Installing a VMware ESXi 5.0 Host

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VMware ESXi install

I needed to install ESXi 5.0 on a new HP blade server. I downloaded the ESXi ISO image from VMware, but it did not work! Turns out that HP has a OEM version of the ESXi image, with the necessary ethernet Flex-NIC drivers already bundled. So, I downloaded the HP OEM ESXi 5.0 image, installed it on the blade server, and it worked flawlessly!

The correct image for HP blade servers is called 5.0_Oct_2011_ESXi_HD-USB-SDImageInstlr_Z7550-00253.iso and can be downloaded from the following link. You will need to setup a login to receive the download:

https://h20392.www2.hp.com/portal/swdepot/displayProductInfo.do?productNumber=HPVM09

  1. Connect DVD player to host and power on machine:
    • Using HP servers, you need to connect to the iLO console. If your not using HP, use an approptiate equivalent.
    • Connect the DVD ISO image to the host machine’s DVD.
      (More detail: Within the HP iLO, click the Virtual Drives menu | click the Image File CD-ROM/DVD checkbox.)
      (Even more detail: Browse to the locally saved HP ESXi ISO image and click the Open button.)
    • Once the DVD is connected, power on the host machine.
      (More deatil: On the HP iLO, Select the Power Switch menu | Momentary Press menu item.)
      (Note: By default, the HP BIOS boots from DVD first. If this does not work, alter the BIOS to boot from DVD.)
  2. Acknowledge license agreement and install ESXi operating system:
    • The “Welcome to VMware ESXi 5.0.0 Installation” screen presents itself.
    • Click the button to continue.
    • Click the F11 button to accept the license agreement.
    • The “Select a Disk to Install or Upgrade” screen presents itself.
    • Press the key to continue.
    • Press the key to confirm the overwrite.
    • Press the key to confirm a US Default keyboard.
    • Enter the root password twice, and press the key.
    • Press the F11 button to confirm the installation should proceed.
  3. Disconnect DVD player and reboot machine:
    • The “Installation Complete” screen presents itself.
    • Disconnect the DVD ISO from the host machine.
      (More detail: In HP iLO, select the Virtual Drives menu | uncheck the Image File CD-ROM/DVD checkbox.)
    • Back on the VMware screen, press the key to reboot.
  4. Assign IP address, DNS, and host name:
    • Once the host has rebooted, the VMware grey/yellow welcome screen presents itself.
    • Press the F2 button to customize the system.
    • Enter the host credentials you setup during installation and hit the button.
    • The “System Customization” screen presents itself.
    • Use the arrow keys to highlight “Configure Management Network” and hit the button.
      (Note: the mouse will not function because there is no mouse driver for ESXi.)
      (Another note: if the screen display darkens, click the space bar to reactivate it.)
    • The “Configure Management Network” screen presents itself.
    • Highlight “IP Configuration” and click the button.
      (Note: Adapter vmnic0 defaults to being assigned to the management network, which is generally correct.)
    • Use the down arrow to highlight “Set Static IP…” checkbox and click the spacebar.
    • Use the down arrow to highlight “IP Address” field, click backspace, enter IP.
    • Use the down arrow to highlight “Subnet Mask” field, click backspace, enter mask.
    • Use the down arrow to highlight “Default Gateway” field, click backspace, enter gateway.
    • Hit the key to save changes.
    • You will be back viewing the “Configure Management Network” screen.
    • Use the down arrow to highlight “DNS Configuration” and click the button.
    • Enter the first DNS server IP address.
    • Enter the second DNS server IP address.
    • Enter the fully qualified host name.
    • Hit the key to save changes.
    • You will be back viewing the “Configure Management Network” screen.
    • Click the button to exit and save your changes.
    • Press the “Y” key to acknowledge the save request.
  5. Validate management network:
    • You will be back viewing the “System Configuration” screen.
    • Using the arrow keys, highlight “Test Management Network” menu item.
    • Hit the key to enter the test screen.
    • Hit the key to initiate the test.
    • Hit the key to confirm the test ran successfully.
      (Note: if something fails, you may have made a typo or your network equipment may be setup incorrectly.)
    • Hit the key to exit the test results screen.
    • You will be back viewing the “System Configuration” screen.
    • Press the key to logout.

Now, you can use the vSphere 5.0 client to connect to the host server, define storage, setup networking, create virtual machines, ect.