If a subscribed library is created with the option to download library content only when needed, only metadata for the library items is stored in the associated with the library storage. For example, when you want to use a VM template to deploy a virtual machine, you have to synchronize the item so the entire content is downloaded to the associated storage. After you are done using the template, you can delete the item contents to free space on the storage. The template remains visible in the subscribed library because the metadata for it remains on the storage that is associated with the library. This also applies for vApp templates, and other file that exist in the subscribed library.

Prerequisites

Required privilege: Content library.Evict library item

Procedure

  1. In the vSphere Web Client navigator, select vCenter Inventory Lists > Content Libraries.
  2. Select a subscribed library.
  3. Delete the content of the item.
    • From the Templates tab, right-click a template from the library, and select Delete Item Content.
    • From the Other Types tab, right-click a file from the library that is not a template, and select Delete Item Content.

Results

The content of the item is deleted to free space on the storage. Only the item metadata remains on the storage.