Step 1
Be sure removing all partitions and format a FAT32 partition on the USB stick by using the following command:
Open the command prompt and enter the following commands:
diskpart (make sure you run diskpart as administrator) list disk (list the disk in your system including the USB) select disk USB number clean create partition primary active format fs=fat32 quick assign exit
Step 2
Download the Windows LinuxLive USB creator utility here.
Step 3
Start the Lili USB creator utility.
Follow the steps 1,2,4 and click 5 to create the USB stick. Wait till the USB creation process is finished.
Step 4
Edit the BOOT.CFG file in the root of the USB stick and add ks=usb between /b.b00 and — /useropts.gz modules
The BOOT.CFG should look like this:
bootstate=0 title=Loading ESXi installer kernel=/tboot.b00 kernelopt=runweasel modules=/b.b00 ks=usb --- /useropts.gz --- /k.b00 --- /a.b00 --- /ata-pata.v00 --- /ata-pata.v01 --- /ata-pata.v02 --- /ata-pata.v03 --- /ata-pata.v04 --- /ata-pata.v05 --- /ata-pata.v06 --- /ata-pata.v07 --- /block-cc.v00 --- /ehci-ehc.v00 --- /s.v00 --- /weaselin.i00 --- /ima-qla4.v00 --- /ipmi-ipm.v00 --- /ipmi-ipm.v01 --- /ipmi-ipm.v02 --- /misc-cni.v00 --- /misc-dri.v00 --- /net-be2n.v00 --- /net-bnx2.v00 --- /net-bnx2.v01 --- /net-cnic.v00 --- /net-e100.v00 --- /net-e100.v01 --- /net-enic.v00 --- /net-forc.v00 --- /net-igb.v00 --- /net-ixgb.v00 --- /net-nx-n.v00 --- /net-r816.v00 --- /net-r816.v01 --- /net-s2io.v00 --- /net-sky2.v00 --- /net-tg3.v00 --- /ohci-usb.v00 --- /sata-ahc.v00 --- /sata-ata.v00 --- /sata-sat.v00 --- /sata-sat.v01 --- /sata-sat.v02 --- /sata-sat.v03 --- /scsi-aac.v00 --- /scsi-adp.v00 --- /scsi-aic.v00 --- /scsi-bnx.v00 --- /scsi-fni.v00 --- /scsi-hps.v00 --- /scsi-ips.v00 --- /scsi-lpf.v00 --- /scsi-meg.v00 --- /scsi-meg.v01 --- /scsi-meg.v02 --- /scsi-mpt.v00 --- /scsi-mpt.v01 --- /scsi-mpt.v02 --- /scsi-qla.v00 --- /scsi-qla.v01 --- /uhci-usb.v00 --- /tools.t00 --- /imgdb.tgz --- /imgpayld.tgz build= updated=0
Step 5
Create a Kickstart configuration file for the scripted installation in the root of the USB stick. Here is an example:
#Sample kickstart scripted installation vmaccepteula rootpw VMw@re install --firstdisk --overwritevmfs network --bootproto=static --ip=192.168.250.21 --gateway=192.168.250.1 --nameserver=192.168.250.6 --netmask=255.255.255.0 --hostname=esxi5-01.beerens.local --device=vmnic0 --addvmportgroup=0 reboot %firstboot --interpreter=busybox # Rename local datastore name vim-cmd hostsvc/datastore/rename datastore1 "$(hostname -s)-local-storage-1" # DNS names esxcli system hostname set --fqdn=esxi5-01.beerens.local esxcli network ip dns search add --domain=beerens.local # DNS server addresses esxcli network ip dns server add --server=192.168.250.6 esxcli network ip dns server add --server=192.168.250.1 # SSH and ESXi shell vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_ssh vim-cmd hostsvc/start_ssh vim-cmd hostsvc/enable_esx_shell vim-cmd hostsvc/start_esx_shell
For editing and creating the boot.cfg and ks.cfg file in Windows I use Notepad++ so NO hidden carriage returns are in the files. And the USB stick creation in ready.
SPECIAL THANKS TO: http://www.ivobeerens.nl/ for this post.
William Lam’s blog has real good information about Kickstart scripts found here.
