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Very first installation with VMWare ESXi
Hi,
I'm really new with installing VMWARE ESXi, we lan to purchase DELL R720 rack server, so before we begin with VMware installtion in the server, what will be the initial steps? I was thinking something like below:
Installing Dell R720 server with Win 2008 Std Edition.
Installing Vmware ESXi on the server
Open the Vmware program ad start with creating guest operating systems.
I this the way we do installation to create virtual machine ?
I'm really new with installing VMWARE ESXi, we lan to purchase DELL R720 rack server, so before we begin with VMware installtion in the server, what will be the initial steps? I was thinking something like below:
Installing Dell R720 server with Win 2008 Std Edition.
Installing Vmware ESXi on the server
Open the Vmware program ad start with creating guest operating systems.
I this the way we do installation to create virtual machine ?
Asked:
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5 Solutions
No, you have the installation path all wrong.
ESXi is its own OS and will install on the r710.
During the install process, you will be prompted to enter information to configure the ESXi server itself.
Video instruction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBl1Tf2A4lA
Step by step instructions:
http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2010/06/vmware-esxi-installation-guide/
ESXi is its own OS and will install on the r710.
During the install process, you will be prompted to enter information to configure the ESXi server itself.
Video instruction:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBl1Tf2A4lA
Step by step instructions:
http://www.thegeekstuff.com/2010/06/vmware-esxi-installation-guide/
Probably good to read the vSphere Basics Guide: http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-50-basics-guide.pdf, then the Install Guide: http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-501-installation-setup-guide.pdf, then reference other docs as needed (probably VM Admin Guide 3rd).
See full list of docs here:
http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-pubs.html
Regards.
~coolsport00
See full list of docs here:
http://www.vmware.com/support/pubs/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-pubs.html
Regards.
~coolsport00
Nope :)
The correct is like follows:
1.) On bare bone server first login into your RAID management utility upon server start (right after BIOS POST procedure counts your RAM). Depending on your RAID controller, it is probably some CTRL+Some_key to go into RAID config.
Configure your RAID array:
- if you have 2 or 3 disks, I suggest RAID 1 (+ 1 disk as HotSpare in case of 3 disks)
- if you have 4 or more disks, I suggest RAID 10 as it is the fastest
- I do NOT recommend RAID 5 or 6, as it is low on performance, especially with SATA disks
Configure RAID array, and let it SLOW INITIALIZE (could take 4 or more hours, but it is worth it)
2.) Then download ESXi 5.x customized installation image ISO from DELL web site:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/Product/poweredge-r720
3.) Burn it to CD or DVD and install it to bare bone server. No Windows or anything!
4.) From there on, you will connect to IP of thet server when installed, download vSphere Client and with it you will setup your first Virtual Machine on ESXi
The correct is like follows:
1.) On bare bone server first login into your RAID management utility upon server start (right after BIOS POST procedure counts your RAM). Depending on your RAID controller, it is probably some CTRL+Some_key to go into RAID config.
Configure your RAID array:
- if you have 2 or 3 disks, I suggest RAID 1 (+ 1 disk as HotSpare in case of 3 disks)
- if you have 4 or more disks, I suggest RAID 10 as it is the fastest
- I do NOT recommend RAID 5 or 6, as it is low on performance, especially with SATA disks
Configure RAID array, and let it SLOW INITIALIZE (could take 4 or more hours, but it is worth it)
2.) Then download ESXi 5.x customized installation image ISO from DELL web site:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/Product/poweredge-r720
3.) Burn it to CD or DVD and install it to bare bone server. No Windows or anything!
4.) From there on, you will connect to IP of thet server when installed, download vSphere Client and with it you will setup your first Virtual Machine on ESXi
I would install ESXi onto a USB flash drive or SD card.
Here is the VMware KB on installing 4.1 on USB/SD:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1020655
Here is the VMware KB on installing 5.0 on USB/SD:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2004784
Here is the VMware KB on installing 4.1 on USB/SD:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1020655
Here is the VMware KB on installing 5.0 on USB/SD:
http://kb.vmware.com/kb/2004784
once the hosts are built you need a vcenter server as this is the master of all the hosts and a viclient on the same lan subnet to connect to the vcenter server
@hanccocka
Excellent idea, to install ESXi on USB key, but also in this case, he will need working RAID Array, already initialized. So SLOWLY intialized RAID array is cruicial in any case.
BTW - if installing on USB Key, it is advisable to connect it into USB port, which has the shortest wirings from USB port to USB controller. Many servers also have USB port on Mainboard, exactly for such installations. It is the best choice, as there are no connectors and wires inbetween.
Excellent idea, to install ESXi on USB key, but also in this case, he will need working RAID Array, already initialized. So SLOWLY intialized RAID array is cruicial in any case.
BTW - if installing on USB Key, it is advisable to connect it into USB port, which has the shortest wirings from USB port to USB controller. Many servers also have USB port on Mainboard, exactly for such installations. It is the best choice, as there are no connectors and wires inbetween.
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After you rack your server, you download the ESXi version you want to install (verify your Host is on VMware's Compatibility list here: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php). Then you burn the ESXi ISO to a CD and install ESXi *directly* on the server....this doesn't install on top of an OS. That's what makes it so great! :)
After you install ESXi, you can 'browse' to the server with your web browser (http://IPofHost), then click to 'Download vSphere Client'. Download & install the Client. Run it then enter the hostname in the server box, root for the user, then the pwd you gave the root user upon install.
~coolsport00