptance level of the host, if necessary for the update.
vSphere Upgrade
134 VMware, Inc.