vSphere: Host Profile

When you have multiple ESX 3.x hosts (in a cluster or not, that doesn’t really matter) you want all the same host have the same setting.
For example: NTP, VMkernel default gateway, DNS servers etc.

In ESX 3.x you must configure this per host. I was easier if you created a Kick Script for installtion but for most System Administrators this is much work and misconfigurations are easily made.
In vSphere we have the option to create a host profile and apply this to other hosts. This is a great step forwards! Of course we have to have vCenter for this option.

So let’s see how we create and apply this profile to other hosts.

• In the Home view of vCenter under de Management Section select Host Profiles
• Right click in a white section of host Profile (on the left) and select Create Profile. The Create Profile Wizard pops-up.

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• Select a vSphere host where you want to create the host profile from

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• Give it a name and if you want a description

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• Select finish

Now the profile is created, but maybey you want to change some setting before applying the profile to other hosts. In my case I want to adjust the NTP settings.

• Select de profile and click in the commands section on Edit Profile (Note the Export Profile option, real nice for all Consultants who install more vShpere hosts on a regular basis)

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• Goto Date and Time Configuration | Time Settings.
• Adjust the time source (in my case 172.16.16.254) and click on Ok.
• This save the profile

Ok, now it’s time to apply this profile to a host.

• In vCenter Home View goto Hosts and Clusters in the Inventory section
• Make sure your server in in Maintenance Mode.
• Rights click on a host | Host Profile | Manage Profile

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• Now you can select the profile you want to apply to this host by selecting the profile and click on Ok.

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• Note on the summary tab of the host in the General section you will see that the profile is attached (not yet applied) to the host

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• First we’re going to check the compliance of the profile (If the setting of the profile are the same as the setting of the host. Right click the host | Host Profile | Check Compliance. If the setting of the profile are not the same as the host a red cross will appear saying the profile is Non Compliant.

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• To apply the profile, right click on the host | Host Profile | Apply Profile.
• The Apply Profile wizard will run. It can be that you have to provide some information (for example a ip adres) that is only for this host. If all goes well you will see a log screen saying what has changed. Click on Finish in order to close the wizard.

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• After the host configuration is update you can check Host Compliance again. If all went wel, the host will say it’s Compliant.
• Now you can exit maintenance mode.

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As you can see it is not hard to create, modify and apply a Host Profile. It can make our lives as a VMware System Administrator a lot easier!