VMware Host Profile - how to Create and Set Up?
Here you will find out:
- what VMware Host Profile is
- how to create a VMware Host Profile
- how DiskInternals software can help you
Are you ready? Let's read!
When you run a data center where multiple virtual machines and hosts exist. You need a tool or platform that helps you unify the configuration settings of the multiple appliances and applications to ensure seamless data access and transfer between the hosts. VMware Host Profile is a tool for extracting VMware ESXi host configuration to export it to another host in the same data center,
There are many ways in which VMware Host Profile can be helpful. Understanding how this feature works is essential for anyone who runs virtual machines on a VMware platform. Interestingly, this article discusses everything you should know about VMware Host Platform – how you can create it and set it up in your virtualized environment.
Understanding VMware Host Profiles - What is a VMware Host Profile?
The role of the VMware Host Profile is very important in data centers where multiple VMs and hosts are deployed. Its function is to standardize and unify host configurations across all deployments in a data center. In essence, VMware Host Profile is a “template” for exporting ESXi host configurations and importing them to one or many other ESXi hosts.
But this is a premium feature, you have to be on the Enterprise Plus plan to access the Host Profile tool. VMware Host Profile is the same thing as cloning a virtual machine. It serves as a template for creating many other VMs with the same configurations, applications, and requirements as the first one you cloned - but this time, you’re actually cloning ESXi hosts.
You just need one VMware vSphere host profile to make all your ESXi hosts in a cluster have the same configurations. For this feature to be effective, the ESXi hosts must be in the vSphere vCenter cluster – since making a cluster requires the hosts to be connected to the same datastore. The first ESXi host which you create your template from is called a “reference host” or “master host.” You can have more than one Host Profile.
Advantages of VMware Host Profile
Configuring new ESXi hosts from scratch can be a daunting task, and that’s one important benefit of host profiles. Using host profiles, you don’t have to create ESXi hosts from scratch and start configuring them – you only need to import the host profile template to the new ESXi host, and all the configurations on the “master host” will be replicated on the new host.
Also, host profiles help to ensure uniformity for all your ESXi host configurations to maintain consistency and compliance with industry standards and regulations. Not to forget that using host profiles saves time and effort in setting up new ESXi hosts – fostering smooth scalability for IT professionals and system admins.
How to Create a New VMware Host Profile?
First things first, you need to create a reference host. This reference ESXi host is the one you have to set up manually and configure the settings as you would them to be in subsequent hosts you will create from the impending host profile you’re looking to generate. When you’re done creating and setting up the reference host, hereunder is the procedure to create a host profile.
- Step One: On the vSphere vCenter home screen, right-click on the reference host name and select “Host Profiles” 🡺 Export Host Customizations. Or, go to Menu 🡺 Shortcuts 🡺 Host Profiles 🡺 Extract Host Profiles 🡺 Select the Reference Host.
- Step Two: Choose a unique name and description for the VMware host profile and click on “Finish.” Your host profile template will be created immediately and you can view it.
Step Three: After you have set up a host profile, you can further edit the settings and configurations if there’s a need for such.
Modifying a VMware vSphere Host Profile
If you need to edit a host profile, you can do that by going to the Host Profiles page from the Shortcuts menu option.
- Step One: Click on the host profile name and click on the “Configure” tab.
- Step Two: Click on the “Edit Host Profile” button to access the editable settings. You can start by creating a new “Standard vSwitch.”
- Step Three: On the settings menu, expand the Networking Configuration tab and hover your mouse cursor on the Standard Switch line – click on the Plus (+) icon to add a new virtual switch to your host profile.
- Step Four: Enter a unique name for the virtual switch and save it. You will also find the virtual switch of the reference host. If you need to remove a configured item, click on the (x) icon that will appear as you hover your mouse on the item.
Note: If you changed some settings on the reference host and need it reflected on the host profile, go to the host profile settings page and click on “Copy Settings from Host” instead of “Edit Host Profile.”
Creating a Copy of a VMware Host Profile
Interestingly, you can still make copies of a host profile on vSphere vCenter. There are many reasons why you may want to duplicate an existing host profile – maybe to adjust some of its settings and use it on a slightly differently configured cluster. Here are the steps for creating a copy of an existing VMware host profile.
- On vSphere vCenter, go to Policies and Profiles
- Click on Host Profiles and select the one you want to clone
- On the top menu, click on Duplicate Host Profile, and then again, set a unique name and description for the new host profile.
The duplicated copy can serve as a “backup copy” saved on another storage directory for disaster times.
