Install Vsan through kirkstart, PXE server

[charlesginger]

I am student, right now I have a project about install vsan through kirkstart by pxe server. what should I learn, prepare for that. Is anyone can help me?

Thanks

[npadmani]

you can deploy esxi OS using kickstart.

but configuring VSAN cluster, would be all about involving vCenter server, adding host into inventory of vCenter and creating VSAN cluster using those hosts, in that case PowerCLI based script would be more helpful if you are looking at automating it.

Please refer PowerCLI first using following documentation

vSphere PowerCLI Documentation‌

please also refer following VSAN Admin guide

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-60/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/virtual-san-600-administration-guide.p...

[ChristianDickma]

Have you looked at how to do this for ESXi in general? VSAN will be a simply add-on once you have worked through the ESXi part. You can find some good help in the blogs: http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2011/07/automating-esxi-5x-kickstart-tips.html

[ChristianDickma]

Actually, VSAN can be configured via esxcli as well, and so configuring VSAN as part of kickstart is actually an option.

[npadmani]

Thanks, Christian

That's great to know. if we can configure entire VSAN cluster using ESXCLI commands.

[zdickinson]

I'm thinking it would actually be easier to configure vSAN first then deploy vCenter.  You can configure vSAN via CLI w/o vCenter, once configured you then have a datastore for your vCenter.  Thank you, Zach.

[charlesginger]

Hi npadmani,

Thanks for give me those information. But, i still have something confused. For the information i got, i know Kirkstart install Linux is using code to config on the linux terminal. I think esxi OS is same as that, but how deploy vsan through pxe? i still confused? PowerCLI need install before esxi or after install esxi? Can you give me more information, really need help about that?

Thanks

[charlesginger]

Hi Christian,

can you say more about configuring VSAN through esxcli and kickstart?

Thanks

[charlesginger]

Hi Zach,

Can you say more detail about how to configure VSAN via CLI? How to configure VSAN, vCLI is install before esxi or after esxi.

Thanks

charles

[npadmani]

http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2013/09/how-to-bootstrap-vcenter-server-onto.html

http://www.virtuallyghetto.com/2013/09/how-to-bootstrap-vcenter-server-onto_9.html

take a look at above two links, get some idea about configuring VSAN using esxcli based commands.

Regarding PowerCLI, please take a look at following documentation.

https://www.vmware.com/support/developer/windowstoolkit/wintk40/doc/viwin_admg.pdf

[ChristianDickma]

VSAN is part of ESXi. So once you master installing ESXi via PXE, you just need a post install script in ESXi kickstart.