Purpose
This article explains how to install VMware ESXi in a virtual machine. Installing ESXi in a virtual machine provides a way to try the product without dedicating hardware to it. A virtual ESXi machine may be useful if you are studying to become a VCP (VMware Certified Professional).
By default, you can only run 32-bit virtual machines in ESXi. If you need to run 64-bit virtual machines, see the Additional Information section.
Resolution
Installing ESXi
To install ESXi 5.0 in VMware Fusion:
Note: If offered a choice, select the version for systems without software iSCSI configured.- Open VMware Fusion.
- Go to File > New.
- Click Continue without disk.
- Select Choose a disk or disk image.
- Select the ESXi iso you downloaded, then click Open
- Click Continue.
- For the Operating System, select VMware ESX. For the version, select VMware ESXi 5. Click Continue.
- Click Finish.
Note: If you want to make any adjustments to the virtual machine settings, such as switching to Bridged networking or increasing the RAM or processor or disk space allocation, click Customize settings. - Give your virtual machine a name and choose where to save it. Click Save.
- When the installation starts, choose ESXi-5.0.0-469512-standard Installer, or wait 5 seconds.
- Press Enter to start the boot process, or wait 5 seconds.
- When Mac OS prompts you for an administrator's username and password, enter it and click OK. This allows the virtual machine to run in promiscuous mode, which is required for the network settings to work.
- On the Welcome screen, press Enter to continue.
- Press fn+F11 to accept the EULA and continue.
Notes:- If you have enabled the option on your Mac to use the function keys as standard function keys, press F11 rather than fn+F11.
- If the keypresses do not register in the ESXi guest, press control+command to release the mouse then go toVirtual Machine > Send Key > F11.
- Select the virtual drive where you want to install. Press Enter to continue.
- Select a keyboard layout. Press Enter to continue.
- Enter a root password. Press the down arrow key, then enter the password again to confirm. Press Enter to continue.
- This warning appears:
Based on VMware KB 2009580
