vSphere Installation and Setup - Documentation - VMware

vSphere Installation and Setup
About Installation and Upgrade Scripts
The installation/upgrade script is a text file, for example ks.cfg, that contains supported commands.
The command section of the script contains the ESXi installation options. This section is required and must
appear first in the script.
About the Default ks.cfg Installation Script
The ESXi installer includes a default installation script that performs a standard installation to the first detected
disk.
The default ks.cfg installation script is located in the initial RAM disk at /etc/vmware/weasel/ks.cfg. You can
specify the location of the default ks.cfg file with the ks=file://etc/vmware/weasel/ks.cfg boot option. See
“Enter Boot Options to Start an Installation or Upgrade Script,” on page 48.
When you install ESXi using the ks.cfg script, the default root password is mypassword.
You cannot modify the default script on the installation media. After the installation, you can log in to the ESXi
host and use the vSphere Client to modify the default settings.
The default script contains the following commands:
#
# Sample scripted installation file
#
# Accept the VMware End User License Agreement
vmaccepteula
# Set the root password for the DCUI and Tech Support Mode
rootpw mypassword
# Install on the first local disk available on machine
install --firstdisk --overwritevmfs
# Set the network to DHCP on the first network adapter
network --bootproto=dhcp --device=vmnic0
# A sample post-install script
%post --interpreter=python --ignorefailure=true
import time
stampFile = open('/finished.stamp', mode='w')
stampFile.write( time.asctime() )
Locations Supported for Installation or Upgrade Scripts
In scripted installations and upgrades, the ESXi installer can access the installation or upgrade script, also called
the kickstart file, from several locations.
The following locations are supported for the installation or upgrade script:
n CD/DVD. See “Create an Installer ISO Image with a Custom Installation or Upgrade Script,” on page 17.
n USB Flash drive. See “Create a USB Flash Drive to Store the ESXi Installation Script or Upgrade Script,”
on page 16.
n A network location accessible through the following protocols: NFS, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP
50 VMware, Inc.