How to Install and Configure VMware ESXi Server? [VMware Tutorials]

Previously we have shared a VMware tutorial on how to install Windows 10 on VMware, now we are sharing here how to install VMware vSphere ESXi server? and We have installed VMware ESXi server on VMware Workstation Pro, you can install the ESXi server on your local machine by following this step by step guide.

What is VMware vSphere ESXi?

VMware vSphere ESXi (formerly known as ESX) is the bare metal hypervisor from the VMware. Simply it is a free virtualization software and allows you to create and run virtual machines on a physical computer. You can download the VMware vShperer ESXi for free from here.

Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to install and configure VMware vSphere ESXi server:

#1 Create a new VM (Virtual Machine):

Open VMware workstation Pro and select New virtual machine from the file menu, now you will get a wizard to create New VM.

1. Hardware Compatibility for VM:

Here you need to choose the hardware compatibility for the newly created virtual machine. You can select from the dropdown list.

This hardware compatibility shows the compatible products and its limitations, you can check the changing different versions from the list.

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2. Select the Installation file (iso):

Here you need to select the installation file (iso file) which you have downloaded from the VMware download section.

After choosing the right installation file? Select the next button to proceed.

3. Name the Virtual Machine:

Give a name to the virtual machine and select the path to where would you like to save VM?

Now select the next button to proceed.

4. Select Processor Configuration:

Here choose the number processors and number of cores for the processors:

Select the above details as per your requirements select the next button to proceed.

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5. Choose the RAM size:

Now the wizard asks you to choose the RAM (Random Access Memory) size for the Virtual Machine.

Specify minimum 4GB of ram for the VMware ESXi, because you need to install Operating systems on ESXi.

6. Network Type:

Now select Network type for your Virtual Machine. we have selected NAT (Network Address Translation)

And select the next button to proceed.

7. Select I/O controllers:

VMware recommends selecting Paravirtualized SCSI as an I/O controller. We have selected the same as recommended.

Select the next button to proceed to the next steps.

8. Select Disk Type:

Here VMware recommends SCSI as a Disk type for the Virtual Machine.

9. Select Virtual Disk:

Now you need to select Disk (Virtual Disk) for newly created VM. Here you will get 3 options to choose:

1. Create a new virtual disk.
2. Use an existing virtual disk.
3. Use a physical disk (this is for advanced users).

For the first time, you need to select create a new virtual disk and next specify the disk size. For example, see the image below:

Here specify the virtual hard disk size, uncheck the allocate all disk space now and make sure to select store virtual disk as a single file. Press the next now you will get an option to where you would like to store the Virtual Disk file?

Select the browse button and specify the path where you like to save the disk file? And select the next button to proceed to the final step.

In this final step, you can review and customize the hardware. Select Customize Hardware button to customize and select the finish button to close the wizard and create the Virtual Machine.

#2 How to Install VMware ESXi:

In the above we have created a Virtual Machine to install the ESXi server, now we will see the step-by-step installation guide.

Now you need to power on the newly created VM, for the first time, it will boot from CD-Rom (We have selected VMware ESXi iso file as installer disk image file in step 2.

Power on Virtual Machine it will boot from an iso file, now you will get the ESXi standard boot menu:

Here you need to hit enter to continue, or it will automatically continue to ESXi installation after 7 seconds. Next, it will load the ESXi installer, it will take some time to load.

Once VMware ESXi installer loading completes it will start installing of VMware ESXi on the virtual machine. Check the below image for reference.

The installation process shows the version of VMware ESXi, CPU configurations and total ram size. Also, you can see the progress of the installation status of ESXi. The installation process will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Here you need to select enter to continue. Next, you will have to accept the VMware end-user license agreement. Check the below image for more information:

Here you have two options:

• (ESC) Do not Accept.
• (F11) Accept and Continue.

Press F11 to accept the end-user license agreement and continue the installation. Next, you need to select the disk to install the VMware ESXi. Check the below image for more information:

Here it will list the all available disks, here only one disk showing which was we created while creating Virtual Machine in the above steps. Now you need to hit the enter button to continue to install ESXi on Virtual machine.

Here choose the keyboard layout from the list, I have selected the US Default keyboard and hit the enter button for continuing the installation.

Now VMware ESXi prompts for the root password. You have to give a specific root password and confirm the same password again.

After confirming the root password hit the enter button to continue to install.

• Configure the root password.
• Network management.
• Keyword configuration.
• Troubleshooting options.
• View system logs.
• View support information.
• And, reset system configuration.

By default ESXi enables DHCP IP, Here I have configured a static IP address (192.168.1.2) to host to manage the VMware ESXi server.

#4 Manage VMware ESXi Server:

To manage your VMware ESXi server you have to log in to the ESXi server using a web browser like Chrome/Mozilla/Opera by entering the Host address which I have given as a static IP address (192.168.1.2). Check the below image for more information.

Now ESXi server will ask you to enter the root user name and password to log in. You will get the ESXi server management page after login into the ESXi server.

Check the above image for more information. Thanks for reading our VMware tutorial, follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates, Keep sharing. Let us know your opinions in the comment section.