VMware ESXi 5.5 – Installation and Configuration

  • Verify that the ESXi host meets the minimum hardware requirements
  • Verify that the host server’s BIOS hardware close is configured to use UTC±0
  • Select the correct disk to install VMware ESXi 5.5
  • Select a keyboard layout
  • Enter a password for the VMware ESXi root account.
  • Remove the bootable media upon the completion of the installation.
  • Verify the host’s hardware is displayed correctly on the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI)
  • Configure the management network using the DCUI
    • IP Configuration
    • DNS Configuration
    • Custom DNS Suffixes
  • Create an A and PTR record for the host on the Domain Name System (DNS) server(s) for the VMware ESXi host
  • Test the management network
  • Verify the hostname and IP address are configured correctly on the DCUI
  • Install the VMware vSphere client 5.5
  • Configure NIC teaming for the ESXi 5.5 host management network (vmnic0 & vmnic1)
  • License the VMware ESXi 5.5 host
  • Configure Network Time Protocol (NTP) from the vSphere Client 5.5
  • Verify Hyperthreading is enabled (if the host is utilizing an Intel processor), although this should be enabled by default
  • Configure the Host Power Management (HPM) settings