First server install

[PaddleNorth]

I have an ESXi 3.5 install. Attempting to create the first 2003 standard vm. Have tried to get it to boot from CD and attempted to copy the iso file to the datastore. Neither way will boot. I have gone it and changed the boot sequence to boot from CD. It looks at the CD then attempts a network boot. When I change it to datastore, select connect and connect at power on, it does the same thing. I must be missing something easy, but don't know what.

Anybody have any tips to try?

Thanks

[wila]

Hi,

Welcome to the VMware community forums!

You probably just need to change the boot order in the virtual BIOS of the Virtual Machine.

After doing that make sure to also have the ISO/CD connected at boot in the configuration options of your VM.

--

Wil

_____________________________________________________

Visit the VMware developers wiki at http://www.vi-toolkit.com

[RParker]

Anybody have any tips to try?

CD/DVD drive added to VM? CD/DVD drive enabled AND set to boot at power on? That may seem simple, but there are a few posts on here where people didn't do it, so I am not overlooking the obvious.

[PaddleNorth]

I have to change to emulate mode to get the VM see the CD/DVD drive. It flashes the drive once then goes to network boot. I connect the CDRom to my local E drive (which has the 2003 boot CD. I see ATI CDRom Virtual Drive when booting, before attempting load. So it appears it sees the drive. The datastore ISO goes to the network boot right away.

When I go to the bios setup it shows the only device as VM Virtual ID. IF I manually add CDROM in as secondary master, it changes back to none after reboot.

I'm perplexed....

[Troy_Clavell]

you have confirmed this is bootable media? Also, there is a check mark next to "connect at power on"/"connected"?

[RParker]

When I go to the bios setup it shows the only device as VM Virtual ID.

Yes that's what happens with emulation you end up with weird configuration, so the first problem is why your VM can't see an IDE device. Is the CD showing in the BIOS of the VM as enabled?

[PaddleNorth]

Well it appears to be something strange with the 2003 disk and ISO image. I can use it fine to build a server with a test PC, but it won't work here. Tried a different VM with Windows 7 and it worked first time.

Thanks for everyone's input and help