# Where is the vSphere customization specification documentation?

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/where-is-the-vsphere-customization-specification-documentation/38177>\
**Category:** Ansible Project\
**Tags:** windows, vmware\
**Created:** [June 30, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/where-is-the-vsphere-customization-specification-documentation/38177 "2023-06-30T15:15:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tlemons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@tlemons](https://forum.ansible.com/u/tlemons)\
**Post date:** [June 30, 2023, 3:15pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/where-is-the-vsphere-customization-specification-documentation/38177/1 "2023-06-30T15:15:38Z")

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Hi

Several Ansible modules, as well as govc ([https://github.com/vmware/govmomi/blob/main/govc/USAGE.md#vmcustomize](https://github.com/vmware/govmomi/blob/main/govc/USAGE.md#vmcustomize)) use vSphere customization specifications. I’ve searched but I haven’t found vSphere (or other) documentation on the key:value pairs that are available for use in the customization specification files consumed by govc and others.

Where can I find this documentation? I particularly want to figure out how to set the Windows ‘administrator’ password as I deploy a vSphere VM.

Thanks!  
tl

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Will\_McDonald](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f475e1/32.png) [@Will\_McDonald](https://forum.ansible.com/u/Will_McDonald)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2023, 5:39pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/where-is-the-vsphere-customization-specification-documentation/38177/2 "2023-07-05T17:39:32Z")

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I haven’t done any vmware provisioning with ansible for a while but this looks like it might help get you started in terms of what can go into a customisation spec.

[https://developer.vmware.com/apis/vsphere-automation/latest/vcenter/data-structures/Vm/Guest/Customization/SetSpec/](https://developer.vmware.com/apis/vsphere-automation/latest/vcenter/data-structures/Vm/Guest/Customization/SetSpec/)

If you skim a few of the ‘how do I do customisation specification’ how-tos most people create them via the UI but you can then export/import/view in the datastore.

[https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vm\_admin.doc/GUID-EB5F090E-723C-4470-B640-50B35D1EC016.html](https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/7.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vm_admin.doc/GUID-EB5F090E-723C-4470-B640-50B35D1EC016.html)  
[https://www.bdrsuite.com/blog/what-is-vmware-vm-customization-specification-and-how-to-use-it/](https://www.bdrsuite.com/blog/what-is-vmware-vm-customization-specification-and-how-to-use-it/)  
[https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2017/10/using-vmware-vsphere-vm-customization-specification/](https://www.virtualizationhowto.com/2017/10/using-vmware-vsphere-vm-customization-specification/)  
[https://www.vladan.fr/what-is-vmware-vm-customization-specification-and-how-to-use-it/](https://www.vladan.fr/what-is-vmware-vm-customization-specification-and-how-to-use-it/)

In your shoes, I’d try to grab an ESX & vCenter trial (or VMUG Advantage Sub), build a nested environment and work through the steps .