VMware

vSphere ESXi Deployment Guide

(ESXi Step by Step Installation)

By Ronan Smyth, vSphere On Fiverr

This book details the basic installation steps to deploy an ESXi server on your network.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or
given away to other people. If you like to share this book with another person, please
purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with.
Copyright © 2016 Ronan Smyth. All rights reserved. Including the right to reproduce this
book or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form
without the express written permission of the author.
Version 2016.09.05
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
Step 1 ESXi Installation
Step 2 ESXi Networking
Step 3 vSphere Desktop Client







Prerequisites
A. Download the ESXi software from my.vmware.com.

B. Create ESXi host DNS records.

Notes: If you are not using DNS then adding local host entries is required.
Step 1 ESXi Installation
A. Mount the ESXi installation ISO file if you are building remotely e.g. iLO.

B. Boot from CD-ROM to start the ESXi installer if you are building locally.
C. Select Enter to continue installation.

Notes: Check the server BIOS settings to verify that the boot order list the CD ROM drive
first.
D. Select F11 to accept EULA.

E. Select the Local Logical Volume and Select Enter.

Notes: Do not present any storage to the server until the ESXi installation is complete.

F. Select required language, and Select Enter.

G. Enter the root password.

Notes: Consider using a strong complex password to prevent brute force attacks.
H. Select F11.

I. Select Enter to reboot.

Step 2 ESXi Networking
A. Select F2 to configure the host for the first time.

B. Enter the root password and Select Enter.
C. Select Configure Management Network

Select VLAN
Enter the require VLAN ID
Select Enter
D. Select Configure Management Network

Select IP Configuration
Select Set static IP
Enter IP/Subnet Mask/Default Gateway
Select Enter

Notes: leave a blank if you are not using VLAN tagging

E. Select Configure Management Network

Select DNS Configuration.

Enter Primary/Alternate DNS IP
Enter <Hostname>,
Select Enter

F. Select Configure Management Network

Select Custom DNS Suffixes

Enter <site DNS suffixes>
Select Enter

G. Select ESC to return to the previous menu and Select yes to confirm management
network restart.

Notes: Run a ping against the ESXi host name or IP address to verify network
connectivity.



Step 3 vSphere Desktop Client
A. Install the vSphere Desktop Client.

B. Select the require language.

Notes: Download the vSphere desktop client (part of the vCenter software bundle) from
my.vmware.com.
C. Select Next to start the installation.

D. Accept the End User License Agreement (EULA) and Select Next.
E. Select Next to continue.

F. Select Install.

G. Select Finish to complete the installation.

H. Logon to the ESXi host with the root account.

Notes: This completes the basic ESXi installation and network configuration. In the next
book we will look at the vCenter Deployment Guide, how to create a High Availability
cluster and add ESXi hosts to the cluster.