Install Alpine on VMware ESXi: Difference between revisions
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= Preparation = | = Preparation = | ||
This Guide assumes you are using the latest as of this writing | This Guide assumes you are using the latest (as of this writing, ESXi 6.7) host client on a free install of ESXi, not the VSphere client. Options may be slightly different for that client. | ||
== Download Alpine and upload to a reachable Datastore == | == Download Alpine and upload to a reachable Datastore == | ||
For this guide, I used the latest Virtual Images, | For this guide, I used the latest Virtual Images, which at the time was, 3.10.2 | ||
== Create VM Options == | == Create VM Options == | ||
# Name: Choose any name you like | |||
# Name: Choose any | |||
# Compatibility: Linux | # Compatibility: Linux | ||
# Guest OS Version: Select ''Other | # Guest OS Version: Select ''Other 5.x or later Linux (64-bit)'' if you downloaded the x86_64 Alpine-ISO, or ''Other 5.x or later Linux (32-bit)'' if you downloaded the x86 Alpine-ISO. | ||
== Edit VM Settings once Created == | == Edit VM Settings once Created == | ||
| Line 20: | Line 21: | ||
## Under Boot Options > Firmware, select bios | ## Under Boot Options > Firmware, select bios | ||
## Click save. | ## Click save. | ||
# You could create a new ISO image following the [[ | # You could create a new ISO image following the [[Create UEFI secureboot USB]] guide (outside the scope of this guide) | ||
# You can change the VM Compatability options to ''Other Linux (64-bit)'' but you loose the VMXNET and SR-IOV Passthrough NIC options (helpful for a virtualized firewall) and are limited to the E1000 NIC driver which has been known to drop network connectivity. | # You can change the VM Compatability options to ''Other Linux (64-bit)'' but you loose the VMXNET and SR-IOV Passthrough NIC options (helpful for a virtualized firewall) and are limited to the E1000 NIC driver which has been known to drop network connectivity. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 33: | ||
using root/sudo/wheel privileges, edit /etc/apk/repos and un-comment the community repo | using root/sudo/wheel privileges, edit /etc/apk/repos and un-comment the community repo | ||
# Install {{Pkg|open-vm-tools}} | # Install {{Pkg|open-vm-tools}} | ||
{{Cmd | apk add --update open-vm-tools }} | {{Cmd |apk add --update open-vm-tools }} | ||
# Start and enable at boot. As of this writing the open-rc scripts are included in the base open-vm-tools package instead of a separate -openrc package. | # Start, and enable at boot. As of this writing the open-rc scripts are included in the base open-vm-tools package instead of a separate -openrc package. | ||
{{Cmd | | {{Cmd |rc-service open-vm-tools start | ||
rc-update add open-vm-tools}} | rc-update add open-vm-tools}} | ||
[[category:Virtualization]] | |||
Latest revision as of 09:14, 10 November 2023
Preparation
This Guide assumes you are using the latest (as of this writing, ESXi 6.7) host client on a free install of ESXi, not the VSphere client. Options may be slightly different for that client.
Download Alpine and upload to a reachable Datastore
For this guide, I used the latest Virtual Images, which at the time was, 3.10.2
Create VM Options
- Name: Choose any name you like
- Compatibility: Linux
- Guest OS Version: Select Other 5.x or later Linux (64-bit) if you downloaded the x86_64 Alpine-ISO, or Other 5.x or later Linux (32-bit) if you downloaded the x86 Alpine-ISO.
Edit VM Settings once Created
The default alpine linux iso images only boot from bios, not the ESXi default of UEFI for Linux 4.0+ hosts. To get around this limitation, you have three options:
- Change the VM to use Bios Boot
- Make sure the VM is powered off. (If it is on, you will not be able to change boot options, and your save will fail.)
- Right click on the VM, and select Edit Settings
- Select VM Options
- Under Boot Options > Firmware, select bios
- Click save.
- You could create a new ISO image following the Create UEFI secureboot USB guide (outside the scope of this guide)
- You can change the VM Compatability options to Other Linux (64-bit) but you loose the VMXNET and SR-IOV Passthrough NIC options (helpful for a virtualized firewall) and are limited to the E1000 NIC driver which has been known to drop network connectivity.
Installation
Install Alpine Linux. I used the default setup-alpine script
Post-Install
Install and enable Open-VM-Tools
- Enable the Community repo
using root/sudo/wheel privileges, edit /etc/apk/repos and un-comment the community repo
- Install open-vm-tools
apk add --update open-vm-tools
- Start, and enable at boot. As of this writing the open-rc scripts are included in the base open-vm-tools package instead of a separate -openrc package.
rc-service open-vm-tools start rc-update add open-vm-tools