Installing ESXi 5.5:

For this lab setup I’m using VMware workstation 11. To install ESX on a physical server you can attach the iso to the system via a virtual cd rom drive through the servers’ out of band management interface (console).

Launch VMware workstation & click on create new VM. Browse to the path for the ESXi iso & click next:

Follow the Wizard & click finish once done. When the VM comes up you should see the following prompt on screen:

Press enter to continue. Some service start-ups will commence now & you will see the following output on screen:

After a few minutes the following prompt is displayed. Press enter to start with the installation.

Now you will see a screen asking you to select the disk on which ESXI will be installed.

Select the appropriate disk & press enter:

After this you will be asked to select a keyboard layout & enter root password for the host. Post this you will see the below prompt stating that the disk will be repartitioned. Press f11 to start the installation.

If the installation is successful the following screen is displayed. Press enter to reboot the newly installed ESXi server (as a VM):