KS.CFG for Multiple Servers

[weechristy]

Hi, I want to deploy around 50+ ESXi 5 servers but would like to be able to use one master kick start file and be prompted to add the hostname and IP addresses somewhere throughout the install. I don't want to have 50+ ks.cfg files with each servers IP addresses. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[spravtek]

Hi, welcome to the forums...

Besides autodeploy, which might be something you considered already, there's the option to use PXE booting.

A nice how-to can be found here and explains how you can make a semi-interactive setup environment.

Besides that, I can't remember seeing/using something like a prompt for entering information during scripted install ... Maybe someone else has something.

[weechristy]

Hi Spravtek, cheers for getting back to me. The problem is, all these servers are on seperate sites, so we can't use PXE boot. We will be booting from USB or CD-ROM. The plan is, inject a master KS.CFG file into the ESXi 5 iso image and then somehow change the hostname, ip etc through some form of menu or command line when running the kick start script at each site?

[spravtek]

Hi weechristy...

Well, that is a challenge of course ...

The problem here is that you have a lot of servers to install ... As you said, it would be kinda strange making 50 ks.cfg files and choosing from them during boot (you can give the ks-files any name you like)... But since it's all remote sites, it would be kinda difficult doing it another way.

But maybe someone more smart comes along with a better idea