ESX's software package format, used for items such as drivers and agents. Before installation the host checks each package's acceptance level and signature.
Also called vSphere Installation Bundle.
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Terms in this definition
- ESX
VMware's bare-metal hypervisor, installed on each host in a VCF fleet. Up to version 9.0 it was known as ESXi.
- package
Workflows, actions, policies and other VCF Operations orchestrator elements are exported and imported in bundles of this kind; any dependencies are pulled in automatically, and what is inside is signed.
- FORMAT
A DAX function that turns a value into text according to a format string, for instance "MMMM" to show a month's name. Since the output is text, numeric operations can't use it, and dynamic format strings were introduced to get around that.
- Acceptance level
Controls which VIBs an ESX host's image profile will allow. The four levels run from VMware Certified (strictest) through VMware Accepted and Partner Supported to Community Supported (most open), and each one also admits anything at a stricter level.
Related terms
- forever forward incremental
A chain with one VBK at its start and only VIB increments after it; synthetic or active fulls never occur. When retention is reached, the earliest increment merges into the VBK.
- forward incremental
A chain beginning with a VBK and followed by VIB increments. Periodic synthetic or active fulls start new, shorter chains.
- UEFI Secure Boot
Firmware protection that refuses to run unsigned boot code. ESX uses it to validate its kernel and every installed VIB, and VMs with EFI firmware can turn it on too.