A Content Library is a container object to store templates, vApps, or other files that can be shared across multiple vCenter Server instances in the same or different locations to ensure consistency and compliance within the infrastructure.

vSphere 6.5 introduced new features and some enhancements that improve performance and recoverability. You can now mount an ISO directly from the Content Library, apply a guest OS customization during VM deployment, and update existing templates. The Content Library is now included in the vSphere 6.5 backup/restore service as well as the VC HA feature set. A VM template, a vApp template, or another type of file in a library is defined as a library item that can contain a single or multiple files (ISO, OVF, and so on).

You can create two types of Content Library:

• Local: This is used to store items on a single vCenter Server instance that can be published to allow other users from other vCenter Servers to subscribe
• Subscribed library: This is created when you subscribe to a published library and can be created in the same vCenter Server of the published library or in a different vCenter Server instance

If the subscribed library is created in a different vCenter Server, the option to download all contents or metadata only can be configured in the Create Library wizard. To keep the content of a subscribed library up to date, the subscribed library automatically synchronizes to the source published library on a regular basis. Synchronization of the subscribed library can also be done manually.

To create a Content Library, proceed as follows:

1. From vSphere Client, access vCenter Server and from the menu, select Content Libraries and click on the create a new library icon with the + sign to open the Create Library wizard.
2. Enter a name and a description in the note field then click Next.
3. Specify the type of Content Library you want to create (local or subscribed) then click Next.
4. Select the datastore used to store the library's content and click Next.
5. Review the settings and click Finish to create the library.

6. Right-click on the created Content Library and select the Import item option to import content to the library:

7. You can import contents by specifying a URL or a local file. If you import the content from a local file, you locate the file through the Browse... button. You can also edit the name of the item to better identify the template. Click OK to import the required item.
8. If more than an item has been imported into the library, the Templates or Other Library Items columns display the number of actual items available.