VMware ESXi 5 Scripted Install to USB Flash

One of the great features of VMware vSphere is the capability to boot VMware ESXi from USB flash — eliminating local storage and array controllers can reduce the acquisition and operational costs for hypervisor hosts.

Now with VMware ESXi 5, it is possible to perform an automated installation to USB storage.  Simply specify usb-storage as part of the install command in an automated install script.  For example:

install --firstdisk=usb-storage --overwritevmfs

For more flexibility in a single script, multiple disk types can be specified; they will be tried in order.  Below is an example install command from a script for HP servers.  If USB flash is not installed, the on-board SAS disks will be used.  If neither are present — such as when installing virtual ESXi systems — generic local storage is the last resort.

install --firstdisk=usb-storage,hpsa,local --overwritevmfs

Perhaps not one of the major new feature of VMware vSphere 5, but handy.

Boot Hyper-V From Flash?

You might not know this, but Microsoft Hyper-V has had the ability to boot from flash as well — announced two years ago, but yet to be acknowledged in an actual production deployment.  Of course, this bleeding-edge configuration option is only supported if installed by OEMs, not end-users.  Anyone considering Hyper-V for virtualization is highly encouraged to give it a try; it’s a great opportunity to learn a lot about Windows registry manipulation and command line tools such as imagex and diskpart.

But seriously, VMware vSphere 5 will be here soon, and you’re going to love it.