Storage

VMware ESX Server step-by-step installation

By // September 11, 2006, 4:43 AM PST // billdetwiler

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  • VMWare ESX Server Welcome screen

    VMware ESX Server is mainframe-class virtual machine software that runs on a Linux kernel. It is a highly scalable platform that increases the efficiency of Intel-based hardware. In this screenshot gallery, Steven Warren shows you how to install ESX server.

    VMware ESX Server has some hefty minimum hardware requirements:

    • Two CPUs (supports up to 16)
    • Processors must be at least 900 MHz Pentium III Xeon
    • 512 MB of RAM
    • At least one Ethernet card
    • SCSI, Fibre Channel, or RAID controller
    These are minimums, so obviously you'll need to have more power than that. VMware recommends lots of RAM, multiple Ethernet cards (some virtual machines may run best with dedicated cards), and a separate disk controller that is dedicated to hosting the virtual machines. For more on the system requirements, see this page from the VMware Web site. VMware has also published information on supported hardware.

    If you have installed a Linux distribution such as Red Hat Linux, then you'll notice that several parts of the ESX Server installation are very similar. That's because ESX Server is built on a Linux kernel, as mentioned above. You will install ESX Server just like you would an operating system because it is a stand-alone operating system. Unlike VMware Workstation and VMware GSX Server, ESX Server does not have to be installed on top of an OS.

    Put the ESX Server installation CD into the server's tray and boot up the computer. You are presented with the ESX Server Welcome screen. Click Next and then keep the default installation option and choose Next again.

  • Memory Allocation

    Your next two screens allow you to accept your license agreement and enter your serial numbers, one for VMware ESX Server and one for "Virtual SMP." The Virtual SMP serial number allows your virtual machines to take advantage of multiple processors.

    After you enter your serial numbers, you will then allocate the reserved memory to your virtual machines.

  • Chose a disk partition strategy

    Next, you will partition your ESX Server.

  • Define disk partitions

    You can use the automatic partitioning or choose to manually partition your server.

  • Enter the IP addressing information

    Now you are ready to enter your IP addressing information and set your Time Zone.

  • Setup passwords and accounts

    Next, set the "root" password and add any additional user accounts that you need to set up. Usually at least one user account should be added so that you don't always have to log in as root.

    The final screens allow you to simply complete the installation. Remember to reboot at the end.

  • VMWare Management Interface

    After the machine has rebooted, you can log in to the server with the IP address you specified. Simply open up Internet Explorer and type in the URL. After you log in, you are presented with the screen shown here.

  • Swap space configuration

    The first thing you need to do is to create a swap space file. Next to where it says "Warning: No swap space is configured or none is active," click the Reconfigure link. A new window will pop up for Swap Configuration. Click the Create link and then follow the steps to set up the swap file.

  • Configure the virtual switch

    After you are finished with the swap file, you need to create a virtual switch. Next to where it says "Warning: No virtual Ethernet switches found," click the Reconfigure link and you will be presented with the window shown here. Give the virtual adapter a name and then select the physical Ethernet card(s) to bind to it.

    The core of ESX Server is now set up and ready to go. You can review and tweak your configuration by clicking on the Options tab or you can begin to install virtual machines from the Status Monitor tab.

VMWare ESX Server Welcome screen

VMware ESX Server is mainframe-class virtual machine software that runs on a Linux kernel. It is a highly scalable platform that increases the efficiency of Intel-based hardware. In this screenshot gallery, Steven Warren shows you how to install ESX server.

VMware ESX Server has some hefty minimum hardware requirements:
  • Two CPUs (supports up to 16)
  • Processors must be at least 900 MHz Pentium III Xeon
  • 512 MB of RAM
  • At least one Ethernet card
  • SCSI, Fibre Channel, or RAID controller
These are minimums, so obviously you'll need to have more power than that. VMware recommends lots of RAM, multiple Ethernet cards (some virtual machines may run best with dedicated cards), and a separate disk controller that is dedicated to hosting the virtual machines. For more on the system requirements, see this page from the VMware Web site. VMware has also published information on supported hardware.

If you have installed a Linux distribution such as Red Hat Linux, then you'll notice that several parts of the ESX Server installation are very similar. That's because ESX Server is built on a Linux kernel, as mentioned above. You will install ESX Server just like you would an operating system because it is a stand-alone operating system. Unlike VMware Workstation and VMware GSX Server, ESX Server does not have to be installed on top of an OS.

Put the ESX Server installation CD into the server's tray and boot up the computer. You are presented with the ESX Server Welcome screen. Click Next and then keep the default installation option and choose Next again.

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By Bill Detwiler

Bill Detwiler is Editor in Chief of TechRepublic and Tech Pro Research and the host of Cracking Open, CNET and TechRepublic's popular online show. Prior to joining TechRepublic in 2000, Bill was an IT manager, database administrator, and desktop supp...