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VMWare essentials kit - installation shortcut

i have purchased a new VMware Vsphere essentials kit today. lots to download. any one have an easy installation guide ? do i need ms server os first, then which do in instal?

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

Rixliau

ASKER

Hi Andrew,

thnx for the detailed reply. I will definitely go through the guide step by step.

I did research since my posting, and tried many times to instal esxi from cd.

Unfortunately, it refuses to instal. I recall reading from web somewhere about bios setting on asus motherboard Z87m-plus ; but cant seem to find it again. i have also checked out your step 1 - on bios, but cant seem to make it work. I have missed some setting.

The cd rom is confirmed usable.

Am kinda frustrated.

do you happen to have a detailed step by step guide on bios, if on asus uefi bios utility, it would be fantastic......

rgds,

richard

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

The first thing you must check, when installing VMware vSphere (ESXi), is if your server is on the HCL. As you do not mention a server name, it suggests you are trying to install, on what we call a "whitebox", which just may not be compatible.

Check the VMware Hardware Compatability Lists HCL here

The VMware Hardware Compatibility List is the detailed lists showing actual vendor devices that are either physically tested or are similar to the devices tested by VMware or VMware partners. Items on the list are tested with VMware products and are known to operate correctly.Devices which are not on the list may function, but will not be supported by VMware.

http://www.vmware.com/go/hcl

Whitebox HCL

The Whitebox Hardware Compatability Lists is a list put together by the community that have had success with whitebox servers, e.g. unbranded or homebrew, DIY servers, which have been found to work with VMware Products.

http://www.vm-help.com//esx40i/esx40_whitebox_HCL.php

VMware Communities

This list is maintained and put together by members of the VMware community forum, that have had success in building whitebox servers.

http://communities.vmware.com/cshwsw.jspa

Rixliau

ASKER

Hi Andrew,

thnx for the quick reply.

I bought the 3 yr vm essentials kits for usd 666 specifically to research the power of vm sphere.

component used :
iNTEL I5-4440
asus z87m-plus mother board ( too new - the above links provided pointed to older (free) versions of esxi4. Couldn't find a related link to esxi5.o HCL )
2 x 8 gig ram, 2 x 2 TB Seagate barracuda sata hdd
external usb plug in archgan dvd RW

I managed to find unetbootin usb installer, and it appears to be loading now. hit a no network adapters error. will continue to work on it using your guide above.

rgds,

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)

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Rixliau

ASKER

Andrew,

thanks for the above very critical pieces of information.

I should not have assumed that it was moderate easy to instal.....

was at shops, no one sells the intel nics. I have purchased it on amazon, and it should be here in 5-10 days in Malaysia.

will continue to plug along, but will specifically look at HCL here on in.

cheers n many thnx for the info.

Edited: Andrew Hancock
VMware Zone Advisor