This section describes how to perform some of the basic tasks for Host Profiles. What to read next Access Host ProfilesThe Host Profiles main view lists all available profiles. Administrators can also use the Host Profiles main view to perform operations on host profiles and configure them. Create a Host ProfileYou create a host profile by extracting the configuration from a designated reference host. Attach or Detach Hosts and Clusters to a Host ProfileAfter creating a host profile from a reference host, you must attach a host or cluster to the host profile to associate that host profile with the selected host or cluster. To disassociate a configuration from an ESXi host or an entire cluster, that host or cluster must be detached from the host profile. Check ComplianceYou can confirm the compliance of a host or cluster to its attached host profile and determine which, if any, configuration parameters on a host are different from those specified in the host profile. Schedule Compliance CheckYou can schedule a regular compliance check of a host or cluster, using a standard vSphere Client scheduled tasks workflow. This automation determines, if any configuration parameters are different from those specified in the host profile. Remediate a HostIf there is a compliance failure, use the remediate option to apply the host profile settings to the host. This action changes all host profile parameters to the values defined in the host profile that is attached to the host. Edit a Host ProfileYou can view and edit Host Profiles policies, select a policy to be checked for compliance, and change the policy name or description. Duplicate a Host ProfileA host profile duplicate is a copy of an existing host profile. Copy Settings from HostIf the configuration of the reference host changes, you can update the host profile so that it matches the reference host's new configuration. Host Profiles and vSphere Auto DeployYou can use Host Profiles and vSphere Auto Deploy to provision physical ESXi hosts with a complete and expected configuration state for virtual switches, driver settings, boot parameters, and so on. Import a Host ProfileYou can import a profile from a file in the VMware profile format (.vpf). Export a Host ProfileYou can export a profile to a file that is in the VMware profile format (.vpf). Copy Settings to Host ProfileAfter you make changes to a host profile, you can propagate those changes to other host profiles in the inventory.
