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Installing VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 4

This guide will show you the necesary steps to performa a basic installation of VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 4. As the previous line says this is a basic "How to" and will not show you complex configurations of the server. Those configurations will be shown on a future post.
 
In order to install VMware ESX Server 2.5 Update 4 on our server we need to make it to boot from the installation CD. Once booted this will be the first screen you'll see.
 
Welcome ScreenWelcome Screen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The installation will ask to perform a media test in order to identify errors. We will skip this step pressing the "Skip" button.
  
Media testMedia test
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Click the "Next" button in order to continue.
 
WizardWizard
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Select the keyboard type and then press "Next" to continue
 
Keyboard TypeKeyboard Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Select the mouse type and then press "Next" to continue.
 
Mouse TypeMouse Type
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If your hard drive  is empty the wizard will inform you that the partition table was unreadable and ask you to initialize the disk. Click "Yes" to continue.
 
 
Initialize DiskInitialize Disk
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accept the VMware's EULA by clicking "Next"
 
 
VMware EULAVMware EULA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Select the hard drive for the installation and let the wizard to perform the partitioning for you. Click "Next" to continue.
 
Disk PartitioningDisk Partitioning
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Click "Yes" to remove all non VMFS partitions on your drive and continue.
 
PartitioningPartitioning
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Accept the default partitions and click "Next" to continue.
 
Default PartitioningDefault Partitioning
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As the bootloader modification is out of the scope of this guide click "Next" to continue.
 
BootloaderBootloader
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Select the Network Card that we'll use for management, set the ip configuration and VlanID in case that you use Vlans. Click "Next" to continue.
 
NetworkingNetworking
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
Select the apropiate time zone and click "Next" to continue.
 
Time ZoneTime Zone
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 Set a strong root password and click "Next" to continue.
 
Root PasswordRoot Password
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Review the summary and click "Next" to begin the installation.
 
SummarySummary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Take note of ther URL provided by the wizard (you'll need it to connect to the server) and click "Finish" to reboot the server
 
FinishFinish
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Congratulations! you have successfully installed your server with VMware ESX Server 3.5 Update 4.