Installing ESXi 4 without cd drive

[1x1x1]

what is the best way to install ESXi 4 on a server with out a cd drive?

[trinimoses]

I would suggest using a USB flash drive as a bootable device and load esxi on the system with it.

[1x1x1]

is there an up to date walkthrough for for this with ESXi 4?

also a side note is there a way to boot the HP smart start iso off of a usb flash drive ?(to configure the array?)

[AndreTheGiant]

If your server has iLOE or DRAC you can use a virtual CD.

Or have a look at this thread:

Andre

[cookieme · Accepted solution]

Hi 1x1x1

You can use HP's USB Disk Utility to copy the SmartStart CD ISO to a USB stick and then boot directly from the USB.

Link to HP's USB Utility: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=US&swItem=MTX-92...

Also, as Andre said if you have iLO on your HP server then you can use the Virtual Media feature and mount iso images from another computer remotely.

[1x1x1]

Thanks that looks like it'll do what I want

[1x1x1]

thanks for the help I ended up using the HP program to do smart start and firmware update

and to install esxi

its a HP DL380 G6 so yes it has iLo but we haven't decided to buy iLo adv for it yet

[cookieme]

thanks for the help I ended up using the HP program to do smart start and firmware update

and to install esxi

its a HP DL380 G6 so yes it has iLo but we haven't decided to buy iLo adv for it yet

Ok cool! Btw you can get an iLO Advanced trial license for 60 days from HP's website to test out all the functionality. It's great because you don't need to hook up a keyboard, mouse and screen to the server.

[1x1x1]

Ya I know we have iLo2 Adv on some of our remote servers

the downside to the eval is that after the 60 days you can't evaluate on that hardware again so I prefer to save that 60 day eval for a more impotant time

[wouterd]

I had the same server, same problem.

In stead of creating the USB install image I simply opened the server and added a SATA DVD-ROM drive for the duration of the installation.

this was for me the quickest and simpelest solution.

Regards,

wouter