Installation guide

Table 6-5. Boot Options for ESXi Installation (Continued)
Boot Option Description
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. The format of an NFS URL is specified in RFC 2224.
ks=usb
Performs a scripted installation, accessing the script from an
attached USB drive. Searches for a file named ks.cfg. The file
must be located in the root directory of the drive. If multiple
USB flash drives are attached, they are searched until the
ks.cfg file is found. Only FAT16 and FAT32 file systems are
supported.
ks=usb:/ path
Performs a scripted installation with the script file at the
specified 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 specified and files need to be
retrieved over the network, the installer defaults to the first
discovered network adapter that is plugged in.
nameserver= ip address
Specifies 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 specified and files need to be
retrieved over the network, the installer defaults to the first
discovered network adapter that is plugged in.
netmask= subnet mask
Specifies subnet mask for the network interface that
downloads the installation script and the installation media.
vlanid= vlanid
Configure the network card to be on the specified VLAN.
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.
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 86.
n
USB Flash drive. See “Create a USB Flash Drive to Store the ESXi Installation or Upgrade Script,” on
page 85.
n
A location accessible with the following protocols: NFS, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP
Path to the Installation or Upgrade Script
You can specify the path to an installation or upgrade script.
ks=http:// XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX /kickstart/KS.CFG is the path to the ESXi installation script, where
XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX is the IP address of the machine where the script resides. See “About Installation and Upgrade
Scripts,” on page 111.
Chapter 6 Upgrading and Migrating Your Hosts
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