1. Installing VMware ESX and ESXi
Module 14

2. Importance
A VMware® ESX™/ESXi host provides the physical resources used to run virtual machines. A correctly installed ESX/ESXi host can reduce the support costs and impact performance.
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

3. Module Objectives Describe how to install ESX
Describe how to install ESXi:
Interactive
Scripted
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

4. Installing ESX
You can install ESX through a graphical or a text-based interface. Or you can install ESX through a script.
The ESX installer prompts you for:
License key
Network adapter for the service console and optional VLAN ID
IP settings: IP address, subnet mask, gateway, primary DNS address, and secondary DNS address
Host name
Time zone
Date and time, and optional NTP server
Root password
Location of installation ISO image
In the ESX installer, you select the standard or the advanced setup.
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

5. ESX Partitions
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

6. ESXi Installable Hardware Prerequisites
Processor – 64-bit x86 CPU:
Up to 128 logical CPUs (cores or hyperthreads)
Memory – 2GB RAM minimum, 1TB maximum
One or more Ethernet controllers:
Gigabit or 10Gb Ethernet controllers are supported.
For best performance and security, use separate Ethernet controllers for the management network and the virtual machine networks.
Disk storage:
A SCSI adapter, Fibre Channel adapter, iSCSI adapter, or internal RAID controller
A SCSI disk, Fibre Channel LUN, iSCSI disk, or RAID LUN with unpartitioned space:
SATA, SCSI, SAS
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

7. Installing ESXi Installable
You must have the ESXi 4.1 Installable ISO file on CD or DVD media.
Boot from the CD or DVD to start the ESXi installer.
Make sure that you select the correct disk.
In this example, the local device is Disk9. All other disks are located on the Fibre Channel (fc) SAN.
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

8. ESXi Partitions
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

9. Scripted ESXi Host Installations
Scripted installations provide an efficient way to deploy multiple hosts:
Noninteractive, fast, error-free
Multiple simultaneous installations
Repeatable (disaster recovery)
Can be integrated with PXE boot server
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 9

10. Scripted Installation Process
To perform a scripted installation:
Create an installation script:
Custom script using script commands
Default script: ks.cfg
Default ks.cfg script is located at /etc/VMware/weasel/ks.cfg
Make the installation media accessible to the host:
CD/DVD
USB flash drive
Media depot, accessible by HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, NFS
Start the installer.
Boot from local CD/DVD-ROM drive or from PXE boot server.
Enter boot command to run the installation script.
Example: ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 10

11. Default Installation Script: ks.cfg
The default installation script ks.cfg contains the following commands:
vmaccepteula
Accept the ESXi license agreement.
rootpw mypassword
Set the root password to “mypassword.”
autopart –firstdisk –overwritevmfs
Choose the first discovered disk to install on to.
install cdrom
The installation media is in the CD-ROM drive.
network –bootproto=dhcp –device=vmnic0
Set the network to DHCP on the first network adapter.
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 11

12. Module Summary Describe how to install ESX
Describe how to install ESXi:
Interactive
Scripted
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

13. Key Points ESXi Embedded comes preinstalled on its host.
ESXi Installable and ESX require you to install the software.
Scripted installations provide an efficient way to deploy multiple hosts.
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

14. Partitions Size Minimum
vmkcore Mb
boot Partition Gb
/ root partition Gb
var/log partition Gb
swap partition 600 Mb to 1.6 Gb