packer-vib

This repository contains content to build a vib file for ESXi. The goal is to configure a host to enable use as a target for the Packer VMware builders (vmware-iso and vmware-vmx).

If you have a license for vCenter, you are probably much better off using the vsphere-iso or vsphere-clone builders. Additionally, ESXi 7.0 has completely dropped support for VNC so this VIB will not work.

Specifically, it:

• Configures the firewall to allow VNC access
• Enables SSH and suppresses the warning message
• Enables the GuestIPHack advanced option

This has been tested with ESXi 6.0 Update 3, ESXi 6.5 Update 2, and ESXi 6.7. It is possible it would work with ESXi 5.5.

If using this with ESXi 6.5 or 6.7, VNC password support seems to have been removed. You must set vnc_disable_password to true in your Packer template.

Install Instructions

In ESXi execute:

esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported
esxcli software vib install -v https://github.com/umich-vci/packer-vib/releases/download/v1.0.0-1/packer.vib

Build Instructions (docker)

In a Linux host with docker installed, use the lamw/vibauthor container to build:

docker run --rm -v $PWD:/root lamw/vibauthor \
    vibauthor -C -t stage -v packer.vib -O packer-offline-bundle.zip -f

Build Instructions (CentOS)

In a CentOS 6.6 host install the vib-author fling dependency:

curl -O https://download3.vmware.com/software/vmw-tools/vibauthor/vmware-esx-vib-author-5.0.0-0.0.847598.i386.rpm
rpm -ivh vmware-esx-vib-author-5.0.0-0.0.847598.i386.rpm

Then build:

vibauthor -C -t stage -v packer.vib -O packer-offline-bundle.zip -f

Resources

• https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2012/09/creating-custom-vibs-for-esxi-50-51.html
• https://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2015/05/a-docker-container-for-building-custom-esxi-vibs.html
• https://nickcharlton.net/posts/using-packer-esxi-6.html