VMware Cloud Community
Kermitdafwog
Contributor
Contributor

Remotely installing esxi using script

Hello

I am looking for a way of creating a script to automate the rebuilding of an ESXi host at one of our remote client offices.  The script would ideally run without the requirement of a USB disk, cd/dvd or ftp/tftp etc but I'm not sure of this is possible.  If it isnt, what are my remaining options?

I have gone through a few documents on setting this up but most expect a tftp server, dhcp server (for PXE) along with a linux box ont he network - these are provisions we simply dont have, we just want to save a 200 mile trip on the off chance of ever having to rebuild an ESXi host.

Any ideas etc would be gratefully received

Thanks

Sam

Reply
0 Kudos
4 Replies
mbaecke
VMware Employee
VMware Employee

If you have to drive 200 miles for re-installation,then maybe remote KVM is a better option.

You say you don't have those services, but you can take a look at these appliances :

UDA - http://www.vmware.com/appliances/directory/465513

EDA - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/139465

But then again for reinstallation you need to have some sort of (power-)management control to reboot your server into PXE.

Have a look at the following link for installing via kickstart :

http://thinkcloud.nl/2011/02/06/kickstart-ing-esxi/

Also you can do it via PowerCLI :

http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8170

Martijn Baecke | http://thinkcloud.nl
Court01
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Do you have the ILO or remote management port configured on this server so you could mount a virtual CD-ROM or PXE boot?

Kermitdafwog
Contributor
Contributor

We should do, however there could be a scenario whereby we ship just a server direct fromt he manufacturer to site so therefore it wouldnt be configured sufficiently for remote access.  Ideally simply plugging it and booting it would pull an "image" down but i think i have the answers i was looking for so thanks both for your help

thanks

Sam

Reply
0 Kudos
bulletprooffool
Champion
Champion

Busy going through a similar process adn have been testing various tools (also creating small write-uups on the process for each tool)

The series starts here : http://www.get-virtual.info/2011/03/02/upgrading-from-esx-to-esxi-a-multipart-series-tools/ and i'll keep updating it as I test further tools.

Irrespective, the options /  tools I have identified so far (free tools I mean) are :

If you find anything to share, please let me know.

So far I have done walkthroughs of EDA and V-PXEServer - both very simple to use.

One day I will virtualise myself . . .
Reply
0 Kudos