New VMware ESXi Server - Configuration

Checklist
A checklist for the proper planning, installation, configuration, and security of a new ESXi
Server.
Introduction
In this article, VMware ESX Video author, I will provide a step by step configuration checklist
for the proper planning, installation, configuration, and security of a new ESXi Server. hile
installing ESXi is not difficult, installing it properly is.
Let us begin
!ne of the best things about VMware ESXi "besides being free# is that it is $uick and easy to
install. %owever, there is &ore to properly configuring it than 'ust getting it installed. (ot only
do you want it installed but you also want it configured to function for all your future needs and
to do so securely. )et us see how to do 'ust that.
VMware ESXi New Server Checklist
I will break this new VMware ESXi Server Installation *hecklist into + phases,
1. Installation
2. Console Configuration
3. VI Client Configuration
)et us get started with the Installation phase-
Installing VMware ESXi Server
1. Verify that your hardware is compatible with VMware ESXi. Use the VMware HCL
(hardware o!"ati#ilit$ list%.
2. If $ou do not ha&e it alread$' $ou will need to download an evaluation copy (or
"urhase a o"$% of VMware ESXi. (ortunatel$ it is free and not too terri#l$ large to
download. )ou an download it at the VMware ESXi Ser&er free download site.
3. *rior to the ESXi Installation' $ou should review your server BIOS settings. )ou will
want to ena#le V+ if $ou want to ha&e ,- #it guests and disa#le .I/S ontroller "ower
!anage!ent. 0s with the installation of an$ o"erating s$ste!' $ou want to !a1e sure
that the #oot order is going to allow $ou to #oot fro! the ESXi installation !edia.
-. Insert your installation media and boot up ESXi. In !$ ase' I "erfor!ed the
Installation inside VMware 2or1station using !$ &ideo instrutions on Installing VMware
ESXi inside VMware 2or1station whih allowed !e to get these installation sna"shots.
3. +$"iall$' $ou will ta1e all the defaults in the installation. Here are so!e sa!"le sreen
shots with o!!ents of what to do at eah "ort' #elow the! in the o!!ents4
Figure 1: ESXi Installation
Figure 2: .ress Enter to begin Installation
Figure 3: .ress Enter to Accept the default hard drive for install
Figure : .ress /00 to Install ESXi
Figure !: .ress Enter to reboot
VMware ESXi Console Configuration
!nce ESXi has successfully installed and rebooted, we have a list of tasks to perfor& at the
console level to properly configure it. 1his 2ESXi *onsole3 as I call it is technically called the
4irect console user interface "4*5I# but for the purposes of this article, let us 'ust call it the
2ESXi *onsole3.
"ress F2 to custo&i6e the ESXi Server using the console "below#.
Figure #: !nce booted, press /7 to *usto&i6e
8oing down the list fro& the top to botto& of the console interface, here is our list of what we
need to configure at the console level,
1. onfigure the root password
Figure $: *onfiguring the root password on a VMware ESXi Server
2. onfigure !anagement "etwor# 5 the networ1ing for the ESXi Ser&er is alled the
6!anage!ent networ17 so in this ste"' $ou need to onfigure the I* address' su#net
!as1' and default gatewa$. 2hile $our ser&er will li1el$ start out with an I* address
o#tained fro! 8HC*' as this is a ser&er' $ou need to onfigure a stati I* address.
Figure %: configuring the static I. Manage&ent in ESXi
3. Configure $"S Servers on this ESXi Ser&er 5 9ust as $ou tell $our *C what 8:S
Ser&ers to use and what the do!ain is that it should use' $ou also need to tell $our ESXi
Ser&er. ;o into $"S Settings inside $"S onfiguration to gi&e this ser&er the 8:S
Ser&er I*<s and its hostna!e.
Figure &: Assigning 4(S Server Installation for ESXi Server
-. :e=t' $ou need to add a ustom $"S Suffi%es to assign the 8:S Suffi= for this ESXi
ser&er.
