6.5.1

Subscribed Libraries
You subscribe to a published library by creating a subscribed library. You can create the subscribed library
in the same vCenter Server instance where the published library is, or in a different vCenter Server
system. In the Create Library wizard you have the option to download all the contents of the published
library immediately after the subscribed library is created, or to download only metadata for the items from
the published library and later to download the full content of only the items you intend to use.
To ensure the contents of a subscribed library are up-to-date, the subscribed library automatically
synchronizes to the source published library on regular intervals. You can also manually synchronize
subscribed libraries.
You can use the option to download content from the source published library immediately or only when
needed to manage your storage space.
Synchronization of a subscribed library that is set with the option to download all the contents of the
published library immediately, synchronizes both the item metadata and the item contents. During the
synchronisation the library items that are new for the subscribed library are fully downloaded to the
storage location of the subscribed library.
Synchronization of a subscribed library that is set with the option to download contents only when needed
synchronizes only the metadata for the library items from the published library, and does not download
the contents of the items. This saves storage space. If you need to use a library item you need to
synchronize that item. After you are done using the item, you can delete the item contents to free space
on the storage. For subscribed libraries that are set with the option to download contents only when
needed, synchronizing the subscribed library downloads only the metadata of all the items in the source
published library, while synchronizing a library item downloads the full content of that item to your storage.
If you use a subscribed library, you can only utilize the content, but cannot contribute with content. Only
the administrator of the published library can manage the templates and files.
Table 4‑1. Source Objects to Which You Can Subscribe By Creating a Subscribed Library in
The vSphere Web Client .
Source Object
Create a subscribed library in the
vSphere Web Client by using the
option to Download all library content
immediately
Create a subscribed library in the
vSphere Web Client by using the option
to Download library content only when
needed
A library running in a vCenter Server 6.0
instance.
Supported Supported
A catalog running in a vCloud Director 5.5
instance.
Supported Not supported
A third-party library. Supported for third-party libraries that
require authentication, if the username of
the third-party library is vcsp. If the
username of the source third-party
library is different than vcsp, you can
subscribe to it by using VMware vCloud
Suite API.
Supported for third-party libraries that
require authentication, if the username of
the third-party library is vcsp. If the
username of the source third-party library
is different than vcsp, you can subscribe
to it by using VMware vCloud Suite API.
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
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