You can reprovisions ESXi hosts with the image profile, host profile, custom script, and vCenter Server location assigned during first boot.

Prerequisites

A simple reboot of a host that is provisioned with vSphere Auto Deploy requires only that all prerequisites are still met. The process uses the previously assigned image profile, host profile, custom script, and vCenter Server location.
  • Verify that the setup you performed during the first boot operation is in place.
  • Verify that all associated items like are available. An item can be an image profile, host profile, custom script or vCenter Server inventory location.
  • Verify that the host has the identifying information (asset tag, IP address) it had during previous boot operations.

Procedure

  1. Place the host in maintenance mode.
    Host Type Action
    Host is part of a DRS cluster VMware DRS migrates virtual machines to appropriate hosts when you place the host in maintenance mode.
    Host is not part of a DRS cluster You must migrate all virtual machines to different hosts and place each host in maintenance mode.
  2. Reboot the host.

Results

The host shuts down. When the host reboots, it uses the image profile that the vSphere Auto Deploy server provides. The vSphere Auto Deploy server also applies the host profile stored on the vCenter Server system.