---
modeline: |
  vim: set ft=pandoc:
description: |
  This VMware Packer builder starts from an ISO and creates a vm using the
  vSphere API to build on a remote VMWare machine.
layout: docs
page_title: VSphere ISO - Builders
sidebar_title: 'VSphere ISO'
sidebar_current: docs-builders-vsphere-iso
---

# Packer Builder for VMware vSphere

Type: `vsphere-iso`

This builder uses the vSphere API, and creates virtual machines remotely. It
starts from an ISO file and creates new VMs from scratch.

- VMware Player is not required.
- It uses the official vCenter API, and does not require ESXi host [modification](https://www.packer.io/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html#building-on-a-remote-vsphere-hypervisor)

## Examples

See complete Ubuntu, Windows, and macOS templates in the [examples folder](https://github.com/hashicorp/packer/tree/master/builder/vsphere/examples/).

# Configuration Reference

There are many configuration options available for this builder. In addition to
the items listed here, you will want to look at the general configuration
references for [HTTP](#http-directory-configuration),
[Floppy](#floppy-configuration),
[Boot](#boot-configuration),
[Driver](#driver-configuration),
[Hardware](#hardware-configuration),
[Output](#output-configuration),
[Run](#run-configuration),
[Shutdown](#shutdown-configuration),
[Communicator](#communicator-configuration),
[Tools](#tools-configuration),
[vmx](#vmx-configuration),
[Export](#export-configuration),
configuration references, which are
necessary for this build to succeed and can be found further down the page.

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/Config-not-required.mdx'

### Connection Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/ConnectConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Hardware Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/HardwareConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Location Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/LocationConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Run Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/RunConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Shutdown Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/ShutdownConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Wait Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/WaitIpConfig-not-required.mdx'

### ISO Configuration

@include 'common/ISOConfig.mdx'

#### Required:

@include 'common/ISOConfig-required.mdx'

#### Optional:

@include 'common/ISOConfig-not-required.mdx'

### CDRom Configuration

Each iso defined in the CDRom Configuration adds a new drive. If the "iso_url" is defined in
addition to the "iso_paths", the "iso_url" is added to the VM first. This keeps the "iso_url" first in
the boot order by default allowing the boot iso being defined by the iso_url and the vmware tools iso added
from the datastore. Example:

```json
"iso_urls": [
  "win10.iso",
  "http://example.org/isos/win10.iso"
],
"iso_paths": [
    "[] /usr/lib/vmware/isoimages/windows.iso"
],
```

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/CDRomConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Create Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/CreateConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Network Adapter Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/NIC-required.mdx'

### Storage Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/DiskConfig-required.mdx'

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/DiskConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Floppy Configuration

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/FloppyConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Export Configuration
<%= partial "partials/builder/vsphere/common/ExportConfig" %>

### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/vsphere/common/ExportConfig-not-required" %>

#### Output Configuration:

<%= partial "partials/builder/vsphere/common/OutputConfig-not-required" %>

### Extra Configuration Parameters

@include 'builder/vsphere/common/ConfigParamsConfig-not-required.mdx'

### Communicator configuration

#### Optional common fields:

@include 'helper/communicator/Config-not-required.mdx'

#### Optional Network Adapter fields:

@include 'builder/vsphere/iso/NIC-not-required.mdx'

#### Optional SSH fields:

@include 'helper/communicator/SSH-not-required.mdx'

#### Optional WinRM fields:

@include 'helper/communicator/WinRM-not-required.mdx'

## Working with Clusters

#### Standalone Hosts

Only use the `host` option. Optionally specify a `resource_pool`:

```
"host": "esxi-1.vsphere65.test",
"resource_pool": "pool1",
```

#### Clusters Without DRS

Use the `cluster` and `host`parameters:

```
"cluster": "cluster1",
"host": "esxi-2.vsphere65.test",
```

#### Clusters With DRS

Only use the `cluster` option. Optionally specify a `resource_pool`:

```
"cluster": "cluster2",
"resource_pool": "pool1",
```

## Required vSphere Permissions

- VM folder (this object and children):
  ```text
  Virtual machine -> Inventory
  Virtual machine -> Configuration
  Virtual machine -> Interaction
  Virtual machine -> Snapshot management
  Virtual machine -> Provisioning
  ```
  Individual privileges are listed in https://github.com/jetbrains-infra/packer-builder-vsphere/issues/97#issuecomment-436063235.
- Resource pool, host, or cluster (this object):
  ```text
  Resource -> Assign virtual machine to resource pool
  ```
- Host in clusters without DRS (this object):
  ```text
  Read-only
  ```
- Datastore (this object):
  ```text
  Datastore -> Allocate space
  Datastore -> Browse datastore
  Datastore -> Low level file operations
  ```
- Network (this object):
  ```text
  Network -> Assign network
  ```
- Distributed switch (this object):
  ```text
  Read-only
  ```

For floppy image upload:

- Datacenter (this object):
  ```text
  Datastore -> Low level file operations
  ```
- Host (this object):
  ```text
  Host -> Configuration -> System Management
  ```