1. madness.varrow.co
Automating vSphere Host
Deployment with Image Builder
and Auto Deploy
Bill Gurling
@vDingus | bgurling@varrow.com
http://blog.bill-gurling.com

2. madness.varrow.co
Agenda
• About Me
• Why Auto Deploy?
• Requirements
• Workflow
• Configuration Basics
• Image Builder
• Host Profiles
• Deploy Rules
• Demo!
• Questions & Further Reading

3. madness.varrow.co
About Me
Certifications:
• VCA5- Mobility
• VCP5 – DCV
• VCAP – DCA
• VCAP – DCD
• Security+
• Cloud+
• CCNA
• CCNA – DC
• Cisco Certified
Unified Computing
Implementation
Engineer
Problem solver, virtualization devotee, Army
Officer, blogger, and Managed Services
Engineer at Varrow. Self starter and leader
who loves taking on new challenges and
learning new technologies. Over 7 years of
Systems Administration, Database
Administration, Network Administration, and
Programming/Scripting Experience.

4. madness.varrow.co
Why Auto Deploy?
• Rapid Deployment
• Scale
• Stateless
• Simplify Upgrades and Changes
• VCAP-DCA
– 5.1
– 9.1
– 9.2

5. madness.varrow.co
Requirements
• vCenter (Enterprise+)
• Hosts w/ NICs & known MAC
• FQDNs / IPs for new hosts
• DNS Entries
• Offline ESXi Bundle / VIBs
• PowerCLI
• TFTP – Solarwinds works
• DHCP – Options 066 and 067

6. madness.varrow.co
BASIC WORKFLOWPXE Files from Auto Deploy on TFTP
DHCP Options Pass Info
PXE Boot via TFTPAuto Deploy
Host Profile

7. madness.varrow.co
Configuration Basics
• PowerCLI!
• Image Profile via Image Builder
• Host Profile
• Auto Deploy Rules

8. madness.varrow.co
Image Builder
Steps
• Add Offline Depots (Add-EsxSoftwareDepot)
• Create an Image Profile (New-EsxImageProfile)
• Add Packages to Image Profile (Add-EsxSoftwarePackage)
• Export your new Image Profile (Export-EsxImageProfile)
• Must have an image profile loaded for Auto Deploy
Misc
• Use –NoSignatureCheck for unsigned Software Packages
• Use –CloneProfile to make a copy of Existing Image Profile
• Set-EsxImageProfile to set attributes on your profile
• Use Compare-EsxImageProfile to see profile differences

9. madness.varrow.co
Host Profile
Steps
• Create host profile using an already configured reference host
• Enable or disable specific configuration areas based on your preference
• Profile is applied upon boot of your Auto Deployed host
• Answer file is use to fill in host specific parameters
• Refresh from reference host to capture new settings
Misc
• Certain settings can be problematic
• Typically configured:
– NTP
– Syslog
– Core Dump
– Security
– Networking
– Storage

10. madness.varrow.co
Auto Deploy
Steps
• Create Deployment Rules (New-DeployRule)
– Image Profile*
– Cluster*
– Host Profile*
– Can do all in one rule
– Pattern parameter targets PXE booted hosts by
vendor, model, serial, hostname, IP, mac, asset tag, or OEM specific strings.
– All 3 required for full functionality
• Activate Deployment Rules (Add-DeployRule)
Misc
• Remove-DeployRule –Delete to delete a Deployment Rule
• $DeployNoSignatureCheck=$true to add unsigned VIBs
• Repair-DeployRulesetCompliance to re-apply modified rules

11. madness.varrow.co
Demo Time

12. madness.varrow.co
Questions? – Further Reading
• Additional Resources
– Understanding Auto Deploy – KB 2005131
– Jason Nash’s Optimize and Scale PluralSight
Course
– Auto Deploy Architecture YouTube Video
– Advanced Features
• Stateless Caching
• Stateful Install
• Bulk Licensing
– GUI Fling
• https://labs.vmware.com/flings/autodeploygui