guides:esxi_host_bootstrap

ESXi Host Bootstrap

First off, download ESXi! When looking for installation media, check the manufactures website to see if there is a custom ESXi image for the server you're installing ESXi on. If not, use the upstream version of ESXi.

Setup a RAID 1 array to install ESXi on. This step changes depending on the RAID card. Typically steps, however, are:

  • Enter the RAID Configuration Utility
  • Clear all Foreign Config
  • Create new RAID Group
    • Ensure you select RAID 1
  • Start a “Fast Initialization”

Connect the USB you burned your ESXi image to, and install it. Nothing crazy, just follow through the screen.

Now that ESXi is installed, we need to setup the Management Network. The Management Network is where VM Display Traffic goes, vMotion Traffic, and vCenter connects to. This will be connected to the CSE Uplink. You'll need an IP and Reverse DNS setup before moving on.

Once ESXi has booted up, plug in ONLY THE CABLE THAT CONNECTS THE HOST TO THE CSE UPLINK.

  • Press F2, enter the password you setup
  • Go to “Configure Management Network”
  • Go to “Network Adapters”
    • Select NIC where status is “Connected”. Deselect any other NICs. This assumes one network cable is connected to the Management network.
  • Go to “IP Configuration”
    • Select “Set Static IP”
    • Enter the correct information. See this page for detailed information
  • Go to “IPv6 Configuration”
    • Disable it
  • Go to “DNS Configuration”
    • Select “Use the following DNS Server”
    • Primary DNS Server: 128.205.1.2
    • Secondary DNS Server: 128.205.32.8
    • Hostname: cdr-vhostX
      • Do NOT include .cse.buffalo.edu
  • Go to “Custom DNS Suffixes”
    • Set it to “cse.buffalo.edu”
  • Exit out of the menu. It should prompt you to reboot. You're done with the hands on portion.

Login to vCenter, and do the following:

  • Click on the cluster you wish to add the host to
    • Most of the time, it'll be MAIN
  • Click on the “Add Host” button
    • Hostname: cdr-vhostX.cse.buffalo.edu
    • Username: root
    • Password: <the password you setup>
  • Enable Lockdown Mode
  • Press continue through everything else

After a bit, the host should show up in the cluster you added it to. Woot! Now, setup the reset of the network connections, and datastore connections

  • Modify Management Network, change name to “DO NOT USE - CSE Management Network” from “VM Network”
  • Enable vMotion for that switch
  • Add a new NIC: direct-io
    • VMKernel
  • To to vDS, add vds-core-nets and vds-team-nets
  • Add Software iSCSI Adapter
  • Dynamic Discovery
    • 10.0.0.150
    • 10.0.0.155
    • 10.0.0.160

  • guides/esxi_host_bootstrap.1552092319.txt.gz
  • Last modified: 2019/03/09 00:45
  • by djmurray