Installation guide

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.
When you specify a target server by using --server=server_name in the procedure, the specified server prompts
you for a user name and password. Other connection options, such as a configuration file or session file, are
supported. For a list of connection options, see Getting Started with vSphere Command-Line Interfaces, or run
esxcli --help at the vCLI command prompt.
Prerequisites
Install vCLI or deploy the vSphere Management Assistant (vMA) virtual machine. See Getting Started with
vSphere Command-Line Interfaces. For troubleshooting , run esxcli commands in the ESXi Shell.
vSphere Upgrade
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