Exporting a Host Profile
If you need to use the host profile on a different cluster or virtual environment, you will have to export it for sharing. Follow the steps below to export your host profile:
- On the host profiles page, select the host profile to export, and click on “Export Host Profile” and then “Save.”
Note: Admin passwords are not included in host profile export files.
Applying a Host Profile for Compliance Verification
If you’re exporting a host profile to another running ESXi host, there are chances the new host may not comply with the imported host profile. So, you will have to remediate the profile with the host, but this starts with editing the profile’s configurations. To check if a host profile is in compliance with the existing host it is imported on, go to the Host Profiles page, open the imported host profile, click on the “Actions” drop-down menu, and select Check Host Profile Compliance. If the results show “non-compliant,” it means the settings on the host profile are different from the settings on the ESXi host.
- Step One: Go back to the ESXi hosts page, select the ESXi host that is non-compliant, and click on “Pre-Check Remediation” to see the conflicting changes on the host and profile.
- Step Two: Now that you know the changes to make, go back to the cluster page, select the host, and click on “Remediate” to start the remediation process.
After the remediation, another compliance check is required to ensure that the host is now in compliance with the imported host profile, which also means the cluster configuration is the same for each ESXi node.
Is it Possible to Recover Information Easily?
Recovery of data from hard drives or virtual drives is possible when you use the right software app. There are actually a number of such apps out there for recovering VM data, including host profile data.
However, as a proactive approach, it is advisable to export and save your host profiles to a remote storage or physical device. In any case of missing files or disaster, the host profile can be recovered by importing the previously exported file.
DiskInternals VMFS Recovery can be used to recover lost VMware VM files; it supports the VMFS file system and other known file systems. Also, the software can connect to ESXi hosts via SSH to mount virtual drives as physical drives – accessible from File Explorer.
Follow the step-by-step instructions for DiskInternals VMFS Recovery, and soon nothing will threaten your data:
If necessary, make sure that an SSH connection is set up in advance.
Download the app and after installing on a computer with Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, or Windows Server from 2003 to 2019, run the Recovery Wizard if you need it.
Open a remote or local drive and start scanning it: full (better) or fast.
Once you find the VMDK files, mount them and you can open them right away and view them at no cost.
Now you can click the "Buy a license" button; you will receive a unique key with continuous access to the exported data.
What More?
Host profiles come in handy when you want to use the same host configurations across multiple ESXi hosts in the same clusters or separate environments. Creating and exporting host profiles is swift, and you can edit the settings at any time. Host profile simply means cloning an ESXi host to another host. If you try any of the workarounds in this article and discover that you have some missing files, DiskInternals VMFS Recovery can help save the situation.
FAQ
What is host profile in vSphere?
Host Profiles streamline the process of automating host configurations across numerous hosts and clusters. With a single click, VMware vCenter Server can be directed to apply a host profile, subsequently configuring each host to align with the specified configuration state.
How do I extract host profile in VMware?
For this action, simply right-click on the reference host and choose Host Profiles > Extract Host Profile from the menu that appears. Afterward, you'll be able to adjust and manage your configuration within the Policies and Profiles area of your vSphere web client. Additionally, managing host profiles is straightforward using PowerCLI.
How do I change my ESXi host profile?
In the vSphere Client, navigate to Menu > Policies and Profiles. Once there, select Host Profiles under the Policies and Profiles section. Then, right-click on the host profile you wish to modify and select Edit Host Profile. If desired, you can click on the Name and description tab to update the profile's name and description.
What is vSphere hosts?
In virtualization technology, a host is the actual physical computer or server equipped with virtualization software, tasked with creating and managing virtual machines. For instance, a server operating VMware vSphere serves as an example of such a host in the realm of virtualization technology.
What does extract host profile do?
Once the initial host is provisioned, you can create and configure a host profile that enables you to replicate the same settings across other target hosts. Settings that vary between hosts, like static IP addresses, can be adjusted via the host customization feature.
Why put VMware host in maintenance mode?
A host is put into maintenance mode whenever it requires servicing, such as adding additional memory. The transition into or out of maintenance mode occurs exclusively in response to a user's request.
What does reset host customizations do?
Within the vSphere Web Client, resetting host customizations is straightforward—simply right-click on a host system and select Host Profiles > Reset Host Customizations from the menu. This action effectively updates the host's customizations.
How do you remediate a host?
Navigate in the vSphere Web Client by going to Home > Hosts and Clusters. Then, using the inventory object navigator, choose a data center, cluster, or host, proceed to the Update Manager tab, and click on Remediate.