VMware ESXi Installation
In this section, we look at the steps required to install VMware ESXi hypervisor Version 6.7 on a Cisco UCS C-Series server. The steps to install ESXi hypervisor Version 7.0 are exactly the same.
Step 1. Log in to the KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) Console of the server and activate virtual devices (Virtual Media, Activate Virtual Devices), as shown in Figure 18-12.
Figure 18-12 Activating Virtual Devices
Step 2. Map the drive where the ISO image of the ESXi hypervisor is located to the virtual CD/DVD device on the KVM Console (Virtual Media, Map CD/DVD, locate the ISO, Map Drive), as shown in Figures 18-13 and 18-14.
Figure 18-13 Mapping the ESXi Hypervisor ISO Image (1)
Figure 18-14 Mapping the ESXi Hypervisor ISO Image (2)
Step 3. Reset the system and enter the boot menu by pressing F6 when Cisco BIOS screen with the Cisco logo appears (Power, Reset System (warm boot), press F6 on Cisco BIOS screen), as shown in Figures 18-15 and 18-16.
Figure 18-15 Rebooting the Server
Figure 18-16 Entering the Boot Menu
Step 4. Choose Cisco vKVM-Mapped vDVD1.24 as the boot device and press Enter (see Figure 18-17). Then select the VMware ESXi Installer from the VMware ESXi boot menu (see Figure 18-18).
Figure 18-17 Selecting vKVM-Mapped vDVD as the Boot Device
Figure 18-18 Selecting the ESXi Installer
Step 5. Once the installer loads, press Enter to begin the installation (see Figure 18-19). On the End User License Agreement (EULA) page, press F11 to proceed (see Figure 18-20).
Figure 18-19 Beginning the ESXi Installation
Figure 18-20 Accepting the EULA
Step 6. Choose a disk (local or remote) where you want to install the ESXi hypervisor (see Figure 18-21).
Figure 18-21 Choosing a Disk for ESXi Installation
Step 7. Choose a keyboard layout (see Figure 18-22) and set the root password for the ESXi host (see Figure 18-23), which will be used to log in to the ESXi host later.
Figure 18-22 Choosing a Keyboard Layout
Figure 18-23 Setting the Root Password for ESXi Hypervisor
Step 8. Press F11 to confirm the installation of the ESXi hypervisor (see Figure 18-24). Once the installation is complete, press Enter to reboot the server (see Figure 18-25). The completed installation initiates a CD-ROM eject call, which unmounts the virtual ESXi ISO image we mapped earlier in Step 2.
Figure 18-24 Confirming the ESXi Installation
Figure 18-25 Rebooting the Server After the ESXi Hypervisor Is Installed
Step 9. Once the reboot has completed, you will see the VMware ESXi home screen (see Figure 18-26). This completes the ESXi installation on the server. Before you can connect to the HTTP management of the newly installed ESXi hypervisor, you need to configure its management network and connectivity options. There are two ways to configure a management IP address on an ESXi hypervisor: via DHCP automatic IP assignment or via static IP configuration.
Figure 18-26 ESXi Hypervisor Home Screen
Step 10. To configure the management IP address statically, press F2 and log in using the root password to go to the System Customization menu (see Figure 18-27). In the System Customization menu, select Configure Management Network and press Enter (see Figure 18-28).
Figure 18-27 Authenticating with Root Credentials for the System Customization Menu
Figure 18-28 System Customization Menu
Step 11. Here, you can select which network adapter will be used for management network connectivity as well as what VLAN it will be on. Also, you can configure the static IP address along with the gateway for the management interface (see Figures 18-29 and 18-30).
Figure 18-29 Management Network Configuration Menu
Figure 18-30 IPv4 Configuration for ESXi Management Network
Step 12. SSH access to the ESXi hypervisor can be enabled from Troubleshooting Options under the System Customization menu (see Figure 18-31).
Figure 18-31 Troubleshooting Options for ESXi Hypervisor
Step 13. Once you configure the management network, you can connect to the ESXi hypervisor at https://<ManagementIPoftheESXiServer> (see Figures 18-32 and 18-33).
Figure 18-32 ESXi Hypervisor Login Page
Figure 18-33 ESXi Hypervisor Home Page