How to Download and Install VMware ESXi 6.5
VMware ESXi is a bare-metal hypervisor that allows you to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. VMware ESXi is part of the VMware vSphere suite, which provides a complete solution for virtualization, cloud computing, and management. In this article, we will show you how to download and install VMware ESXi 6.5, which is the latest version of this hypervisor.
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What is VMware ESXi 6.5?
VMware ESXi 6.5 is the sixth major release of VMware ESXi, which was first introduced in 2008 as a successor to VMware ESX. VMware ESXi 6.5 was released in November 2016 and it offers several new features and enhancements over the previous versions.
Features and benefits of VMware ESXi 6.5
Some of the main features and benefits of VMware ESXi 6.5 are:
Improved security: VMware ESXi 6.5 supports secure boot, which ensures that only trusted code is loaded during the boot process. It also supports encryption of virtual machines, which protects the data at rest. Additionally, it supports VM-level encryption keys, which can be managed by external key management systems.
Enhanced performance: VMware ESXi 6.5 supports new hardware features, such as NVMe devices, Intel Skylake processors, and NVIDIA GRID vGPU. It also supports new network protocols, such as IPv6, VXLAN, and Geneve. Furthermore, it optimizes the resource utilization and scheduling of virtual machines.
Simplified management: VMware ESXi 6.5 introduces a new HTML5-based web client, which replaces the old Flash-based web client. The new web client provides a faster, more responsive, and more intuitive user interface for managing the hypervisor and the virtual machines. It also supports new features, such as auto-deploy, host profiles, and content libraries.
Increased scalability: VMware ESXi 6.5 increases the maximum configuration limits for the hypervisor and the virtual machines. For example, it supports up to 768 GB of RAM and 128 vCPUs per virtual machine, up to 64 TB of virtual disk size per virtual machine, up to 4096 virtual machines per host, and up to 8000 virtual machines per cluster.
Requirements and compatibility of VMware ESXi 6.5
Before you download and install VMware ESXi 6.5, you need to make sure that your hardware and software meet the minimum requirements and are compatible with this version of the hypervisor.
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The minimum hardware requirements for installing VMware ESXi 6.5 are:
A server with a 64-bit x86 processor that supports Intel VT-x or AMD-V virtualization extensions
At least 4 GB of RAM (8 GB or more recommended)
At least one Gigabit Ethernet network adapter (10 Gigabit or faster recommended)
At least one local or remote storage device (SATA, SAS, USB, iSCSI, NFS, etc.) with at least 1 GB of free space (5.2 GB or more recommended)
The minimum software requirements for installing VMware ESXi 6.5 are:
A compatible operating system for the installation media, such as Windows, Linux, or Mac OS X
A compatible web browser for accessing the web client, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge
A compatible management tool for managing the hypervisor and the virtual machines, such as VMware vCenter Server, VMware vSphere Client, or VMware PowerCLI
To check the compatibility of your hardware and software with VMware ESXi 6.5, you can use the following resources:
The VMware Compatibility Guide, which lists the supported servers, storage devices, network adapters, and guest operating systems for VMware ESXi 6.5
The VMware Product Interoperability Matrix, which shows the compatibility of VMware ESXi 6.5 with other VMware products and versions
The VMware Hardware Compatibility List, which provides detailed information about the hardware components and drivers that are certified for VMware ESXi 6.5
How to download VMware ESXi 6.5?
Once you have verified that your hardware and software are compatible with VMware ESXi 6.5, you can proceed to download the installation files from the official VMware website or other sources.
Download options and sources for VMware ESXi 6.5
There are two main download options for VMware ESXi 6.5:
The ISO image file, which contains the full installation package for VMware ESXi 6.5. You can use this option to create a bootable CD/DVD or USB drive for installing the hypervisor on a physical server.
The offline bundle file, which contains the update package for VMware ESXi 6.5. You can use this option to upgrade an existing installation of VMware ESXi to version 6.5.
