PXE Boot ESXi 8 on Intel NUC 12

PXE Boot ESXi 8 on Intel NUC 12

Are you looking to install ESXi 8 on your Intel NUC 12? PXE booting is a convenient method to install an operating system over the network, and it can be utilized to install ESXi 8 on your NUC 12. This guide will walk you through the process step by step, making it easy for even entry-level users to follow.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

• An Intel NUC 12
• A computer with network access
• A USB flash drive (at least 2GB)
• A DHCP server on your network
• A TFTP server on your network

Step 1: Prepare the USB Flash Drive

First, we need to prepare the USB flash drive with the necessary files.

1. Download the ESXi 8 ISO file from the official VMware website.
2. Insert the USB flash drive into your computer.
3. Use a tool like Rufus or Etcher to create a bootable USB drive from the ESXi 8 ISO file.

Step 2: Configure the DHCP Server

Next, we need to configure the DHCP server to provide the necessary network settings to the Intel NUC 12.

Access your DHCP server's configuration and add a new DHCP reservation for the MAC address of your NUC 12. This reservation should assign a static IP address to the NUC 12.

Step 3: Set Up the TFTP Server

Now, let's set up the TFTP server to serve the ESXi 8 installation files.

1. Download and install a TFTP server software on your computer.
2. Create a new directory on your computer to store the ESXi 8 installation files.
3. Copy all the files from the USB flash drive to the newly created directory.
4. Configure the TFTP server to serve files from the directory you just created.

Step 4: Configure the Intel NUC 12

Now, let's configure the Intel NUC 12 to boot from the network.

1. Power on the Intel NUC 12 and press the necessary key (usually F2 or Del) to access the BIOS settings.
2. Navigate to the Boot section of the BIOS.
3. Change the boot order to prioritize network booting.
4. Save the BIOS settings and exit.

Step 5: PXE Boot ESXi 8

With all the necessary configurations in place, it's time to PXE boot ESXi 8 on your Intel NUC 12.

1. Connect the Intel NUC 12 to the same network as your DHCP and TFTP servers.
2. Power on the Intel NUC 12.
3. The NUC 12 should now automatically boot from the network and start the ESXi 8 installation process.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Once the installation is complete, you can access and manage your ESXi 8 server using the VMware vSphere Client or the vSphere Web Client.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully PXE booted ESXi 8 on your Intel NUC 12. This method allows for easy installation and configuration of ESXi 8, making it a convenient choice for deploying virtualization environments. Enjoy exploring the powerful features and capabilities of ESXi 8 on your NUC 12!