This blog will be about installing the ESX server from scratch. Once you have mounted the iso or created the nested VM, check out the previous blog post hear https://agileops.co.uk/how-to-install-nested-esxi-server/  if you are doing nexted setup to enabled nested ESX installation.

1. Installation

   Boot the server or VM with ESXi CD

   

   It may take some time to load the installation files and you will start to see the very famious Gray and Yellow screen

   

   Welcome Screen will pop up once the installation files are loaded. You will have two choices ESC to Cancel or Enter to Continue as shown below:

   
   

   You will need to press F11 to Accept and Continue
   

   
   

   You will then need to select the location to install your ESXi Server as my setup is nested ESX and I have allocated 40GB VMDK file you can see it here select and click Enter to continue.
   

   
   
   

Next you will be asked to select the Keyboard layout. I have selected UK and Click on Enter to continue

You will then be selecting a root password, need to be alpha numeric and make sure you remember it or you might need to re-install the ESXi again if you forgot it.

Click Enter to Continue

Nearly done, you will be given a Waring that the disk will be repartitioned so this is the final stage click F11 to install

Note if you are upgrading you will not be asked for entering root password however you will be asked few options

1. In place Upgrade
2. Upgrade as new OS

   You can now sit back and watch the installation should not take more than 4 to 5 minutes.

   

Once the installation is completed you will be asked to press Enter to reboot.

1. Configuration

   In the configuration section you will learn how to configure the ESXi host, assign IPaddress, DNS, Gateway Address using DCUI.

   The Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) allows you to interact with the host.

   Press F2 to login to the DCUI.

   

   Enter the root password which you have chosen during the installation

   

   The first thing you will be doing is configuring the Management Network

   

   Scroll down to the IPv4 Configuration

   

   Configure the following:

   1. Set static IPv4 address and network configuration
   2. IPv4 Address
   3. Subnet Mask
   4. Default Gateway
   5. Press Enter to save and exit.

      

      Then Set option to Use the folloing DNS server address and hostname

      then setup your DNS and the host name

      

      Finally set the Suffixes, and press Enter.

      

      Then press Esc to exit

      

      You will see a pop up appring for confirmation

      Press Y

      

      You can test the configuration by clicking Test Management Network

      

   How to add a host to a cluster in vCenter

   1. Right click on the cluster and click on Add host

      

      Give the host name and root password. Click on Next accept the thumbprint.

      

      You will see the security alert for sha1 thumbprint click on OK.

      

      Click on Next

      

      Click on Finish

      Finally you will be able to see your host added in the cluster

      

You will find a full video tutorial on how to install nested ESX on my YouTube channel, or you can follow the step by step instructions below.

We will first start by creating a new virtual machine

Select the Create a new virtual machine

Click Next

Give a name for the VM, in my case as this is going to an ESXi 7 I have given esx-03.agiileops.co.uk. Select the DataCenter and

Click Next

Select the computer cluster and host if required.

Click Next

Select the Datastore or storage,

Click Next

Select the compatible

Click Next

Select the Guest OS Family Other

Guest OS Version VMware ESXi7 or later. If you wish to install old version of ESXi server select the appropriate options as given below,

Now this is the most important step for Nested Installation of ESX

Note Expand CPU and on the Hardware virtualization tick the option Expose hardware assisted virtualization to the guest OS.

Then Expand New Hard disk,

Edit the New Hard disk select Disk Provisioning to Thin Provision

Click Next

Click Finish

Now you can open VMRC and start the ESXi Installation after mounting the ISO.

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One of the amazing benefits about VMworld is you get to see things which are open secret. We all know that the next version of esxi will be out but I got an opportunity to see it running on on the ARM booth on VMworld Europe.
The guys had around 7 different demos running on the same booth.
The one i have shown in the video are the ESXi version 6.9 on arm hardware and ESXi 7.0.0 Raspberry Pi enjoy watching!

Don’t forget to watch this quick video of the demo

ESX version 6.9.2 running on arm hardware

Arm Booth with multiple demos