There are also different sources for downloading VMware ESXi 6.5:
The VMware Download Center, which requires a valid VMware account and a license key to access the download links
The My VMware portal, which allows you to manage your licenses and downloads for all your VMware products
The VMware Evaluation Center, which offers a free 60-day trial of VMware ESXi 6.5 and other VMware products
The alternative download sites, such as TechSpot, Softpedia, or FileHorse, which provide direct download links without requiring a registration or a license key
How to verify the integrity of the downloaded files
After you have downloaded the installation files for VMware ESXi 6.5, you should verify their integrity by checking their checksum values. A checksum is a unique string that is generated from a file using a mathematical algorithm. By comparing the checksum of a downloaded file with the checksum provided by the source, you can ensure that the file is not corrupted or tampered with.
To verify the checksum of a downloaded file, you can use one of the following methods:
The built-in tools in your operating system, such as md5sum or sha1sum in Linux, certutil in Windows, or shasum in Mac OS X
The third-party tools that are available online or offline, such as MD5 & SHA Checksum Utility, HashTab, or WinMD5Free
How to install VMware ESXi 6.5?
After you have verified the integrity of the downloaded files, you can proceed to install VMware ESXi 6.5 on your physical server. The installation process is relatively simple and straightforward, but it requires some preparation and configuration steps.
How to prepare the installation media and the target server
The first step is to prepare the installation media and the target server for installing VMware ESXi 6.5. Depending on the download option that you chose, you need to do one of the following:
If you downloaded the ISO image file, you need to burn it to a CD/DVD or write it to a USB drive using a tool such as Rufus, Etcher, or UNetbootin. You also need to make sure that your server supports booting from the CD/DVD or USB drive.
If you downloaded the offline bundle file, you need to copy it to a local or remote storage device that is accessible by your server. You also need to make sure that your server is running a compatible version of VMware ESXi that can be upgraded to version 6.5.
In addition, you need to prepare your server for installing VMware ESXi 6.5 by doing the following:
Back up any important data and settings on your server, as the installation will erase all existing data on the selected storage device
Disable any security features or applications that may interfere with the installation, such as antivirus software, firewall software, or BIOS settings
Connect your server to a reliable power source and a stable network connection
Gather the information that you will need during the installation, such as the license key, the IP address, the hostname, the root password, and the storage device name
How to boot from the installation media and start the installation wizard
The next step is to boot your server from the installation media and start the installation wizard for VMware ESXi 6.5. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
Insert the CD/DVD or plug in the USB drive that contains the VMware ESXi 6.5 installation package into your server
Restart your server and press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu (usually F2, F10, F12, or Del)
Select the CD/DVD or USB drive as the boot device and press Enter
Wait for the VMware ESXi 6.5 installer to load and display the welcome screen
Press Enter to continue with the installation
How to configure the basic settings and accept the license agreement
The third step is to configure the basic settings and accept the license agreement for VMware ESXi 6.5. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
Select your keyboard layout and press Enter
Type your license key or leave it blank if you want to use the evaluation mode and press Enter
Read and accept the end user license agreement (EULA) by pressing F11
How to select the installation destination and begin the installation process
The fourth step is to select the installation destination and begin the installation process for VMware ESXi 6.5. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
Select the storage device where you want to install VMware ESXi 6.5 and press Enter (you can use Tab to switch between different devices)
Select whether you want to overwrite or preserve any existing VMFS datastores on the selected device and press Enter (if there are no existing datastores, this option will not appear)
Confirm your selection by pressing F11
Wait for the installer to copy and install VMware ESXi 6.5 files on your device (this may take several minutes)
How to complete the installation and reboot the server
The final step is to complete the installation and reboot your server for VMware ESXi 6.5. To do this, you need to follow these steps:
When the installer displays a message that says "Installation Complete", press Enter
Remove the CD/DVD or USB drive from your server
Press Enter again to reboot your server
Wait for your server to restart and display the VMware ESXi 6.5 direct console user interface (DCUI)
How to update and patch VMware ESXi 6.5?
