6.0.1

VM Templates and vApp Templates in Content Libraries
In a content library you can store VM and vApp templates. You can use the VM and vApp templates to
deploy virtual machines and vApps in the vSphere inventory.
A VM template is a template of a virtual machine. The VM templates that exist in a VM template folder
differentiate from the VM templates that exist in a content library. A VM template that resides in a content
library is in OVF format and if you export it to your local system it is saved as an .ovf file. The VM
templates that exist in a VM template folder are not in OVF format but if you clone them to content library,
the resulting template is in an OVF format.
A vApp template is a template of a vApp, which can contain multiple virtual machines or multiple vApps.
A vApp template that resides in a content library is in OVF format, and if you export the template to your
local system it is saved as an .ovf file. vApp templates are inventory objects that exist only in content
libraries.
You can use VM templates and vApp templates to deploy virtual machines and vApps to a destination
object such as a host or a cluster.
Synchronize a Library Item in a Subscribed Library
To update or download the content of a library item you can synchronize it.
When creating the subscribed library, if you selected the option to download library content only when
needed, only metadata for the library contents is downloaded to the associated storage. When you need to
use the item, you synchronize it to download its content to your local storage. When you no longer need the
item, to free space on your storage you can delete the content of the item. You continue to see the item in
your subscribed library, but it no longer takes up space on your storage because only the items metadata
remains on the storage.
Prerequisites
n
Required privilege: Content library. Sync library item on the library item.
Procedure
1 In the vSphere Web Client navigator, select vCenter Inventory Lists > Content Libraries.
2 Select a subscribed library from the list, and click the Related Objects tab.
3 Synchronize the item you need to use.
n
On the Templates tab, right-click a VM or a vApp template, and select Synchronize Item.
n
On the Other Types tab, right-click an item, and select Synchronize Item.
After synchronization completes, the item content and metadata are downloaded to the backing storage of
the subscribed library, and in the Related Objects tab the value for the item in the Stored Content Locally
column changes to Yes.
Export Item from a Content Library to Your Local Computer
You might need to export an item from a content library to your local system.
Prerequisites
n
Required privilege: Content library. Download files on the library.
n
Verify you have the Client Integration Plug-in installed on the system.
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
82 VMware, Inc.