Dell VMware ESXi 4.x Setup Guide

vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) Host

Designed to take advantage of the expanded
memory and I/O slots of your PowerEdge system,
the vSphere Hypervisor represents the latest in
virtualization technology. Each host runs an
integrated version of the virtualization software to
enable your virtualization solution.

Downloading the ESXi ISO Image

1. Go to support.dell.com.

2. Select Drivers & Downloads.

3. Select Enter a Tag. Enter the Service Tag of
the system you want to install VMware ESXi
on and select Go.
Alternatively, you can click Select Model and
navigate to Server, Storage, Networking

→→

PowerEdge Server, and then to the specific
model of your system.
The Drivers and Downloads page is displayed.

4. Select the operating system as ESXi.

5. Expand Enterprise Solutions.

6. Click Download Now next to the
appropriate image.

Use a blank optical media to store the ISO image.

Management Client

vSphere Client connects to the ESXi Host to
manage it on a one-to-one basis. vSphere Client
can also connect to vCenter Server to manage
multiple hosts.

Management Server

vCenter Server is a Windows-based management
application that aggregates resources from
multiple ESXi hosts to build a virtual datacenter.
It is available at an additional cost. A 60-day
free trial is available for download at vmware.com.

Fibre Channel and iSCSI Storage

Optimized for virtualization, your solution can
use multiple connections of both Fibre Channel and
Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI)
networks at speeds ranging from 1 GB to 10 GB.
This creates a very fast and redundant storage
environment to address your datacenter needs.

Related Information

Learn more at the Dell VMware Alliance website at
dell.com/vmware.

Dell support documents are available at
support.dell.com/manuals

VMware support documents are available at
vmware.com/support/pubs

Storage Network

Management Network

Fibre Channel/iSCSI SAN

Virtual Machine Network

vSphere Client

VMware vCenter
Server

Management Client

VMware ESXi Hosts

Management Server

Dell and VMware are focused on making it easier for
businesses to adapt to virtualization. A cloud operating
system allows you to simplify datacenter computing by
managing a large infrastructure of processors,
memory, storage, and networking capabilities as a
unified seamless resource.

The process starts with testing and certifying the
VMware vSphere 4 virtualization software on
Dell PowerEdge systems with Dell PowerVault,
Dell|EquallLogic, or Dell/EMC storage arrays. After
testing and certifying the vSphere 4 software,
Dell OpenManage systems management software and
VMware vCenter Server (formerly, VirtualCenter) are
integrated to manage and maintain your physical and
virtual datacenter. Dell Infrastructure Consulting
Services is available to assist you in assessing and
implementing lifecycle management.

Innovation from Dell, in the form of redesigned
systems and storage arrays, complement the new
technologies found in the latest releases of VMware
ESXi and vCenter Server. Our collaboration offers
a wide variety of benefits—including an embedded
hypervisor on internal storage and solutions that can
help achieve zero-downtime maintenance, high
availability, and efficient disaster recovery capabilities.

INTEGRATED SOLUTIONS:
POWERED BY DELL, VIRTUALIZED BY VMware

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9a

Turn on the system. The ESXi console loads.
Press <F2> at the ESXi console screen to configure the

software.

Note: If you purchased the ESXi software in addition to
your primary operating system, you need to change the
boot order to allow the ESXi software to boot. For more
information, see the documentation located at
support.dell.com/manuals.

Read the system’s Rack Installation Instructions and
Getting Started Guide. To access the system
documentation, go to support.dell.com/manuals.

Connect the network cables to the appropriate LAN on
motherboard (LOM) NIC connectors.

VMware

Management

Network

Gb1

Virtual Machine

Network

Gb2, Gb3

Storage

Network (optional)

Gb4

Gb1 Gb2

By default, the system obtains an IP address through the
dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP). It is
recommended that you set a static IP address during the
initial configuration.
To configure a static IP address, select Configure

Management Network→ IP Configuration→ Set static
IP address and network configuration.

NOTE: Record the host IP address.

It is recommended that you set the root password during
the initial configuration. To set the root password,
select Configure Password from the main menu.
The root password manages the system on a one-to-one
basis.

Single Host—Use vSphere Client to manage a single
ESX/ESXi system from your Management Client.
It is recommended that you install the vSphere Client from
the vCenter Server media you created. Alternatively, you
can use a web browser to connect to the ESXi IP address
to download and install the vSphere Client on the
Management Client.

Log in using the root password configured in Step 5.

vSphere Client

9b

vCenter Server

Configuring Static IP Address

7

If you purchased the ESXi hypervisor-based vSphere
Essentials Plus, Standard, Advanced, Enterprise or
Enterprise Plus software from Dell, you must have
received the Partner Activation Code certificate.
To use the ESXi software and receive subscription
services, follow the instructions in your Partner Activation
Code certificate.

NOTE: If you purchased the Dell Basic or Trial edition,
you are not shipped a Partner Activation Code certificate.

Licensing Information

8

If you purchased the ESXi hypervisor-based vSphere
Essentials Plus, Standard, Advanced, Enterprise or
Enterprise Plus software with the PowerEdge system, the
software is preinstalled and prelicensed with a ESXi Single
Server edition. Replace the Single Server edition license
activation code with the vSphere license activation code.

You can either use the vSphere Client to manage the
licenses individually on the ESXi system, or use the
vCenter Server to manage the licenses centrally.

NOTE: If you purchased the Dell Basic or Trial edition,
record the license activation code.

For more information on license keys and VMware
software licensing configuration, see the VMware
documentation at vmware.com/support/pubs.

Using License Key

Setting the Root Password

Before You Begin Configuring the System

Deploying Management Client

Connecting the Network

Turning on the ESXi Console

Multi-Host—Use VMware vCenter Server to manage
multiple hosts from your Management Server.

You can download the vCenter Server from the VMware
Download Center at vmware.com/download. Install
vCenter Server in evaluation mode. If you purchased the
vCenter Server license from Dell, enter the license key to
activate the product.

You can use vSphere Client to manage a single ESX/ESXi
system. For managing multiple ESX/ESXi systems from a
single console, use vCenter Server. To install and
configure vSphere Client or the vCenter Server, see the
VMware vSphere 4 Getting Started Guide at
vmware.com/support/pubs.

4

Use the menu items to configure your system. It is
recommended that you set a root password and configure
a static IP address.

4 LOM

2 LOM

Server Information

Server IP Address : __________________________________
Server Name : ______________________________________
Server License Code: ________________________________

For Dell-VMware Information:

dell.com/vmware

For Dell Support:

dell.com/support

For VMware Support:

vmware.com/support

0G4JJ9A01

Information in this publication is subject to change without notice.

© 2010–2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Dell™, the DELL logo, PowerEdge™, PowerVault™, OpenManage™, and EqualLogic™ are
trademarks of Dell Inc. VMware®, vSphere™, and vCenter™ are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of VMware, Inc. in the United States or other countries. Microsoft®and Windows

®

are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this publication to refer to either the
entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell disclaims proprietary interest
in the trademarks and trade names other than its own.

January 2011

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Printed in the U.S.A.

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