How can deploy esxi on more than 20 esxi hosts

[baber]

Dear all

Hi

my cluster contain more than 15 esxi host now i want to know how can deploy esxi on all of them instead of install esxi one by one ?

Is that possible to install esxi on all of servers with custom ip ?

BR

[IRIX201110141]

AutoDeploy or OMIVV. We buy the Hosts preinstalled directly from the HW Vendor (Dell)

Regards

Joerg

[sk84]

That's what vSphere Auto Deploy is for. But you have to prepare your infrastructure in advance. With 15-20 hosts, the question is what is faster. Install each server individually or set up the entire infrastructure for Auto Deploy.

Prepare Your System for vSphere Auto Deploy in the vSphere Web Client

[baber]

Will auto deploy install esxi in same time on all of hosts with custom IP address for each host ?

for example in auto deploy wizard can set 10.10.40.50 for esxi1 and 10.50.60.70 for esxi2 and ...... ?

Regards

[ThompsG]

Long answer short - yes.

What edition of vSphere do you have? Are you able to also run “Host Profiles”

[sk84]

Will auto deploy install esxi in same time on all of hosts with custom IP address for each host ?

As already mentioned yes. Either via the answer file and host profiles (that depends on your vSphere license) or via static DHCP configuration.

[baber]

so hanks

but i want set specific ip address for each server now if run dhcp server for auto deploy it will assign specific ip address for each host or will assign random ip address ?

[sk84]

If you configure static ip reservation in your dhcp server config, it will always assign a specified ip address to a host.

See here: Configuring IP Addresses with Auto Deploy - VMware vSphere Blog

And this is a config example for Cisco devices:

IP Addressing: DHCP Configuration Guide, Cisco IOS Release 15SY - DHCP Server Port-Based Address All...

But almost all DHCP services have such a function. All you need is the MAC address of the primary NIC used for the management port group.

[Soap01]

What is the hardware vendor your using? Most all have a software management suite that also allows for an automated deployment and you can specify naming and ip schemes. I have personally used Dell/Lenovo solutions. I manage close to 400 hosts and have never used Auto Deploy but I know some like it.

[baber]

i use HP servers DL 380 G8 and DL580 G10

[Soap01]

So does HPE OneView allow you to deploy bare metal operating systems such as vSphere?

[dskwared]

If you aren't able to use host profiles due to licensing, have you taken a look at the Ultimate Deployment Appliance? It includes a small DHCP server, PXE, etc. and can customize each host with a boot menu. Be advised, the appliance is a little dated, and we've had trouble getting it to work with UEFI boot mode. It all depends on how you're building your hosts.

[farkasharry]

In HP OneView, you can create the hardware server profiles in advance and get all the MAC addresses in one bunch, using i.e. PowerCLI with the HP modules. Then use it for the scripted IP address reservation with your DHCP solution. You can even add further options like Gateway, etc.

As soon the hardware gets the profile applied,
1. it will bootup with the proper IP config

2. It gets the ESXi image, defined in AutoDeploy

3. Gets added to the vCenter and having further settings applied, using Host Profiles (When you have Enterprise Plus)

[baber]

so thanks

but i am confused i just want install esxi on my local disks through autodeploy. this is my means that after installing esxi hosts i want remove and disable autodeploy server

i want to know is that possible just install esxi  on my  local disks for the first time and for other time it boot localy.

[baber]

Is that possible?