Figure 1': Assigning a *usto& 4(S Suffi9
(ow, E(it the Manage&ent (etwork *onfiguration by pressing ESC. :ou will be pro&pted to
confir& that you want to save this new configuration. Make sure that you accept the new
configuration with a ) for )ES*
Figure 11: Accepting *hanges to the Manage&ent (etwork
3. +o ensure that this ser&er is "ro"erl$ onfigured' $ou should use the &est !anagement
"etwor# funtion in the onsole' li1e this4
Figure 12: 1esting the Manage&ent (etwork
hat is this; !ur Manage&ent (etwork 1est failed; 1his points out that we need to &ake sure
that this ESX host is able to resolve 4(S and above to resolve its own 4(S hostna&e. (ow, let
us add it.
,. +o resol&e the fat that this ESX host is not in 8:S' go to $our 8:S Ser&er and !a1e a
host entr$ for the new ESX host' li1e this4
Figure 13: Adding a indows 4(S Server host entry for the new ESXi host
/ro& here, we are done with the console configuration so let us &ove onto ad&inistering the
new server using VMware<s VI *lient.
VI Client Configuration
1. Connet to $our &Center Ser&er and add the new ESXi ser&er to &Center. 0uthori>e as
the root user and I reo!!end ena#ling lo1 down !ode at this ti!e.
Figure 1: Adding the new ESXi %ost
2. onfigure 'icensing 5 if $ou ha&e the &Center Ser&er liensing onfigured to 6hange
host liense ser&er settings to !ath these VirtualCenter Ser&er settings whene&er a
host is added to the in&entor$7 then the new ESXi Ser&er liensing should #e
auto!atiall$ onfigured. Still' $ou should he1 $our liensing for the new ser&er and
&erif$ that it is "ro"erl$ liensed (not an e&aluation% and that an$ o"tional features $ou
need (li1e VC. or VMotion% are ena#led.
Figure 1!: *hecking )icensing for an ESX host
3. onnect ESXi Server to S(" 5 iSCSI or (C. (or !ore infor!ation on ESX Ser&er and
iSCSI' see !$ artiles How to reate an ine="ensi&e iSCSI S0: for VMware ESX and
Connet VMware ESX Ser&er to a free iSCSI S0: using /"enfiler.
-. onfigure "&) Server * Start "&) 5 it is i!"ortant to ha&e the "ro"er ti!e onfigured
on $our ESXi Ser&ers for a &ariet$ of reasons (logging' seurit$' iSCSI authentiation%
and :+* is the orret wa$ to do this. +o ena#le :+*' go to the onfiguration for $our
ser&er' li1 on &ime onfiguration' and then li1 )roperties.
Figure 1#
Add a new (1. Server such as +ool*nt+*org
Figure 1$
1hen set (1. to Start ,uto-aticall. and then Start N/"*
3. onsider Security + while ESXi is a &er$ seure /S alread$ (e&en !ore seure than
the regular ESX Ser&er%' I enourage $ou to onsider the seurit$ i!"liations of it. Here
are a ou"le of things $ou an do?
a. @ead the VMware VI Seurit$ Hardening ;uide and onsider what it reo!!ends.
+his guide was reentl$ u"dated to o&er ESXi (ESX 3i 3.3%.
#. ;et on the u"date list to #e notified when the new &ersion of +ri"2ire ConfigChe1
will #e released whih will su""ort ESXi (3i%. +his is a &er$ "owerful tool and I highl$
reo!!end it #ut' so far' it onl$ su""orts ESX Ser&er (not ESXi%. +he$ ha&e an e!ail
notifiation list $ou an Aoint to #e notified when the new ESXi &ersion is released.
,. onsider $ocumentation * ommunication 5 these are two areas that are too often
forgotten. 2hen adding an$ new ser&er' $ou need to u"date $our dou!entation'
hardware in&entor$' networ1 !anage!ent' and !ore. )ou also need to notified other
ad!inistrators that the new ser&er is a&aila#le and how to ad!inister it.
B. If $ou will #e wantig to gain aess to the o!!and line on $our ESXi ser&er' read !$
artile How to 0ess the VMware ESXi Hidden Console
C. Configure o"tions features' suh as &Motion' VC.' andDor other #a1u" solutions.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adding a new VMware ESXi Server should be $uick and easy. %owever, there are
often &any parts of adding that new server that are forgotten until later. =y having a $uick
checklist for installation and configuration, adding that new server can be easier and you will
save ti&e in the long run.