6.0.2

Table Of Contents
Boot Options
When you perform a scripted installation, you might need to specify options at boot time to access the
kickstart le.
Supported Boot Options
Table 91. Boot Options for ESXi Installation
Boot Option Description
BOOTIF=hwtype-MAC address Similar to the netdevice option, except in the PXELINUX
format as described in the IPAPPEND option under
SYSLINUX at the syslinux.zytor.com site.
gateway=ip address
Sets this network gateway as the default gateway to be used
for downloading the installation script and installation
media.
ip=ip address
Sets up a static IP address to be used for downloading the
installation script and the installation media. Note: the
PXELINUX format for this option is also supported. See the
IPAPPEND option under SYSLINUX at the
syslinux.zytor.com site.
ks=cdrom:/path
Performs a scripted installation with the script at path,
which resides on the CD in the CD-ROM drive. Each
CDROM is mounted and checked until the le that matches
the path is found.
I If you have created an installer ISO image with
a custom installation or upgrade script, you must use
uppercase characters to provide the path of the script, for
example, ks=cdrom:/KS_CUST.CFG.
ks=file://path
Performs a scripted installation with the script at path.
ks=protocol://serverpath
Performs a scripted installation with a script located on the
network at the given URL. protocol can be http, https, ftp,
or nfs. An example using nfs protocol is
ks=nfs://host/porturl-path. The format of an NFS URL
is specied in RFC 2224.
ks=usb
Performs a scripted installation, accessing the script from an
aached USB drive. Searches for a le named ks.cfg. The
le must be located in the root directory of the drive. If
multiple USB ash drives are aached, they are searched
until the ks.cfg le is found. Only FAT16 and FAT32 le
systems are supported.
ks=usb:/path
Performs a scripted installation with the script le at the
specied path, which resides on USB.
ksdevice=device
Tries to use a network adapter device when looking for an
installation script and installation media. Specify as a MAC
address, for example, 00:50:56:C0:00:01. This location can
also be a vmnicNN name. If not specied and les need to
be retrieved over the network, the installer defaults to the
rst discovered network adapter that is plugged in.
nameserver=ip address
Species a domain name server to be used for downloading
the installation script and installation media.
netdevice=device
Tries to use a network adapter device when looking for an
installation script and installation media. Specify as a MAC
address, for example, 00:50:56:C0:00:01. This location can
also be a vmnicNN name. If not specied and les need to
be retrieved over the network, the installer defaults to the
rst discovered network adapter that is plugged in.
Chapter 9 Upgrading Hosts
VMware, Inc. 173