How to use esxcli commands to update and patch VMware ESXi 6.5
esxcli is a command-line interface that allows you to manage various aspects of VMware ESXi, including updating and patching. esxcli requires a connection to the VMware ESXi host that you want to update and patch, either directly or remotely. To use esxcli commands to update and patch VMware ESXi 6.5, you need to follow these steps:
Download the latest updates and patches for VMware ESXi 6.5 from the VMware website or other sources and copy them to a local or remote storage device that is accessible by your VMware ESXi host
Put your VMware ESXi host into maintenance mode, which suspends or migrates any running virtual machines and prevents any new virtual machines from being powered on
Use the esxcli software vib install command to install the updates and patches on your VMware ESXi host, specifying the location of the files and any additional options
Use the esxcli software vib list command to verify that the updates and patches are installed on your VMware ESXi host
Reboot your VMware ESXi host to complete the installation and apply the changes
Exit the maintenance mode and resume the normal operation of your VMware ESXi host
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install VMware ESXi 6.5, which is the latest version of the bare-metal hypervisor from VMware. We have also shown you how to update and patch VMware ESXi 6.5 using two different methods: VMware vSphere Update Manager and esxcli commands. By following these steps, you can enjoy the benefits of running multiple virtual machines on a single physical server with improved security, performance, management, and scalability.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about VMware ESXi 6.5:
What is the difference between VMware ESX and VMware ESXi?
VMware ESX and VMware ESXi are both bare-metal hypervisors from VMware, but they have some differences in their architecture and functionality. VMware ESX has a service console, which is a Linux-based operating system that provides a management interface for the hypervisor. VMware ESXi does not have a service console, but instead uses a minimal kernel that runs directly on the hardware. VMware ESXi is more secure, efficient, and reliable than VMware ESX, but it also requires more external tools for management.
What are the advantages of using VMware vSphere Update Manager over esxcli commands?
VMware vSphere Update Manager and esxcli commands are both valid methods for updating and patching VMware ESXi, but they have some advantages and disadvantages. VMware vSphere Update Manager is more user-friendly, automated, and comprehensive than esxcli commands, but it also requires more resources, such as a Windows server, a vCenter Server connection, and a database. esxcli commands are more lightweight, flexible, and direct than VMware vSphere Update Manager, but they also require more manual intervention, technical skills, and network access.
How can I access and manage my VMware ESXi host after installing it?
There are several ways to access and manage your VMware ESXi host after installing it. You can use the direct console user interface (DCUI), which is a text-based interface that displays on the physical monitor of your server. You can use the web client, which is a web-based interface that you can access from any web browser. You can use the vSphere Client, which is a desktop application that you can install on your Windows machine. You can use PowerCLI, which is a PowerShell module that you can use to run scripts and commands for your VMware ESXi host.
How can I backup and restore my VMware ESXi configuration?
You can backup and restore your VMware ESXi configuration using the vicfg-cfgbackup command, which is part of the vSphere Command-Line Interface (vCLI). The vicfg-cfgbackup command allows you to save your VMware ESXi configuration to a file on your local or remote machine, and then restore it to the same or another VMware ESXi host. You can also use third-party tools or scripts that leverage this command or other APIs.
How can I troubleshoot any issues or errors with my VMware ESXi installation or operation?
You can troubleshoot any issues or errors with your VMware ESXi installation or operation by using various tools and methods. You can use the log files, which are stored in the /var/log directory of your VMware ESXi host and contain detailed information about the events and activities of the hypervisor and the virtual machines. You can use the esxcli system coredump command, which allows you to collect and analyze the core dump files that are generated when your VMware ESXi host crashes or hangs. You can use the VMware Knowledge Base, which provides articles, guides, and solutions for common issues and errors with VMware ESXi and other VMware products. You can also contact the VMware support team or the VMware community forums for further assistance.
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