A method of validating a desired image of a virtualization software and a firmware package to be installed in a plurality of hosts against a hardware compatibility list (HCL) includes: acquiring hardware inventory of the hosts to determine hardware devices installed therein; for each of the hardware devices, searching for firmware and driver thereof in the HCL; for each driver included in the desired image that corresponds to one of the hardware devices, determining whether or not the driver is compatible according to the HCL; for each firmware included in the firmware package that corresponds to one of the hardware devices, determining whether or not the firmware is compatible according to the HCL; and validating the desired image of the virtualization software and the firmware package to be installed in the hosts if each of the hardware device has a compatible driver and a compatible firmware.