Kickstart unattended install with vendor supplied ISO

[mstefani77]

Does anyone know if it's OK to use a kickstart install with a vendor supplied ESXi installer ISO?  I've got a bunch of HP servers to load up and was thinking about saving my self some time by just skipping the EULA, password, and the next, next, next prompts.  But I was sure if using a kickstart file would overwrite anything special the custom ISO injects during install.  Anyone know?

[Nawals]

1. First you create the kickstart.cfg file with required info as attached for reference.

2. you can create folder. I created one called “kickstart” on the C drive. Then right-click on it and go to the NFS Share Tab. Select the “Permissions” : (Using NFS server for share)

3. Check the button and check the box for “Allow root logon”

4. Click “OK” and we are all set. Place your kickstart file in the NFS share

Now we boot to our ESXi install and right before it starts press Shift + O at the beginning of the install. This allows us to specify the kickstart file for install. Type in the following syntax to tell ESXi to use the file from our NFS share:

netdevice=vmnic0 bootproto=dhcp ks=nfs://192.168.0.6/kickstart/ESXiLabConfig.cfg

Now let the install complete and you can verify the settings are there:

Please mark correct or helpful if your query resolve.

[mstefani77]

Thanks, I fully get the process.  I was just curious if using the kickstart broke anything that's built into the vendor supplied ESXi ISOs. 

[Nawals · Accepted solution]

nothing will be broken with vendor iso. You can go ahead and use kickstart without any issue.

please mark correct or helpful if get the answer.

[ehsanijavad]

Hi Nawals

Thank you for your support.

For me:

BOOT.CFG

bootstate=0
title=Loading ESXi installer
timeout=5
prefix=
kernel=/b.b00
kernelopt=runweasel ks=cdromBoot:/KS.CFG bootproto=static addvmportgroup=0 netdevice=vmnic0 ip=192.168.1.100 netmask=255.255.255.0 gateway=192.168.1.254 hostname=ESXiHost1 vlanid=100 nameserver=8.8.8.8
modules=/jumpstrt.gz --- /useropts.gz --- /features.gz --- /k.b00 --- /chardevs.b00 --- /user.b00 --- /procfs.b00 --- /uc_intel.b00 --- /uc_amd.b00 --- /uc_hygon.b00 --- /vmx.v00 --- /vim.v00 --- /sb.v00 --- /s.v00 --- /lsi_mr3.v00 --- /bnxtnet.v00 --- /bnxtroce.v00 --- /elx_esx_.v00 --- /brcmfcoe.v00 --- /elxiscsi.v00 --- /elxnet.v00 --- /lpfc.v00 --- /amsd.v00 --- /bootcfg.v00 --- /conrep.v00 --- /cru.v00 --- /fc_enabl.v00 --- /hponcfg.v00 --- /ilo.v00 --- /oem_buil.v00 --- /scsi_hpd.v00 --- /smx_prov.v00 --- /ssacli.v00 --- /sut.v00 --- /testeven.v00 --- /i40en.v00 --- /igbn.v00 --- /ixgben.v00 --- /nmlx5_co.v00 --- /nmlx5_rd.v00 --- /nmst.v00 --- /smartpqi.v00 --- /nhpsa.v00 --- /qcnic.v00 --- /qedentv.v00 --- /qedf.v00 --- /qedi.v00 --- /qedrntv.v00 --- /qfle3.v00 --- /qfle3f.v00 --- /qfle3i.v00 --- /qlnative.v00 --- /ata_liba.v00 --- /ata_pata.v00 --- /ata_pata.v01 --- /ata_pata.v02 --- /ata_pata.v03 --- /ata_pata.v04 --- /ata_pata.v05 --- /ata_pata.v06 --- /ata_pata.v07 --- /block_cc.v00 --- /char_ran.v00 --- /ehci_ehc.v00 --- /hid_hid.v00 --- /iavmd.v00 --- /ima_qla4.v00 --- /ipmi_ipm.v00 --- /ipmi_ipm.v01 --- /ipmi_ipm.v02 --- /iser.v00 --- /lpnic.v00 --- /lsi_msgp.v00 --- /lsi_msgp.v01 --- /lsi_msgp.v02 --- /misc_dri.v00 --- /mtip32xx.v00 --- /ne1000.v00 --- /nenic.v00 --- /net_cdc_.v00 --- /net_e100.v00 --- /net_e100.v01 --- /net_enic.v00 --- /net_fcoe.v00 --- /net_forc.v00 --- /net_libf.v00 --- /net_mlx4.v00 --- /net_mlx4.v01 --- /net_nx_n.v00 --- /net_tg3.v00 --- /net_usbn.v00 --- /net_vmxn.v00 --- /nfnic.v00 --- /nmlx4_co.v00 --- /nmlx4_en.v00 --- /nmlx4_rd.v00 --- /ntg3.v00 --- /nvme.v00 --- /nvmxnet3.v00 --- /nvmxnet3.v01 --- /ohci_usb.v00 --- /pvscsi.v00 --- /qflge.v00 --- /sata_ahc.v00 --- /sata_ata.v00 --- /sata_sat.v00 --- /sata_sat.v01 --- /sata_sat.v02 --- /sata_sat.v03 --- /sata_sat.v04 --- /scsi_aac.v00 --- /scsi_adp.v00 --- /scsi_aic.v00 --- /scsi_fni.v00 --- /scsi_ips.v00 --- /scsi_isc.v00 --- /scsi_lib.v00 --- /scsi_meg.v00 --- /scsi_meg.v01 --- /scsi_meg.v02 --- /scsi_mpt.v00 --- /scsi_mpt.v01 --- /scsi_mpt.v02 --- /scsi_qla.v00 --- /sfvmk.v00 --- /shim_isc.v00 --- /shim_isc.v01 --- /shim_lib.v00 --- /shim_lib.v01 --- /shim_lib.v02 --- /shim_lib.v03 --- /shim_lib.v04 --- /shim_lib.v05 --- /shim_vmk.v00 --- /shim_vmk.v01 --- /shim_vmk.v02 --- /uhci_usb.v00 --- /usb_stor.v00 --- /usbcore_.v00 --- /vmkata.v00 --- /vmkfcoe.v00 --- /vmkplexe.v00 --- /vmkusb.v00 --- /vmw_ahci.v00 --- /xhci_xhc.v00 --- /btldr.t00 --- /esx_dvfi.v00 --- /esx_ui.v00 --- /esxupdt.v00 --- /weaselin.t00 --- /lsu_hp_h.v00 --- /lsu_inte.v00 --- /lsu_lsi_.v00 --- /lsu_lsi_.v01 --- /lsu_lsi_.v02 --- /lsu_lsi_.v03 --- /lsu_lsi_.v04 --- /lsu_smar.v00 --- /native_m.v00 --- /rste.v00 --- /vmware_e.v00 --- /vsan.v00 --- /vsanheal.v00 --- /vsanmgmt.v00 --- /tools.t00 --- /xorg.v00 --- /imgdb.tgz --- /imgpayld.tgz
build=
updated=0

And KS.CFG:

vmaccepteula
clearpart --firstdisk --overwritevmfs
install --firstdisk --overwritevmfs
rootpw mypass123
network --bootproto=static --addvmportgroup=0 --device=vmnic0 --ip=192.168.1.100 --netmask=255.255.250.0 --gateway=192.168.1.254 --hostname=ESXiHost1 --vlanid=100 --nameserver=8.8.8.8

%post --interpreter=busybox --ignorefailure=true

It does not work form me. it does not go head after load the esxi (it looks same normal installation).

Thank you in advance for your help.