Create bootable usb for esxi 5

[maxpk2000]

Does anyone know how to make a bootable usb key for esxi 5? It was easily done in 4.1 using winimage and restoring the image.dd file but this doesnt seem to be possible in esxi5.

[wdroush1]

Ulli Hankeln wrote:

update:
I found a way - perfect for my needs - but not exactly what was originally wanted.

For production use it is not suitable as I have to remove the alternate bootbanks and the vmcore partition to make it work..

Ugh, we're running ESXi off of USB in production, way to break a useful feature.

[theevil]

Thanks DeeSaR,

your solution works and will save me alot of time.

[maxpk2000]

Just an update. I also installed to USB key and restored the image to USB using WinRAR. This works quiet well I have already deployed a number of ESX servers this way. I am still looking for a way to do it just like in ESXi 4 using the image.dd file but this works for now.

Thanks everyone for their responses. 

[DrJohnEaton]

You are most welcome.

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Subject: New message: "Create bootable usb for esxi 5"

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Create bootable usb for esxi 5

reply from theevil<http://communities.vmware.com/people/theevil> in VMware ESXi 5 - View the full discussion<http://communities.vmware.com/message/1823641#1823641>

Thanks DeeSaR,

your solution works and will save me alot of time.

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[WeeKiong]

Hi svaradha

which version of unetbootin did you use?  in ESXi 4.1, the new version cannot be used it has to build the installer from verison 494.

Does the new version of unetbootin works for ESXi 5.0?

[svaradha]

Hi WeeKiong.

For ESXi v4.1 you have to do some Kickstart script to get it working properly.

See here for information -> http://www.jonathanmedd.net/2011/01/install-esxi-4-1-from-a-usb-stick.html

For ESXi v5 the newest version of Unetbootin works out of the box! Just make sure you follow my post.

See here for information -> http://www.satheesh.net/2011/08/29/how-to-make-a-bootable-vmware-vsphere-5-usb-installation-media/

Good luck!

www.satheesh.net

[WeeKiong]

Thanks for that Svaradha.

I have tried the ESXi 4.1 and finally got it working using v4.99 and realize the version5 does not work last time when I setup my home whitebox.

Will try out the ESXi 5.0 using the latest unetbootin.

[danilew]

Is it possible for someone to send me this generic usb image or to upload it somewhere?

[theevil]

We recently found a problem using the image to deploy multiple esxi servers.

We encountered some network/vmotion problems on a cluster with 3 esxi hosts created from the same image because all port groups had the same virtual mac address.

Looks like there is no other way than installing esxi instead of using an image.

[WeeKiong]

the latest unetbootin does works with esxi 5.0.

tested

[danilew]

with unetbootin can you boot from a USB key and install to a different USB key?

[WeeKiong]

Hi Daniel

Yes you can use unetbootin to create a USB installer on a usb key, then install it install another USB key.  Then you can use that USB key installed on any machine to boot with that key to a ESXi.

[martinliber]

Hello,

I have a question (sorry if a reply about this matter have already been published, but my english understanding is basic).

I already have a usb bootable key for esxi 5.0. I'd like for security reasons duplicate this key.

Can I use unetbootin and then run the installer on a new key, and then boot on the newly created key ? Is there any risk for already installed and configured VM'S ?

Is there another way to duplicate my bootable key without any risk for my VM's.

Thanks by advance for your explanations

[WeeKiong]

I am not sure if I got your correctly.

You are trying to use unetbootin to create a new usb boot drive.

Let me explain unetbootin with ESXi 5.0 image, you can create an installable usb drive.  which mean you do not need the cd rather you can boot from usb drive to install your ESXi to either another USB drive or local disk.

Let's say you have installed to a usb drive, you can use this usb drive to boot to ESXi server.  If you place this USB drive to any machine you can do the same however the settings are the same.

Simple to put, you can replicate this usb drive to multiple drives and boot other servers however you need to reconfigure the settings like hostname, ip address, etc.

However I have not know any method to replicate a installed usb drive.

[continuum]

to replicate a bootable USB-drive use Linux-liveCD

assume the bootable stick is detected as /dev/sda and your blank new one is /dev/sdb

then run dd if=/dev/sda of=/dev/sdb

[martinliber]

Thanks for your replies, I'll try the linux command to duplicate the key. This key will boot the same machine so I guess the settings will be good. I will keep you informed. By the way thanks again.

[scerazy]

You can also do it fully on your windows workstation

Make raw image with HxD (Extra/Open disk)

Then you can write this image with Rawrite32

But remember that ESX5i USB is perfectly readable on Windows (as it uses FAT16 bootbank partitions)

Re-install of ESX5i takes few minutes, you only really need to keep state.tgz file (which is the full config)

Seb

[martinliber]

After checking my usb bootable key have 3 partitions

mount (I typed this command on a mac) :

/dev/disk2s5 on /Volumes/Untitled (msdos, local, nodev, nosuid, noowners)
/dev/disk2s8 on /Volumes/Untitled 1 (msdos, local, nodev, nosuid, noowners)
/dev/disk2s6 on /Volumes/Untitled 2 (msdos, local, nodev, nosuid, noowners)

shall I format my new key the same way and after copy each partition with the dd command (on a linux distro, shall also work on a mac, no problem I use both), I have not tried yet on a windows machine but all solution are of course welcome.

thanks

[scerazy]

Definitely NO. It will not work

I already gave you solution on Windows (works fine, as I used it)

Seb

[AlexJoda]

The method with Unetbootin works fine if you don´t forget two things:

1. Format the USB key with FAT32 and not FAT which will be the default when you format small keys like 2 GB.

2. say no to unetbootin trying to override menu.c32

3. then when the usb loaded it dropped to shell "boot=" prompt and i typed "mboot"

This works fine, also from key to key in the same server....