Using Vendor Specific ESXi Distributions in Image Builder

[JeffXstate]

I want to start using Auto Deploy for my hosts but have a question on how to distribute the latest build of ESXi out to the hosts.  I typically use the vendor based ESXi distribution, HP to be specific.  I would then use update manager to patch ESXi to the current build.

I see 2 possibilities on how to do this. 

- Option 1 - Add both the latest patch/build off of the VMware site and the HP ESXi zip into the SoftwareDepot. 

- Option 2 - Add the latest patch/build of ESXi and then download the VIBs and drivers needed and present them to the SoftwareDepot.

Has someone attempted this before?  Which method works better?  I would prefer to just merge the Vendor based ESXi build with the latest ESXi (seen here - VMware KB: VMware ESXi 5.1, Patch Release ESXi510-201307001 )

Thanks.

PS - if anyone has done this in Image Builder could you show the steps or PowerCLI steps you used?

[markdjones82]

What I do is download the latest ESXi build and then insert all the VIB's I need.  That is my preferred method and it is pretty straight forward.  If HP already has an offline depot that is the route I would go.  I was unable to figure out how to import the vendor ISO's into imagebuilder.

Currently, I do this with the dell OMSA plugin.

Here are my commands to add the dell VIB to the lateset ESXI and export it:

Image Builder

Add-EsxSoftwareDepot https://hostupdate.vmware.com/software/VUM/PRODUCTION/main/vmw-depot-index.xml

New-EsxImageProfile -CloneProfile ESXi-5.1.0-20130504001-standard -Name "New"

Add-EsxSoftwareDepot -d .\OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-7.3.0-333_A00.VIB-ESX51i.zip

Add-EsxSoftwarePackage -ImageProfile New -SoftwarePackage OpenManage

Export-ESXImageProfile -ImageProfile New -exporttoiso .\new.iso

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