Remote Installation of VMware ESX Server Software Using Dell Remote Access Controller

(1)

Remote Installation

of

VMware

®

_{ESX Server Software}

Using

Dell

™

_{Remote Access Controller}

™

(2)

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how

to avoid the problem.

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

This guide is for informational purposes only and may contain typographical errors and technical inaccuracies. The content is provided as is, without express or implied warranties of any kind.

Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc.; VMware, VMotion, and ESX Server are trademarks of VMware, Inc.; EMC is a registered trademark of EMC Corporation; Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds; Intel, Xeon, and Pentium are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

(3)

The DRAC 4 console redirection feature allows you to access a server’s console remotely. Combine the console redirection feature of the DRAC 4 with the Virtual Media feature and you can remotely install an operating system on the managed server. This document focuses on installing VMware ESX Server Software on a remote system.

Configure the DRAC 4

This document assumes that you understand how to use the DRAC 4 and its web-based management interface. Please refer to the Dell Remote Access Controller 4 User’s Guide for hardware installation, configuration, and software configuration guidance. Please refer to Dell Remote Access Controller/

Modular Chassis Version 1.2 User’s Guide for installation and configuration of Dell Remote Access

Controller/Modular Chassis (DRAC/MC) and Avocent Digital Access KVM Module in Dell PowerEdge™ 1855. These documents can be obtained from http://support.dell.com.

NOTICE: Remote installation of VMware ESX Server Software using console redirect and remote virtual media is not supported when Avocent analog KVM access module is used with PE 1855. Before continuing, you should know the IP address of the DRAC 4 installed in the remote system and have a supported web browser and Java Virtual Machine installed on your management station.

Connect to the DRAC

1. Attach to the DRAC card through an internet browser window by entering the DRAC’s IP address in the address bar.

2. Log into the DRAC with the configured username and password.

NOTE: The default username and password for the DRAC is root and calvin

NOTICE: For increased security change your DRAC login information from the default.

(5)

Mount Virtual Media

3. Insert the ESX CD-ROM into your local management station’s CD-ROM drive 4. Click on “Media” in the left-hand pane 5. Select the appropriate CD-ROM drive letter in the right-hand pane and click the “Connect” button

6. If you are using a PE 1855, select the appropriate blade and launch the Java application to connect to the CD-ROM drive to the blade

Open Remote Console Session

7. Click on “Console” in the left-hand pane. You may be asked to accept one or more security certificates.

8. The resulting page may be blank if the remote system or blade server is powered-off.

9. Power-on or reboot the remote system in order to set the boot order.

Power-On the Remote System

10. If the remote system or blade server is powered-off, click on “Power” in the left-hand pane, select “Power On System”, then click “Apply”.

(6)

Set the Boot Order

11. When the remote system enters POST, press F2 to enter BIOS setup.

12. Select “Boot Sequence”

13. Move “Embedded VIRTUALCDROM DRIVE” to the top of the list using the +/- keys. If you are using a PE 1855, the remote virtual media is reflected as a “USB CD-ROM” device on the BIOS. Move the USB CD-ROM to the top of the list using the +/- keys.

14. Press the ESCAPE key to exit BIOS setup. Be sure to save settings upon exiting.

Install ESX Server Software

15. Upon rebooting, the remote system will boot to the ESX CD, which is in your management station’s drive.

16. Remote console installations should be done in text-mode. Start a text-mode install by entering “text” or

“bootfromsan-text” at the ESX Server Installer screen.

NOTE: Text-mode installation avoids possible minor graphical and mouse-related nuisances and uses less bandwidth than a graphical install.

17. Proceed with the ESX installation just as if you were sitting locally at the

(7)

remote server.

18. Reboot the server when prompted.

Disconnect Remote Media

19. While the remote server reboots, disconnect the virtual remote media from the server.

(8)

5 Dell Inc.

Install Completed

20. After the install completes and the remote server reboots, you may continue to administer it remotely through the DRAC console redirection window.

Notes

NOTE: On your management station, a screen resolution of 1280 x 1024 works best as it alleviates the scroll bars on the remote console window.

Remote Installation of VMware ESX Server Software Using Dell Remote Access Controller