Installation guide

Install, Upgrade, or Migrate ESXi from a CD or DVD Using a Script
You can install, upgrade, or migrate ESXi from a CD/DVD drive using a script that specifies the installation or
upgrade options.
You can start the installation or upgrade script by entering a boot option when you start the host. You can also
create an installer ISO image that includes the installation script. With an installer ISO image, you can perform
a scripted, unattended installation when you boot the resulting installer ISO image. See “Create an Installer
ISO Image with a Custom Installation or Upgrade Script,” on page 86.
IMPORTANT After you upgrade or migrate your host to ESXi 5.0, you cannot roll back to your version 4.x ESX
or ESXi software. Back up your host before you perform an upgrade or migration, so that, if the upgrade or
migration fails, you can restore your 4.x host.
Prerequisites
Before you run the scripted installation, upgrade, or migration, verify that the following prerequisites are met:
n
The system on which you are installing, upgrading, or migrating meets the hardware requirements. See
“ESXi Hardware Requirements,” on page 13.
n
You have the ESXi installer ISO on an installation CD/DVD. See “Download and Burn the ESXi Installer
ISO Image to a CD or DVD,” on page 83.
n
The default installation or upgrade script (ks.cfg) or a custom installation or upgrade script is accessible
to the system. See “About Installation and Upgrade Scripts,” on page 111.
n
You have selected a boot command to run the scripted installation, upgrade or migration. See “Enter Boot
Options to Start an Installation or Upgrade Script,” on page 109. For a complete list of boot commands,
see “Boot Options,” on page 110.
Procedure
1 Boot the ESXi installer from the CD or DVD using the local CD/DVD-ROM drive.
2 When the ESXi installer window appears, press Shift+O to edit boot options.
3 Type a boot option that calls the default installation or upgrade script or an installation or upgrade script
file that you created.
The boot option has the form ks=.
vSphere Upgrade
120 VMware, Inc.