HP Proliant DL160 ESXi install

Jon_CiscoJon_Cisco Member Posts: 1,772 ■■■■■■■■□□
Hi guys I am trying to get ready for my next semester and ordered a server to run ESXi.
I have never used a rack mount server before and I am wondering about the basic setup.

Do I need to add a monitor and keyboard to the server for the install.
Can I install the ESXi on the USB flash drive before I put it on the server?

I tried to look for a youtube video specifically with the HP Proliant DL160 G6 but didn't come up with much.
Anyway I just wanted to post and let everyone know I appreciate the feedback I was given over the last two weeks. I don't know what I'll be doing with this server yet but I know I'm off to a good start. If anyone has any tips from setting up ESXi themselves I would love the feedback.


I purchased the following items so far.

HP Proliant DL160 G6 1U 2X Xeon QC L5520 2 26GHz 4XTRAYS 72GB DDR3
500Gig SSD
8gig flash drive

Comments

  • ShdwmageShdwmage Member Posts: 374
    So I have an identical machine if you posted from e-bay. I had a hard time finding a program that would make the ISO into a bootable USB drive properly. The easiest way to do it would be to burn a DVD and install, but I don't have an external drive. So I had to come up with other options.

    I am trying to recall which tool I ended up using. I believe it was the one listed in this blog: TinkerTry IT @ home | Rufus takes 2 minutes to create a bootable USB flash drive for ESXi installation
    --
    “Hey! Listen!” ~ Navi
    2013: [x] MCTS 70-680
    2014: [x] 22-801 [x] 22-802 [x] CIW Web Foundation Associate
    2015 Goals: [] 70-410
  • Jon_CiscoJon_Cisco Member Posts: 1,772 ■■■■■■■■□□
    thanks I did order it off ebay after reading the
    "Need help to build virtualization lab" thread.

    I'll take a look at your suggestions tonight. I am hoping the server arrives today as I want to have it set up by next week.

    Jon
  • jibbajabbajibbajabba Member Posts: 4,317 ■■■■■■■■□□
    I have done it once. Plugged in USB into my laptop, installed ESXi onto it and moved it to a server. One time it worked - another time it didn't.

    USB DVD drives are cheap.. Maybe get one of those.
    My own knowledge base made public: http://open902.com :p
  • ShdwmageShdwmage Member Posts: 374
    I missed part of what you wrote there. You will need to hook a keyboard/mouse/monitor up for initial install, but then you can manage everything through the vmware tools.
    --
    “Hey! Listen!” ~ Navi
    2013: [x] MCTS 70-680
    2014: [x] 22-801 [x] 22-802 [x] CIW Web Foundation Associate
    2015 Goals: [] 70-410
  • Jon_CiscoJon_Cisco Member Posts: 1,772 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Looks like ESXi 5.5 does not have the DL160 G6 on it's compatibility list.
    I might install version 5.1 but I was wondering if anyone on the forums has successfully used 5.5 with one.
  • netsysllcnetsysllc Member Posts: 479 ■■■■□□□□□□
    That server comes with Software RAID which has always been a no no with VMware. You might need to get a different controller or use Hyper-V
  • Jon_CiscoJon_Cisco Member Posts: 1,772 ■■■■■■■■□□
    So far I got ESXi 5.1 update 2 installed on a 4gig flash drive.

    I was not able to get a connection to it yet. It is not getting an ip from DHCP so I was trying to set up something static.
    I was trying to connect with a laptop through a switch. Then I tried a crossover cable.

    Making the connection will be my next task.
  • EssendonEssendon Member Posts: 4,546 ■■■■■■■■■■
    I have a DL380 G6 and ESXi 5.5 installed on it with no issues whatsoever. Who cares about the HCL in a home lab?

    Yeah give it a static IP in the same subnet as your laptop (unless you have a router in the mix too) and it'll connect with a normal cable.
    NSX, NSX, more NSX..

    Blog >> http://virtual10.com
  • Asif DaslAsif Dasl Member Posts: 2,116 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Like Essendon says - I would just throw 5.5 U1 on to it.

    I see the DL160 G6 has a HP NC362i NIC... it might be an idea to make a custom ISO with the VIB from the VMware site. If you were expecting a DHCP address and didn't receive one then maybe it needs the driver? I don't know for sure, as I don't have the server but it's no harm to make an ISO up for the practice and use the latest NIC driver while you are at it...

    EDIT - If it sees the NIC then maybe the drivers are OK but I'd still make an ISO up just to be sure.
  • Jon_CiscoJon_Cisco Member Posts: 1,772 ■■■■■■■■□□
    Sorry the DHCP is my fault. I don't have it hooked up to a network right now and that's just the warning message it displays. My house is all wireless so I didn't have a quick place to connect to the home network yet.

    I have a 50 ft cable for testing but I appears that my kittens chewed through it this summer!
    My plan for tonight is to get another cable and start there.
  • ShdwmageShdwmage Member Posts: 374
    I'm using the same server and I'm running 5.5 with absolutely no issues. I had issues getting it to install until I used the method listed above.
    --
    “Hey! Listen!” ~ Navi
    2013: [x] MCTS 70-680
    2014: [x] 22-801 [x] 22-802 [x] CIW Web Foundation Associate
    2015 Goals: [] 70-410
  • Jon_CiscoJon_Cisco Member Posts: 1,772 ■■■■■■■■□□
    I had some problems getting ESXi loaded on an 8gig flash drive I had bought but was able to load 5.1 on a 4gig drive I had in my office.
    I might try loading 5.5 again but for the moment I'm still just learning so I'll play with 5.1 for a bit.

    I was able to connect today. Only one of the two network adapters was active and I was using the wrong one. Always start at the physical!

    Next up is figuring out what to do with the solid state drive. I am hoping I can just connect it and it recognizes it but what's the fun in that lol. I want to have a couple virtual machines created by the end of the weekend so I start to get an idea what I am doing.
  • ShdwmageShdwmage Member Posts: 374
    You just have to format the drive after you install it.
    --
    “Hey! Listen!” ~ Navi
    2013: [x] MCTS 70-680
    2014: [x] 22-801 [x] 22-802 [x] CIW Web Foundation Associate
    2015 Goals: [] 70-410
  • cool_ashfaquecool_ashfaque Registered Users Posts: 5 ■■■□□□□□□□
    Add that host in to network and you can create VM's through VMware V-sphere client installed in your PC.
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