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VMware ESXi 8.0 step by step Installation guide with Screenshots

As VMware recently released and made available ESXi 8.0 publicly available, I thought get the hands dirty and install it in my Home Lab. I don't have licenses for ESXi 8.0, but it can be tested in Evaluation mode for 60 day trial. Which is enough to check new features of ESXi 8.0 server. I have downloaded ESXi server hypervisor ISO file from https://my.vmware.com website and mounted on my server, set to boot it from ISO. After starting server VMware ESXi 8.0.0 installer launches from bootable ISO.

Vmware ESXi 8.0.0 installs on most systems but only systems on VMware's Compatibility Guide are supported. Consult the VMware Compatibility Guide at: http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility.

Hit Enter key to continue.

Vmware vsphere esxi 8.0.0 installer compatibility guide are supported operation step by step installation instructions screenshots operation to confirm continue.jpg

Next Read and Accept the VMware General terms - End User License Agreement (EULA), Press F11 to continue.

ESXi vmware 8.0.0 installer vmware general terms exihibits step by step installation instructions vsphere vcenter guide comptibility.jpg

Select the disk from list, where ESXi operating system will be installed. In my case I have only 1 local virtual disk storage device, Press Enter key to continue.

vmware vsphere vcenter esxi vmfs 3 5 virtual disk vdisk vmhba vmware vsan partition capctity storage device datastore local remote installation step by step guide.jpg

Keep the default for keyboard layout - US Default, hit Enter key to proceed.

VMWare esxi us default keyboard layout vsphere vcenter virtualization iso hypervisor vmkernel installation step by step free home lab.jpg

Next provide root password, once passwords are match after confirmation, Press Enter button.

VMware vsphere esxi root password installer installation hypervisor virtual virtualization vcenter server set.jpg

Here I am seeing Warning and it is expected about non supported CPU, I will ignore it and hit enter on keyboard.

The system encountered the following warning(s).
<CPU_SUPPORT OVERRIDEWARMING:> The CPUs in this host are not supported by ESXi 8.0.0. You can override and force install, but it is not officially supported nor recommended.>

Check Out: ESXi Installation Hardware_Virtualization Warning Hardware virtualization is not a feature of CPU

VMware Vsphere vcenter esxi 8.0 installer cpu_support overridewarning officaly supported cpu force install warning system scan installation install step by step.jpg

As my system is not on the compatibility list of ESXi server and doesn't meet the supported ESXi hardware, It is giving me warning. Are you sure want to force unsupported installation of ESXi 8.0.0?

Press Enter to Force installation.

VMware vsphere vcenter esxi installer error warning force unsupported installation virtualization installation free homelab.jpg

This is the last installation step of ESXi 8.0.0 server. under confirm install, The installer is configured to : - install ESXi 8.0.0 on mpx.vmhba0:C0:T0:L0, Warning: This disk will be repartitioned. I am ok with disk format erase data as there is no data on the disk. Hit F11 to proceed Installation.

vmware vsphere vcenter esxi installation vcsa mpx.vmhba0 virtual disk physical disk repartition partition confirm install step by step guide.jpg

This is the screenshot for ESXi installation progress.

vmware vsphere esxi installation progress step by step guide screenshots esxi 8.0 vmware vcenter server vcsa appliance hypervisor.jpg

If everything goes well, ESXi 8.0.0 will be installed successfully. ESXi 8.0.0 will operate in evaluation mode for 60 days. To use ESXi 8.0.0 after the evaluation period, you must register for VMware product license. To administer you server, navigate to the server's hostname or IP address from your web browser or use the Direct Control User Interface (DCUI).

Remove the installation media before rebooting. Reboot the server to start using ESXi 8.0.0, Hit enter to reboot.

vmware vsphere vcenter esxi installation installer hyperviser evaluation mode free license direct console user interface reboot  server dcui web browser ui free home lab.jpg

Once server is rebooted. Below is the DCUI screen, Which I will configure in next article Configure VMware ESXi server network settings in DCUI.

VMware ESXi rebooted intell xeon vsphere vcenter dcui direct user interface https dhcp static customize system f2 f12 shutdown restart installation guide.jpg

Useful Articles
PART 1 : BUILDING AND BUYING GUIDE IDEAS FOR VMWARE LAB
PART 2 : BUILDING AND HARDWARE BUYING GUIDE IDEAS FOR VMWARE LAB
PART 3 : MY VSPHERE LAB CONFIGURATION ON VMWARE WORKSTATION
PART 4 : CONFIGURING VMWARE WORKSTATION NETWORKING IN HOME LAB
PART 5 : CONFIGURING STORAGE IN VMWare WORKSTATION FOR OPTIMAL SPEED
PART 6 : CONFIGURE VMWARE WORKSTATION TO SAVE SSD SPACE AND TIME
PART 7 : CREATING NESTED VMWARE ESXI SERVER VM IN HOMELAB ON VMWARE WORKSTATION
PART 8 : CPU COOLING SOLUTION FOR MY HOME LAB ON VMWARE WORKSTATION
Part 9: Guide to building a Home Lab
Part 1: VMware Powercli : Gather distributed virtual switch information to JSON file to migrate standard switch
Part 2: Copy or clone distributed virtual switch portgroups to standard switch portgroups - Powercli
Part 3: VMware Powercli: Migrate VMs to another network

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