With the rule in place that provisions hosts using an image profile and a host profile, you can provision specific target hosts. If any host profile items are set to prompt the user for input, the host comes up in maintenance mode. You apply the host profile or check host compliance to be prompted for the information. The system associates the host customization with the host.

Procedure

  1. Boot the remaining hosts.
    vSphere Auto Deploy boots the hosts, applies the host profile, and adds the hosts to the vCenter Server inventory. The hosts remain in maintenance mode because the host profile from the reference host is set up to require user input for each host.
  2. Use the vSphere Web Client to connect to the vCenter Server system that manages the vSphere Auto Deploy server.
  3. Click Policies and Profiles and select Host Profiles.
  4. Right-click the previously created ESXiGold profile and click Edit Host Customizations.
  5. Enter the required host customizations and save them.
  6. Apply the host profile to each of the hosts and get the hosts out of maintenance mode. Alternatively, you can reboot each host.
    When the reboot progress completes, all hosts are running with the image you specify and use the configuration in the reference host profile. The cluster shows that all hosts are fully compliant.

Results

All hosts are now configured with the shared information through the reference host profile and with the host-specific information through the host customization mechanism. The next time you boot the hosts, they receive the complete Host Profile information, including the host-specific information, and boot up completely configured and out of Maintenance Mode.