ESXi automated installation

I

inf3rno

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Hi!
I am new to ESXi. What I want to achieve is automatically install the OS on an x64 hardware from pendrive using Ventoy without having video card, IGP, screen or any kind of display solution. After installing it accessing it via SSH using key based auth on the local network. The hardware boots headless. Is this possible or should I buy a video card? Can you recommend a tutorial in the topic?
Regards,
inf3rno
 
Youll need to learn scripting to perform the fully automated install, and youll have to set the IP or name so you can get to it via SSH when the install is done, unless you have another way to find out what to SSH into,
Not sure why your asking if you should buy a video card if you know the hardware boots headless ?
Tutorial ? Google.com for whatever scripting method you want to learn
 
Why mess around at all?
PXE boot to ESXi installer that has a kick start in it. Have this set admin user/pass, temporary static IP address (+ other relevant net info), enable (temporary) password auth SSH.

Once booted post-install, have automation (either pyvmomi or powercli) to do all of your production config.

This isn't too difficult to do. Tons and tons of guides out there on each piece.
 
It's possible to install on another machine and then stick the USB stick / sd card into the machine you intend to run. That's probably the easiest solution if possible. I installed ESXi on my DL560 and then ran moved the USB drive into my DL580 an was able to use it without issue, not sure if that would make it easier. They are similar machines, but not identical, they have different RAID cards and different network cards. Obviously if you're installing to HDD or SDD you'd have to put that in the machine you're installing on and then swap when done if that's an option.
 
dbwillis said:
Youll need to learn scripting to perform the fully automated install, and youll have to set the IP or name so you can get to it via SSH when the install is done, unless you have another way to find out what to SSH into,
Not sure why your asking if you should buy a video card if you know the hardware boots headless ?
Tutorial ? Google.com for whatever scripting method you want to learn
Click to expand...
Because it is useful knowledge.
 
Ready4Dis said:
It's possible to install on another machine and then stick the USB stick / sd card into the machine you intend to run. That's probably the easiest solution if possible. I installed ESXi on my DL560 and then ran moved the USB drive into my DL580 an was able to use it without issue, not sure if that would make it easier. They are similar machines, but not identical, they have different RAID cards and different network cards. Obviously if you're installing to HDD or SDD you'd have to put that in the machine you're installing on and then swap when done if that's an option.
Click to expand...
No other computer with M2 slot, but I am about to buy one. I borrowed a videocard and a screen and installed it meanwhile.
 
Just curious why you would waste space on your m.2 for esxi. One of the benefits of esxi over something like prkxmox is that it can run from USB or sdcard, which you can easily backup and replace (or in a real server have an installed backup). Sure the boot will take a few more seconds, but once it's loaded there is no difference and you can have 100% of your m.2 space for VMs.
 
Thought I would throw my 2c on the usb/sdcard vs m.2. From vmware, they do not recommend running esxi on usb/sdcard do to limitations. I don't know if it was just old or this issue, but the sdcard I use in my home stuff failed. I did replace it with another because it's convenient and I have 2 running for HA. If this is just lab and to mess around with, go nuts with usb/sdcard but if prod or something more critical at home, I would stick with standard ssd/hdd or m.2 formats for esxi.

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/85685
https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/20...-consideration-vmware-technical-guidance.html
 
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