Managed Object - HostProfileManager(vim.profile.host.ProfileManager)

Property of
ServiceContent
Extends
ProfileManager
See also
AnswerFile, AnswerFileCreateSpec, AnswerFileStatusResult, ApplyHostProfileConfigurationResult, ApplyHostProfileConfigurationSpec, ApplyProfile, HostApplyProfile, HostConfigSpec, HostProfileManagerCompositionResult, HostProfileManagerCompositionValidationResult, HostProfileManagerConfigTaskList, HostProfileManagerHostToConfigSpecMap, HostSystem, Profile, ProfileDeferredPolicyOptionParameter, ProfileMetadata, ProfileProfileStructure, StructuredCustomizations
Since
vSphere API 4.0


Managed Object Description

The HostProfileManager provides access to a list of HostProfiles and it defines methods to manipulate profiles and AnswerFiles.

Properties

Name Type Description
None
Properties inherited from ProfileManager
profile

Methods

Methods defined in this Managed Object
ApplyEntitiesConfig_Task, ApplyHostConfig_Task, CheckAnswerFileStatus_Task, CompositeHostProfile_Task, CreateDefaultProfile, ExportAnswerFile_Task, GenerateConfigTaskList, GenerateHostConfigTaskSpec_Task, GenerateHostProfileTaskList_Task, QueryAnswerFileStatus, QueryHostProfileMetadata, QueryProfileStructure, RetrieveAnswerFile, RetrieveAnswerFileForProfile, RetrieveHostCustomizations, RetrieveHostCustomizationsForProfile, UpdateAnswerFile_Task, UpdateHostCustomizations_Task, ValidateHostProfileComposition_Task
Methods inherited from ProfileManager
CreateProfile, FindAssociatedProfile, QueryPolicyMetadata

ApplyEntitiesConfig_Task(applyEntitiesConfiguration)

The task for applying host configuration on a list of hosts. This is the batch version of applyHostConfiguration. The implementation of this method will: When a host is in a DRS cluster but doesn't satisfy the state requirement such as that the host is not in the required maintenance mode, this method uses DRS feature to put the host into maintenance mode. This method will apply a host profile to a stateful host or stateless host; or apply a host profile to a stateless host by reboot. After a host is reboot, a check compliance is done to update the latest compliance status.
Required Privileges
Dynamic - See discussion above
Since
vSphere API 6.5

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
applyConfigSpecs*ApplyHostProfileConfigurationSpec[]

An array of ApplyHostProfileConfigurationSpec objects. Each applyConfigSpecs object contains the data objects required to remediate a host. The API caller should expand a cluster to all its hosts for the purpose of providing the required data object for configuration apply of each host.
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. If the task is successful, the Task.info.result property is an array of ApplyHostProfileConfigurationResult objects. Each ApplyHostProfileConfigurationResult is for each host in the provided host list.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



ApplyHostConfig_Task(applyHostConfiguration)

Apply the configuration to the host. If you specify any user input, the configuration will be saved in the AnswerFile associated with the host. If there is no answer file, the Profile Engine will create one.
Required Privileges
Dynamic - See discussion above

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host to be updated. User must have sufficient credentials and privileges to satisfy the contents of the configSpec.
configSpecHostConfigSpec

Set of configuration changes to be applied to the host. The changes are returned by the HostProfile.ExecuteHostProfile method in the ProfileExecuteResult.configSpec property.
userInput*ProfileDeferredPolicyOptionParameter[]

Additional host-specific data to be applied to the host. This data is the complete list of deferred parameters verified by the HostProfile.ExecuteHostProfile method, contained in the ProfileExecuteResult object returned by the method.

Since vSphere API 5.0
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation.

