Are you looking to create a virtual machine using VMware ESXi 5? If so, you’re in the right place! Setting up a virtual machine is easier than you might think – and it offers many benefits that will improve your computing life.
Whether you want to run multiple operating systems on one physical host or test out software configurations without putting your primary system at risk, setting up a virtual machine is an excellent solution.
In this post, we’ll walk you through creating a virtual machine in VMware ESXi 5 – so grab your cups of coffee, sit back, and let’s get started!
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Introduction to VMware ESXi 5
VMware ESXi 5 is a virtualization platform that enables you to create virtual machines and run them on your physical server. With VMware ESXi 5, you can Consolidate your servers and reduce hardware costs.
ESXi 5 is the industry-leading, purpose-built bare-metal hypervisor. ESXi 5 delivers unrivaled performance, scalability, feature richness, and operational efficiency, allowing you to fine-tune your environment according to business demands.
ESXi5 supports an expansive portfolio of guests, including Windows Server 2016, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, RHEL 7.3 & more!
Prerequisites for VMWare ESXi 5
Before you can create a virtual machine in VMWare ESXi 5, there are a few things you need to do first. You’ll need a physical server that meets the minimum system requirements for VMWare ESXi 5, which you can find on the VMWare website.
Once your server is set up, you must download and install the VMWare vSphere Client onto your computer. You’ll use this to connect to your server and create your virtual machines.
Finally, you must create a storage repository for your virtual machines. This can be done using any storage device supported by VMWare ESXi 5, such as an iSCSI target or NFS share.
Setting Up the Virtual Machine
Assuming you have already installed VMware ESXi on a server, you can create a virtual machine by following these steps:
- Select the VMware ESXi console server and click the “Create a New Virtual Machine” icon.
- Enter a name for the virtual machine and select the operating system you wish to install.
- Choose the amount of RAM and CPU cores for the virtual machine. You can also change the storage type and size if needed.
- Once you have finished configuring the settings, click “Finish” to create the virtual machine.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Virtual Machine in VMWare ESXi 5
There are a few things you need to create a virtual machine in VMWare ESXi 5, such as:
1) A physical server running VMWare ESXi 5. You can download and install the free version of VMWare ESXi 5 from their website.
2) A 64-bit operating system ISO image. You can download Ubuntu Server 14.04 LTS 64-bit from their website.
3) At least 4GB of RAM for your server. More is always better when it comes to RAM.
Once you have all of these things, you’re ready to create your virtual machine. First, you’ll need to open up the VMWare Infrastructure Client and connect to your server.
Once logged in, click the “New Virtual Machine” icon in the toolbar. This will bring up the “New Virtual Machine Wizard.” Click “Next” on the first page.
On the wizard’s second page, you’ll need to choose a name and location for your new virtual machine. Choose something that makes sense so you can remember it later on.
I usually like to put my virtual machines in a folder called “Virtual Machines” on my desktop for easy access later. Once you’ve chosen a name and location, click “Next.”
On the third page, you must choose the operating system you want to install on your virtual machine. Since we’re using Ubuntu Server 14.04 LTS 64-bit, choose Ubuntu Linux (64-bit) and click “Next.”
On the fourth page of the wizard, you’ll need to select a version of your operating system. Since we’re using 14.04, choose the latest version available and click “Next.”
On the fifth page, you must assign a virtual hardware profile for your new virtual machine. You can customize these settings or keep them at their default values. I usually leave them at the defaults and then click “Next.”
The sixth page is where you’ll upload your ISO image for installation. Click the “Browse” button and choose the ISO image you downloaded earlier. Once you have it uploaded, click “Next.”
On the seventh page of this wizard, you can review all of your choices before committing to creating this new virtual machine. If everything looks good, click “Finish,” VMWare will create your new virtual machine!
Configuring the Virtual Machine Settings
Assuming you have already installed VMware ESXi on a physical server, in this section, we will cover the configuration of the virtual machine settings. In the vSphere Client, click on the “Create / Register VM” icon and select “Create a New Virtual Machine”:
Give the new VM a name (e.g., “MyVM”) and choose its location. You can either create a new folder or keep the default location. Select the compute resource where you want to run the VM (usually, this will be the ESXi host on which you installed VMware).
Choose whether to store the virtual machine files on a local datastore or an NFS share. We recommend using a local data store if possible.
Click “Next” to continue. Select the OS template you want to install on your new VM on the next page. If you don’t have any templates available, you can create one by selecting “Install macOS from App Store” or “Install Windows from ISO.”
Choose whether to create a thin-provisioned or thick-provisioned disk. Thin-provisioned disks only allocate space as it is used, so they are more efficient but can run out of space if not managed properly.
Thick-provisioned disks allocate all requested space immediately, so they are less efficient but will not run out of space. Select the disk size and click “Next.”
On the next page, select how much memory to allocate to the virtual machine and how many CPU cores. You can adjust the system name and enable an external firewall if desired. Click “Next” to continue.
On the final page, review the settings and click “Finish.” Your new virtual machine will now be created and ready for use.
Connecting to the Virtual Machine
Assuming you have already logged in to the VMware ESXi host client, select the hosts in the inventory and click “Create / Register VM” on the right.
- Select “ Deploy a virtual machine from an OVF or OVA file ” and click “ Next ”.
- On the next page, select the Local File radio button and browse to the location of your downloaded OVA file. Once selected, click “ Next.”
- On the next page, you will see a summary of the settings for your VM. If everything looks correct, select “ Next.”
- Now you will need to choose a name and location for your VM. You can also specify whether to register this VM to inventory now or later and whether to power on this VM after creation. When you are satisfied with your choices, click “ Finish.”
Benefits of Using a Virtual Machine in VMWare ESXi 5
There are many benefits to using a virtual machine in VMWare ESXi 5. One of the biggest benefits is that it allows you to run multiple operating systems on one computer. This can be a big time saver if you need to use different programs that are incompatible.
Another great benefit is using a virtual machine to test new software before installing it on your computer. This could prevent compatibility issues or data loss if you installed the new software on your main computer.
A virtual machine can also be a great way to keep old software versions running. For example, suppose you have an older version of an accounting program that you still need to use, but it is incompatible with the newer operating system. In that case, you can install it on a virtual machine and run it without problems.
Finally, using a virtual machine can help improve the performance of your computer. If you run multiple programs simultaneously, they can each have their own dedicated processor and memory, which can help your computer run faster and smoother.
Conclusion
All in all, creating a virtual machine in VMware ESXi 5 is quite simple when you know the steps. To simplify the process, you should use a guide to ensure that each step is followed correctly and nothing gets overlooked.
Also, look at other tips for setting up the virtual hardware configuration and settings so your new VM runs as efficiently as possible.
With your VM’s correct installation and setup on VMware ESXi 5, you can now enjoy an efficient performance from any environment!
