6.5.1

Table Of Contents
Procedure
1 In a PowerCLI session, run the Add-EsxSoftwareDepot cmdlet for each depot you want to work
with.
Option Action
Remote depot Run Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl depot_url.
ZIP file a Download the ZIP file to a local file system.
b Run Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -DepotUrl C:\file_path\offline-
bundle.zip
The cmdlet returns one or more SoftwareDepot objects.
2 Run the Get-EsxImageProfile cmdlet to list all image profiles in all currently visible depots.
The cmdlet returns all available profiles. You can narrow your search by using the optional arguments
to filter the output.
3 Clone the profile.
New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile My_Profile -Name "Test Profile 42" -Vendor "My Vendor"
Image profiles published by VMware and its partners are read only. To make changes, you must
clone the image profile. The vendor parameter is required.
4 Run the Add-EsxSoftwarePackage cmdlet to add a new package to one of the image profiles.
Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile My_Profile -SoftwarePackage partner-package
The cmdlet runs the standard validation tests on the image profile. If validation succeeds, the cmdlet
returns a modified, validated image profile. If the VIB that you want to add depends on a different VIB,
the cmdlet displays that information and includes the VIB that would resolve the dependency. If the
acceptance level of the VIB that you want to add is lower than the image profile acceptance level, an
error occurs.
Export an Image Profile to ISO or Oine Bundle ZIP
You can export an image profile to an ISO image or a ZIP file of component files and folders. You cannot
create both by running the cmdlet once. You can use the ISO image as an ESXi installer or upload the
ISO into vSphere Update Manager for upgrades. You can use the ZIP file, which contains metadata and
the VIBs specified in the image profile, for upgrades to ESXi 5.0 and later.
Prerequisites
Install the PowerCLI and all prerequisite software. See Install vSphere ESXi Image Builder and
Prerequisite Software.
vSphere Installation and Setup
VMware, Inc. 65