Faults

Type Description
HostConfigFailedThrown if the ESX Server cannot apply the configuration changes.
InvalidStateThrown if the host is not in maintenance mode and the configuration specification requires it.
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



CheckAnswerFileStatus_Task(checkAnswerFileStatus)

Check the validity of the answer files for the specified hosts. The Profile Engine uses the profile associated with a host to check the answer file.
Required Privileges
System.View
Since
vSphere API 5.0

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostManagedObjectReference[]
to a HostSystem[]

Set of hosts for which the answer file status will be checked.

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. If the task is successful, the Task.info.result property contains a list of AnswerFileStatusResult objects.

Faults

Type Description
InvalidProfileReferenceHostThrown if the reference host associated with the profile is incompatible or there is no reference host for the profile.
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



CompositeHostProfile_Task(compositeProfile)

Composes (merge, replace, delete, disable) the selected configurations into the target host profiles.
Required Privileges
Profile.Edit
Since
vSphere API 6.7

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
sourceManagedObjectReference
to a Profile


targets*ManagedObjectReference[]
to a Profile[]


toBeMerged*HostApplyProfile


toBeReplacedWith*HostApplyProfile


toBeDeleted*HostApplyProfile


enableStatusToBeCopied*HostApplyProfile


*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method will returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. The Task.info.result will contain a HostProfileManagerCompositionResult object containing the status of the operation, and details about any composition errors. The definitions of all the parameters are same as those in ValidateHostProfileComposition_Task.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



CreateDefaultProfile(createDefaultProfile)

Create a default subprofile of a given type (for example, a VirtualSwitchProfile). After you create the subprofile, you can add it to a configuration specification and update the host profile:
Required Privileges
System.View

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
profileTypexsd:string

Type of profile to create. The profile types are system-defined (ApplyProfile.profileTypeName).
profileTypeName*xsd:string

If specified, the method returns a profile object containing data for the named profile. The type name does not have to be system-defined. A user-defined profile can include various dynamically-defined profiles.

Since vSphere API 5.0
profile*ManagedObjectReference
to a Profile

Base profile used during the operation.

Since vSphere API 5.0
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ApplyProfileDerived subprofile of type profileType.

Faults

Type Description
InvalidArgumentThrown if either the profileType or profileTypeName is incorrect.
InvalidProfileReferenceHostThrown if the reference host associated with the profile is incompatible or there is no reference host for the profile.
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



ExportAnswerFile_Task(exportAnswerFile)

Export a host's answer file into a serialized form. The method returns a string that contains only the list of user input options. See AnswerFile.userInput.
Required Privileges
Profile.Export
Since
vSphere API 5.0

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host with which the answer file is associated.

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. If the task is successful, the Task.info.result property is a string that contains a serialized form of the answer file.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



GenerateConfigTaskList(generateConfigTaskList)

Deprecated. As of vSphere API 6.0 use GenerateHostProfileTaskList_Task

Generate a list of configuration tasks that will be performed on the host during HostProfile application.
Required Privileges
System.View

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
configSpecHostConfigSpec

ConfigSpec which was proposed by ExecuteHostProfile method.
hostManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host on which the HostProfile application needs to be carried out.

Return Value

Type Description
HostProfileManagerConfigTaskListList of Configuration tasks.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



GenerateHostConfigTaskSpec_Task(generateHostConfigTaskSpec)

This method generates ApplyHostConfigSpec data object for each host which can be passed as input to ApplyEntitiesConfig_Task to configure that host. For each host, this method goes through two stages, ExecuteHostProfile stage GenerateHostProfileTaskList_Task stage. If the ExecuteHostProfile stage completes successfully then the method invokes the GenerateHostProfileTaskList_Task stage to generate the list of configuration tasks that are needed to configure the host. This method will return a task to monitor the progress of the operation.
Required Privileges
System.View
Since
vSphere API 6.5

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostsInfo*StructuredCustomizations[]

List of host data for which configuration task list needs to be generated. The StructuredCustomizations#customizations value should be provided only if the host customization data for that host is invalid. If this property is not provided, the API will use the host customization data stored in VC and generate task list.
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. If the task is successful, the Task.info.result property is a ApplyHostProfileConfigurationSpec object.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



