7.0

n Identify an image profile to be used in one of the following ways.
n Choose an ESXi image profile in a public depot.
n (Optional) Create a custom image profile by using vSphere ESXi Image Builder, and place
the image profile in a depot that the vSphere Auto Deploy server can access. The image
profile must include a base ESXi VIB.
n (Optional) If you have a reference host in your environment, export the host profile of the
reference host and define a rule that applies the host profile to one or more hosts. See Setting
Up a vSphere Auto Deploy Reference Host.
n Specify rules for the deployment of the host and add the rules to the active rule set.
First Boot Overview
When a host that has not yet been provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy boots (first boot), the
host interacts with several vSphere Auto Deploy components.
1 When the administrator turns on a host, the host starts a PXE boot sequence.
The DHCP Server assigns an IP address to the host and instructs the host to contact the TFTP
server.
2 The host contacts the TFTP server and downloads the iPXE file (executable boot loader) and
an iPXE configuration file.
3 iPXE starts executing.
The configuration file instructs the host to make a HTTP boot request to the vSphere Auto
Deploy server. The HTTP request includes hardware and network information.
4 In response, the vSphere Auto Deploy server performs these tasks:
a Queries the rules engine for information about the host.
b Streams the components specified in the image profile, the optional host profile, and
optional vCenter Server location information.
5 The host boots using the image profile.
If the vSphere Auto Deploy server provided a host profile, the host profile is applied to the
host.
6 vSphere Auto Deploy adds the host to thevCenter Server system that vSphere Auto Deploy is
registered with.
a If a rule specifies a target folder or cluster on the vCenter Server system, the host is placed
in that folder or cluster. The target folder must be under a data center.
b If no rule exists that specifies a vCenter Server inventory location, vSphere Auto Deploy
adds the host to the first datacenter displayed in the vSphere Client UI.
7 (Optional) If the host profile requires the user to specify certain information, such as a static IP
address, the host is placed in maintenance mode when the host is added to the vCenter Server
system.
VMware ESXi Installation and Setup
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