Create a rule in Auto Deploy that assigns a cluster that you manage by a single image as the host location for newly added ESXi hosts.

By creating an Auto Deploy rule, where the host target location is a cluster managed by an image, you can transition stateful ESXi hosts to the cluster. Based on host identification mechanisms, the rule adds the hosts to the target cluster.

Such Auto Deploy rule is not allowed to contain an Image Profile or a Host Profile, as the image specification and configuration of hosts in the target cluster are created automatically.

Prerequisites

То add ESXi hosts to a cluster that you manage by a single image, you create a rule in Auto Deploy that assigns such a cluster as the host location for newly added hosts. Each host inherits the same image, which enables hardware compatibility checking, cluster-wide remediation, and easier upgrades.
  • Prepare your system and install the Auto Deploy Server. For more information, see Prepare Your System for vSphere Auto Deploy in the VMware ESXi Installation and Setup documentation.
  • Verify that each ESXi host is version 8.0 or later.
  • Verify that all hosts in the cluster are stateful and have a physical storage attached.
  • Verify that solutions, which are not integrated with vSphere Lifecycle Manager are not enabled for the cluster.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to Home > Auto Deploy.
    By default, only the administrator role has privileges to use the vSphere Auto Deploy service.
  2. On the Deploy Rules tab, click New Deploy Rule.
    The New Deploy Rule wizard appears.
  3. On the Name and hosts page of the wizard, enter a name for the new rule.
  4. Select to either apply the rule to all hosts in the inventory or only to hosts that match a specific pattern.
    You can select one or more patterns.
    For example, the rule can apply only to hosts in a vCenter Single Sign-On domain, with a specific host name, or that match a specific IPv4 range.
  5. On the Configuration page of the wizard, select the Host Location check box, and click Next.
    You can optionally include a script bundle to the ESXi hosts that match the rule criteria by selecting the Script Bundle check box.
    Note: The image profile and host profile attached to the target cluster are used.
  6. On the Select host location page of the wizard, select a cluster that uses a single image.
  7. On the Select script bundle page of the wizard, select a script bundle from the list.
  8. On the Ready to complete page, review the summary information for the new rule.
  9. Click Finish.

Results

You can view the newly created rule listed on the Deploy Rules tab.

What to do next