ESX 5.5 VM deployment

Question

Is it possible to deploy vm's using a csv or something similar? I want to automate the install of about 100 servers. The only option I have found is using powershell. I would really like some other options though. Thanks.

Answer 1

VCenter exposes an API, the documentation for which can be found here:

http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/sdk_pubs.html

Armed with that API and a template, you should be able to do what you want to do in the language of your choice.

Templates can be customized with a CustomizationSpec directly from the VSphere client as well, which means you can deploy directly from the template in the client.

Other options: VMware's Orchestrator or Microsoft Orchestrator with the VMware plugin.

However, is there really any reason not to use Powershell? PowerCLI can do what you want to do and very easily. I've deployed thousands of servers with it.