VMware ESXi 6.5 has been released last month and I decide to share with you how I have deployed ESXi 6.5 from a USB stick and with an unattend file. There is no major new feature with ESXi 6.5 related to deployment from unattended file. But I decide to build a vSphere lab and deploy ESXi node without a click.
This topic shows you how to prepare a USB stick and an unattend file to deploy nearly automatically ESXi 6.5.
Architecture overview
In order that the following deployment works, I have done some configurations from a network perspective. I have configured the following:
- DHCP Server
- DNS Server (forward and reverse lookup zone)
The network address space is 10.10.50.0/24. In the DHCP server configuration, I have set a static IP for both ESXi:
Below you can find the forward lookup zone configuration in the Synology:
And below, you can find the reverse lookup zone:
Thanks to this configuration, the ESXi will obtain its production IP address (in DHCP) and its hostname from the reverse lookup zone during deployment. Then by using a script, the IP address has just to be set from DHCP to static.
Requirements
To follow this topic, you need the following:
- An USB stick with 8GB at least
- Rufus to prepare the USB stick
- ISO of VMware ESXi 6.5
Prepare the USB stick
To prepare the USB stick, plug it into your computer and run Rufus. This software is portable. Select the ISO image of ESXi 6.5 and set Rufus as the following screenshot:
If you have the following message when you start the format, just click on Yes.
Build the unattend file
To deploy my ESXi, I have used the following script. You can find an explanation in the comments. This script can be used for each ESXi to deploy while the static IP in DHCP and DNS are set.
#Accept VMware License agreement
accepteula
# Set the root password
rootpw MyPassword
# Install ESXi on the first disk (Local first, then remote then USB)
install --firstdisk --overwritevmfs
# Set the keyboard
keyboard French
# Set the network
network --bootproto=dhcp
# reboot the host after installation is completed
reboot
# run the following command only on the firstboot
%firstboot --interpreter=busybox
# enable & start remote ESXi Shell (SSH)
vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh
vim-cmd hostsvc/start_ssh
# enable & start ESXi Shell (TSM)
vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_esx_shell
vim-cmd hostsvc/start_esx_shell
# supress ESXi Shell shell warning - Thanks to Duncan (https://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/07/21/esxi-5-suppressing-the-localremote-shell-warning/)
esxcli system settings advanced set -o /UserVars/SuppressShellWarning -i 1
# Get Network adapter information
NetName="vmk0"
# Get the IP address assigned by DHCP
IPAddress=$(localcli network ip interface ipv4 get | grep "${NetName}" | awk '{print $2}')
#Get the netmask assigned by DHCP
NetMask=$(localcli network ip interface ipv4 get | grep "${NetName}" | awk '{print $3}')
# Get the gateway provided by DHCP
Gateway=$(localcli network ip interface ipv4 get | grep "${NetName}" | awk '{print $6}')
DNS="10.10.0.229"
VlanID="50"
# Get the hostname assigned thanks to reverse lookup zone
HostName=$(hostname -s)
SuffixDNS="vsphere.lab"
FQDN="${HostName}.${SuffixDNS}"
# set static IP + default route + DNS
esxcli network ip interface ipv4 set --interface-name=vmk0 --ipv4=${IPAddress} --netmask=${NetMask} --type=static --gateway=${Gateway}
esxcli network ip dns server add --server ${DNS}
# Set VLAN ID
esxcli network vswitch standard portgroup set --portgroup-name "Management Network" --vlan-id 50
#Disable ipv6
esxcli network ip set --ipv6-enabled=0
# set suffix and FQDN host configuration
esxcli system hostname set --fqdn=${FQDN}
esxcli network ip dns search add --domain=${SuffixDNS}
# NTP Configuration (thanks to https://www.virtuallyghetto.com)
cat > /etc/ntp.conf << __NTP_CONFIG__
restrict default kod nomodify notrap noquerynopeer
restrict 127.0.0.1
server 0.fr.pool.ntp.org
server 1.fr.pool.ntp.org
__NTP_CONFIG__
/sbin/chkconfig ntpd on
# rename local datastore to something more meaningful
vim-cmd hostsvc/datastore/rename datastore1 "Local - $(hostname -s)"
# restart a last time
reboot
Save the file and name it ks.cfg. Copy the file in the root of the USB stick.
Use the unattend file during deployment
Now we have to configure the boot the load the ks.cfg automatically for the deployment. Open the USB stick and edit Boot.cfg. Replace the following line kernelopt=runweasel by kernelopt=ks=usb:/ks.cfg.
Unplug the USB Stick and plug it on the server. You can boot the USB key to run the installer.
Deployment
During deployment, the installer will load the ks.cfg config file.
It starts by check if the config file is correct.
After the first reboot, the installer configures the ESXi as specified in the config file.
Once the system has rebooted for a second time, the configuration is finished.
For example, the SSH and the ESXi Shell are well enabled.
Conclusion
VMware provides a way to deploy quickly standard ESXi. If your infrastructure is not ready and you have not yet Auto Deploy, the deployment with unattended file can be a good option.