GenerateHostProfileTaskList_Task(generateTaskList)

Generate a list of configuration tasks that will be performed on the host during HostProfile application. This differs from the GenerateConfigTaskList method in that it returns a task to monitor the progress of the operation.
Required Privileges
System.View
Since
vSphere API 5.5

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
configSpecHostConfigSpec

ConfigSpec which was proposed by ExecuteHostProfile method.
hostManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host on which the HostProfile application needs to be carried out.

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. If the task is successful, the Task.info.result property is a HostProfileManagerConfigTaskList object.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



QueryAnswerFileStatus(queryAnswerFileStatus)

Returns the status of the answer files associated with specified hosts. This method returns the most recent status determined by CheckAnswerFileStatus_Task. See HostProfileManagerAnswerFileStatus for valid values.
Required Privileges
System.View
Since
vSphere API 5.0

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostManagedObjectReference[]
to a HostSystem[]

The hosts the answer file is associated with.

Return Value

Type Description
AnswerFileStatusResult[]List of answer file status objects.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



QueryHostProfileMetadata(queryProfileMetadata)

Retrieve the metadata for a set of profiles.
Required Privileges
System.View

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
profileName*xsd:string[]

Names of the profiles for which metadata is requested. If not set, the method returns metadata for all the profiles.
profile*ManagedObjectReference
to a Profile

Base profile whose context needs to be used during the operation

Since vSphere API 5.0
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ProfileMetadata[]List of profile metadata objects.

Faults

Type Description
InvalidArgumentThrown if profileName parameter is invalid.
InvalidProfileReferenceHostThrown if the reference host associated with the profile is incompatible or there is no reference host for the profile.
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



QueryProfileStructure(queryProfileStructure)

Get information about the structure of the profile.
Required Privileges
System.View
Since
vSphere API 5.0

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
profile*ManagedObjectReference
to a Profile

Base profile whose context needs to be used during the operation

Since vSphere API 5.0
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ProfileProfileStructureThe profile structure.

Faults

Type Description
InvalidProfileReferenceHostThrown if the reference host associated with the profile is incompatible or there is no reference host for the profile.
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



RetrieveAnswerFile(retrieveAnswerFile)

Returns the answer file associated with a particular host.
Required Privileges
None
Since
vSphere API 5.0

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
host PManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host with which the answer file is associated.
P Required privilege: Profile.Edit

Return Value

Type Description
AnswerFileAnswer file object will be returned if it exists.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



RetrieveAnswerFileForProfile(retrieveAnswerFileForProfile)

Returns the answer file associated with a particular host, augmented with whatever answer file values are required for the supplied host profile.
Required Privileges
None
Since
vSphere API 5.1

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
host PManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host with which the answer file is associated.
applyProfileHostApplyProfile

Profile configuration used to generate answer file
P Required privilege: Profile.Edit

Return Value

Type Description
AnswerFileAnswer file object will be returned.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



RetrieveHostCustomizations(retrieveHostCustomizations)

This is the batch version of vim.profile.host.ProfileManager@retrieveAnswerFile. Returns a map that contains the hosts and their answer file data objects.
Required Privileges
None
Since
vSphere API 6.5

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hosts* PManagedObjectReference[]
to a HostSystem[]

Hosts with which the answer files are associated.
*Need not be set P Required privilege: Profile.Edit

Return Value

Type Description
StructuredCustomizations[]A map that contains the hosts and their answer files.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



RetrieveHostCustomizationsForProfile(retrieveHostCustomizationsForProfile)

This is the batch version of vim.profile.host.ProfileManager@retrieveAnswerFileForProfile. Returns a map that contains the hosts and their answer files associated with these hosts, augmented with whatever answer file values are required for the supplied host profile.
Required Privileges
None
Since
vSphere API 6.5

