## Summary - Install ESXi using the ISO - [[#Installing ESXi|Objective 4.2.1.3 Prepare ESXi Hosts]] - Configure ESXi, Network, DNS, NTP - [[#Configure NTP|Objective 4.2.1.3 Prepare ESXi Hosts]] - Regenerate certificates - [[#Regenerate Self-Signed Certificates|Objective 4.2.1.3 Prepare ESXi Hosts]] - Validate network connectivity from the Cloud Builder Appliance - [[#Verify ESXi Host Connectivity|Objective 4.2.1.3 Prepare ESXi Hosts]] ## Installing ESXi 1. Download ISO from VCF Bill of Materials(BOM) 2. Install ESXi interactively 1. Mount ISO 2. Boot from ISO 3. Accept EULA 4. set root password 5. restart ESXi host ## Configure Network on ESXi Hosts 1. Configure Network via the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) or the VMware Host Client 2. Set the following details 1. Management Network adapter 2. VLAN ID for management network 3. IP Address 4. Subnet Mask 5. Gateway 6. DNS Server 7. FQDN ## Configure NTP 1. Login to the VMware Host Client 2. `Manage -> System -> Time & Date` 3. Enable `Use Network Time Protocol (NTP)`, enter the NTP Server address 4. Set NTP service startup policy to `Start and stop with host` 5. start NTP Service on host ## Regenerate Self-Signed Certificates Each ESXi host must have self-signed certificates regenerated after the hostname is assigned to ensure validation with VMware Cloud Builder. 1. Connect to the ESXi using ssh 2. execute regeneration script ```bash /sbin/generate-certificates ``` 3. Restart services ```bash /etc/init.d/hostd restart && /etc/init.d/vpxa restart ``` ## Verify ESXi Host Connectivity 1. Ensure all ESXi hosts can be reached from the Cloud builder Appliance (Ping each host from the Appliance) 2. Perform forward and reverse DNS lookup 1. `nslookup <hostname/IP>` 3. Validate the host network and storage configuration ## 🔗Resources