Hello
I am looking for a way of creating a script to automate the rebuilding of an ESXi host at one of our remote client offices. The script would ideally run without the requirement of a USB disk, cd/dvd or ftp/tftp etc but I'm not sure of this is possible. If it isnt, what are my remaining options?
I have gone through a few documents on setting this up but most expect a tftp server, dhcp server (for PXE) along with a linux box ont he network - these are provisions we simply dont have, we just want to save a 200 mile trip on the off chance of ever having to rebuild an ESXi host.
Any ideas etc would be gratefully received
Thanks
Sam
If you have to drive 200 miles for re-installation,then maybe remote KVM is a better option.
You say you don't have those services, but you can take a look at these appliances :
UDA - http://www.vmware.com/appliances/directory/465513
EDA - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/139465
But then again for reinstallation you need to have some sort of (power-)management control to reboot your server into PXE.
Have a look at the following link for installing via kickstart :
http://thinkcloud.nl/2011/02/06/kickstart-ing-esxi/
Also you can do it via PowerCLI :
http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8170
Do you have the ILO or remote management port configured on this server so you could mount a virtual CD-ROM or PXE boot?
We should do, however there could be a scenario whereby we ship just a server direct fromt he manufacturer to site so therefore it wouldnt be configured sufficiently for remote access. Ideally simply plugging it and booting it would pull an "image" down but i think i have the answers i was looking for so thanks both for your help
thanks
Sam
Busy going through a similar process adn have been testing various tools (also creating small write-uups on the process for each tool)
The series starts here : http://www.get-virtual.info/2011/03/02/upgrading-from-esx-to-esxi-a-multipart-series-tools/ and i'll keep updating it as I test further tools.
Irrespective, the options / tools I have identified so far (free tools I mean) are :
If you find anything to share, please let me know.
So far I have done walkthroughs of EDA and V-PXEServer - both very simple to use.