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BobDaniels1963
Contributor
Contributor

Clone and existing an existing EXSi 5.5 host

I need to deploy 12 new servers and have a reference host I want to use that is updated with drivers for Nimble storage and other patches. What is the best approach to clone this server and then deploy to the new servers?

Thanks in advance. -Bob

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mathanmailid
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Create Host Profile from vCenter. Refer the following documents

vSphere Host Profiles - http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-55/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-55-host-pr...

VMware Host Profiles: Technical Overview - http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/techpaper/VMW-Host-Profiles-Tech-Overview.pdf

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RyanH84
Expert
Expert

Hi,

Host profiles is your answer for making sure that the servers are all configured the same way in terms of storage, settings, policies and so on.

They will not take care of your driver installations or updates. This would be done with Auto-Deploy.

I would suggest that if you have your drivers and patches separate, that you could create a custom update manager baseline and with these patches in and check that your reference host is compliant. You can then attach this baseline after you have built your hosts and you will be able to patch them all automatically. You can also then apply your host profiles to ensure all the same configuration comes through.

Happy to help!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regards, Ryan vExpert, VCP5, VCAP5-DCA, MCITP, VCE-CIAE, NPP4 @vRyanH http://vRyan.co.uk
BobDaniels1963
Contributor
Contributor

Is there some kind of step by step document. I am finding a hodge podge points of information and trying to find a single process for this.  And BTW thanks for pitching in!

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RyanH84
Expert
Expert

I don't believe that there will be a "one stop doc" for doing this unfortunately. Do you have any interest in building out Auto-Deploy to automatically provision hosts in the future or not?

A simplified process for this is:

1) Gather your ESXi drivers, patches into a central place.

2) Build your ESXi hosts at the same version as your reference host (lets say 5.5 u2 for example). Add them into your datacenter/cluster.

3) Create a VMware Update Manager (assuming you have VUM configured) baseline and attach all of your drivers and patches from step 1.

4) Attach your update manager baseline to your reference host.

5) Create a host profile, using your main host as the reference host.

6) Run a update manger scan against your reference host and make sure it's compliant (all the drivers and such are configured).

7) Run the update manager scan against your new hosts, to which they won't be compliant - remediate them (patch!)

😎 Once patched, attach the new hosts to your host profile.
9) Run a compliance check, update your answer files for each host.

10) Check the changes summary of the profile and make sure you are happy.

11) Apply the profile to the host.

They should then all be configured the same way, with the obvious exception of your answer file differences (hostnames, ip's, etc).

That is a very quick off the top of my head list, but in a simple environment (without AutoDeploy), that's how I'd go about doing it!

Happy to elaborate further if needed!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Regards, Ryan vExpert, VCP5, VCAP5-DCA, MCITP, VCE-CIAE, NPP4 @vRyanH http://vRyan.co.uk
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