How to Create and Configure Virtual Machines on the VMware ESXi server

What is VMware ESXi and vSphere Client ?

VMware ESXi is an enterprise-class type-1 hypervisor developed by VMware for deploying and serving virtual machines.

The vSphere client is a Windows program that you can use to configure the ESXi host and to create and operate its virtual machines.

Download and install the vSphere client:

You can download vSphere client from any ESXi host.

Prerequisites:

• You must have the URL of the ESXi host, which is the IP address or host name.
• The ESXi system must have an Internet connection.

Procedure:

• From a Windows machine, open a Web browser.
• Enter the URL or IP address for the host as shown in the picture below.

• Click Download the vSphere Client under Getting Started
• Click Save to download the vSphere Client installer.
• The vSphere Client installer is downloaded to the system. Then install the vSphere client.

Create and configure VM’s on the VMware ESXi server using vSphere client:

• Start the vSphere client and log in to the ESXi host.

• Once you login then you would see the below screen.

• Then select the host from the inventory panel. Then go to File -> New -> Virtual Machine. It would launch “Configuration” Page as shown below. Select configuration type as “Typical” and continue.

• Name and Location: Provide the unique name for the virtual machine.

• Storage: Select the destination storage for the virtual machine files.

• Guest Operating System: Specify the guest operating system to use with this virtual machine.

• Network: Specify which network connections will be used with by the virtual machine. You can also continue with default “Network” and “Adapter”.

• Create a Disk: Select “Virtual disk size” and “Thin Provision”

• Ready To Complete: Review the settings for the new virtual machine and click finish. New virtual machine will be created. But note: Creation of VM does not include automatic installation of guest operating system. Install a guest OS (Ubuntu) on the VM after creating the VM.