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hosts* PManagedObjectReference[]
to a HostSystem[]

Hosts with which the answer files are associated.
applyProfileHostApplyProfile

Profile configuration used to generate answer file
*Need not be set P Required privilege: Profile.Edit

Return Value

Type Description
StructuredCustomizations[]A map contains the hosts and their answer files.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None

Show WSDL type definition



UpdateAnswerFile_Task(updateAnswerFile)

Update the AnswerFile for the specified host. If there is no answer file associated with the host, the Profile Engine uses the answer file configuration specification to create a new one.
Required Privileges
Profile.Edit
Since
vSphere API 5.0

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostManagedObjectReference
to a HostSystem

Host with which the answer file is associated.
configSpecAnswerFileCreateSpec

Host-specific configuration data. If the configuration specification does not contain any host-specific user input (configSpec.userInput), the method does not perform any operation on the answer file.

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation.

Faults

Type Description
AnswerFileUpdateFailedThrown if the answer file could not be updated.
InvalidArgumentThrown if the input parameteres are incorrect.
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



UpdateHostCustomizations_Task(updateHostCustomizations)

This is the batch version of vim.profile.host.ProfileManager@updateAnswerFile.
Required Privileges
Profile.Edit
Since
vSphere API 6.5

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
hostToConfigSpecMap*HostProfileManagerHostToConfigSpecMap[]

A map that contains the hosts with which the answer files are associated and the corresponding host-specific configuration data. If the configuration specification does not contain any host-specific user input (configSpec.userInput), the method does not perform any operation on the answer file.
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation with a result of AnswerFileValidationResultMap array.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None



ValidateHostProfileComposition_Task(validateComposition)

Validates the proposed host profile composition.
Required Privileges
Profile.Edit
Since
vSphere API 6.7

Parameters

NameTypeDescription
_thisManagedObjectReference A reference to the HostProfileManager used to make the method call.
sourceManagedObjectReference
to a Profile

The source host profile of the configurations for composition.
targets*ManagedObjectReference[]
to a Profile[]

The array of target host profiles that the configurations composite into.
toBeMerged*HostApplyProfile

A HostApplyProfile object contains the sub profiles that will be merged from the source to the target host profiles, and all the ancestors of these sub profiles. For singleton sub profile, it will be added into a target host profile if it doesn't exist in the target; otherwise, it replaces the one in the target. The member variable toBeMerged of these sub profiles should have a value of true. The member variables toBeMerged toReplaceWith, toBeDeleted of the ancestors should have a value of false.
toReplaceWith*HostApplyProfile

A HostApplyProfile object contains the sub profiles that will be used to replace the array in the target host profiles, and all the ancestors of these sub profiles. Similar to above except that the member variable toReplaceWith is turned on.
toBeDeleted*HostApplyProfile

A HostApplyProfile object contains the sub profiles that will be deleted from the source and the target host profiles, and all the ancestors of these sub profiles. Similar to above except that the member variable toBeDeleted is turned on.
enableStatusToBeCopied*HostApplyProfile

A HostApplyProfile object contains the sub profiles that the member variable enabled will be copied from the source host profile to all the target host profiles, and all the ancestors of these sub profiles. The member variable copyEnableStatus of these sub profiles is turned on. The member variable copyEnableStatus of the copyEnableStatus of the ancestors should have a value of false.
errorOnly*xsd:boolean

Indicates that the validation result for each target don't contain the source-target difference.
*Need not be set

Return Value

Type Description
ManagedObjectReference
to a Task
This method will returns a Task object with which to monitor the operation. The Task.info.result will contain a HostProfileManagerCompositionValidationResult object containing the status of the operation, any validation errors and the validation results.

Faults

Type Description
RuntimeFaultThrown if any type of runtime fault is thrown that is not covered by the other faults; for example, a communication error.

Events

Type
None