Cannot Install Ubuntu under ESXi

[OliverHeaviside]

I cannot figure out how to actually install the guest OS, in this case Ubuntu 12.4. from an ISO image on a DVD, or from a USB drive. For that matter, I can't figure out how to make the USB drive even visible.

VMware help seems strangely silent on the subject.

I have an HP DL380, two CPUs, 4GB, pair of SCSI disks as raid, and a netwoork connection. The box works; it is running another VM added as an OVF file. Note that I do NOT, at the point, have any NAS, iSCSI, etc. But with >100GB of disk, there should be plenty of room to install.

The box is running ESXi 5.x, downloaded about a week ago (mid-July 2012).

Any suggestions? This is supposed to be an evaluation of moving to VMware; so far I am underwhelmed.

Thanks!

Oliver

[sparrowangelste]

Support for Ubuntu 12.04 has been introduced for product:

• ESXi 5.0 Update 1

http://blogs.vmware.com/guestosguide/

any errors that appear?

[OliverHeaviside]

No error messages. I can't get that far.

I can create a VM that is intended to run Ubuntu. But for the life of me I cannot figure out how to tell the VM to install. It wants to do an install off the network, and I can't see how to change that, or anything else.

My guess is, it's some simple thing that is blindingly obvious. I jsut don't know what.....

[sparrowangelste]

are you using an ISO mounted to the vm?

or how are you trying to install?

[OliverHeaviside]

I'd love to use an ISO mounted to the VM. I can't figure out out how. I have tried telling the VM to use the DVD drive, but if I reboot it disconnects. I can't get to a command line; the BIOS spends an eternity attempting to boot from LAN.

I've also tried telling the VM to use an ISO image directly, one that resides on the PC I am using to run the VMware manager program. Doesn't work; the VM really wants to boot from net.

[aaearon]

So with the ISO try this. Start the VM and while it is doing that, mount the Ubuntu iso. While it is trying to pxe boot, press Ctrl+Alt+Insert to reboot the machine and when you see the vmware logo at the POST screen, hit Esc on the keyboard. Select CD-ROM as the boot device and you should be good to go.

[sparrowangelste]

here you go

step by step installation with pics...

http://sparrowangelstechnology.blogspot.com/2012/07/boot-virtual-machine-from-iso-tips-on.html

[BPB21]

Thanks for this whole thread; it's been quite helpful.