Copy the contents of the ISO image to the USB flash drive # cp -r /esxi/* /usbdisk.

# mount -o loop VMware-VMvisor-Installer-x.x.x-XXXXXX.x86_64.iso /esxi

Create a mount point for the ESXi ISO and mount it # mkdir /esxi.

Create a mount point for the flash drive and mount it # mkdir /usbdisk.

# cat /usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin > /dev/sdb

Copy the boot loader and Master Boot Record # /usr/bin/syslinux /dev/sdb1.

Format the drive # /sbin/mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n ESX /dev/sdb1.

press c to set the file system type to FAT32.

Press ENTER 3 times to use default settings.

Press n for new partition, followed by p for primary.

Sd 0:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0 Scsi 0:0:0:0: Direct-Access Kingston DataTraveler 2.0 Stick Alternatively, run lsblk -fs and search for iso9660 filesystems.

Identify the usb flash drives device path ( sdb in this example).Īn easy method to identify the device is by running dmesg shortly after plugging in the drive.

Install syslinux using your Linux packet manager.

Download ESXi Image: ESXi 8.0 (or any other version).

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.5U3a Ĭreate a bootable ESXi Installer USB Flash Drive with Linux.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 6.7U3b.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 7.0b.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 7.0U1c.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 7.0U2a.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 7.0U3g.

VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi) 8.0.0.Installing ESXi with a USB flash drive is a convenient method for physical servers that do not have remote management. This article explains how to create a bootable ESXi Installer USB Flash Drive with Linux, Windows, and Macs.

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