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Once you install ESX Server on one system, you can set up a script necessary for performing a scripted install of ESX Server on other systems.

When setting up the script, you must choose the networking method for the server on which you will install ESX Server. You can specify unique network identification information, including the static IP address and host name of each system or you can use DHCP initially to quickly set up a number of ESX Server systems.

You can use DHCP initially to create one install script that will be used to deploy new ESX Server systems from the same floppy image. You must then configure each system separately and assign a unique host name and IP address. This is in addition to configuring the server with the management interface wizard.

Otherwise, you can create multiple floppy images, each containing unique network identification information you specify when you set up the script.

The script and other essential files must be copied to a floppy disk at the end of the setup process, so make sure you have a formatted floppy disk handy. You need a program to write the script to the floppy disk, such as dd, rawwritewin or rawrite. Make sure the program works with the operating system of the client on which you are creating the floppy disk.

In addition, you need access to the ESX Server installation files. The files can be on the ESX Server CD-ROM, which you can leave in the CD-ROM drive of the system on which you originally installed ESX Server or you can use the CD-ROM to install each new system. In addition, the files can be stored on a separate server and accessed across the network.

As you create the script, the ESX Server CD-ROM must be in the CD-ROM drive of the original ESX Server system.

To set up the script, complete the following steps.

1. On a client machine, connect to the service console on the ESX Server system using SSH.
2. With the CD-ROM in the ESX Server CD-ROM drive, mount the ESX Server CD-ROM.
   mount /mnt/cdrom
3. Change to the following directory.
   /usr/lib/vmware-mui/apache/htdocs/vmware/webconfig
4. Run the following setup script.
   ./setup.pl
5. Once a shell prompt appears, open a browser and point it to <yourESXServerSystem>/vmware/webconfig/webconfig.cgi, where <yourESXServerSystem> is the name of the ESX Server system. The Scripted Installs page appears.

   

6. Enter the information for the script to use to configure another ESX Server system.

   Under Installation, specify the following:

   • In the Installation Type list, select install if you are going to perform a new installation; select upgrade if you are going to upgrade an existing ESX Server system.
   • In the Installation Method list, select lan to install ESX Server from files on the initial ESX Server system. This is the recommended way to perform a scripted install.

     Otherwise, select cdrom to install from the CD-ROM on the local CD-ROM drive on the new system; or select remote to remote network install from a server separate from the ESX Server system that still contains the ESX Server installation files.

   • If you decided to perform a remote network install, in the Remote Server URL entry field, enter the name of the server that contains the ESX Server installation files.
   • In the Boot Loader list, select the location of the boot loader.

     Select mbr if you want the boot loader in the master boot record (MBR).

     Select custom if you want the boot loader in a different location. Specify that location in the Boot Loader Location entry field.

   • In the Time Zone list, select the time zone for the server you are about to install. The list defaults to setting of the original ESX Server machine.
   • Check the Reboot After Installation check box only if the new system does not eject the floppy disk automatically.

     Under IP Address, specify the following:

   • In the Network Method list, select dhcp if the ESX Server system is going to have a dynamic IP address; select static if the ESX Server system is going to have a static IP address.

     Note: VMware recommends each ESX Server system has its own static IP address. However, you can use DHCP to deploy new ESX Server systems from the same floppy image, then configure each system separately and assign a unique host name and IP address. Or you can create multiple floppy images containing the network identification information you specify here.

   • If the ESX Server system is going to have a static IP address, specify the host name in the Hostname entry field, the IP address in the IP Address entry field, the netmask in the Netmask entry field, the network gateway in the Gateway entry field and the domain name server in the Nameserver entry field.

     Under Root Password, specify the root password. Enter the root password in the Password entry field. Enter this password a second time in the Again entry field.

     Under Partitions, specify the following for each partition in the service console:

   • In the Drive list, select primary.
   • In the Mount Point entry field, specify the mount point. You should specify at minimum boot (/boot), root (/) and swap (swap) mount points.
   • In the Size entry field, specify the size of the partition in megabytes (MB).
   • In the Type list, select the type of file system. Choose from ext2, ext3 and swap. Select swap if the partition is a swap partition.
   • Check the Grow check box if you want the partition to grow until it fills the disk. VMware recommends you do not make your boot and swap partitions growable.
7. When you are satisfied with your choices, save the choices to the local system. Click Save Disk. Save the file as an image with a .img extension.

   If you are creating more than one floppy image (for example, you are not using DHCP in the initial configuration and you want to specify the host name and IP address for each new ESX Server system), change the settings as appropriate and create a new floppy image with a unique name.

   If you want to create a new script, click Default Settings. This restores the defaults on page.

8. Use the dd, rawwritewin or rawrite program to copy the image file (.img) to the floppy disk. For each floppy image you created, create a new floppy disk.

Now you can put the floppy disk into the floppy drive of another machine, power it on and let the installation run.