Transcript Installing VMware ESX and ESXi

Installing VMware ESX and ESXi
Module 14
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
Module Objectives
 Describe how to install ESX
 Describe how to install ESXi:
 Interactive
 Scripted
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A
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
ESX Partitions
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A
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
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
ESXi Partitions
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A
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
Scripted Installation Process
To perform a scripted installation:
1. 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
2. Make the installation media accessible to the host:
 CD/DVD
 USB flash drive
 Media depot, accessible by HTTP/HTTPS, FTP, NFS
3. Start the installer.
 Boot from local CD/DVD-ROM drive or from PXE boot server.
4. Enter boot command to run the installation script.
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A
 Example: ks=cdrom:/ks.cfg
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
Module Summary
 Describe how to install ESX
 Describe how to install ESXi:
 Interactive
 Scripted
VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A
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
Partitions Size Minimum
vmkcore
110 Mb
boot Partition
1.1 Gb
/ root partition
var/log partition
swap partition
5
Gb
2
Gb
600 Mb to 1.6 Gb