adminCtrlX – Simplifying System Administration: How to Install VMware ESXi 6.x, 7.x, 8.x & 9.x

This blog post walks you through a VMware ESXi installation using attached screenshots, explained clearly step by step. It is suitable for beginners as well as system administrators setting up a bare‑metal hypervisor for the first time.

ESXi 7, ESXi 8, and ESXi 9 Installations

The installation steps shown above are largely identical for VMware ESXi 6.x, 7.x, 8.x, and 9.x. However, there are some important version‑specific notes to be aware of:

ESXi 6.x:

Supports many older and legacy servers
Traditional VMkernel drivers widely available
Uses VMware Host Client (HTML5) in later updates
Limited security features compared to newer versions
End of General Support – use only for legacy environments

ESXi 7.x:

Supports a wide range of legacy servers and devices
Uses VMware Host Client (HTML5) for management
Requires compatible NIC and storage drivers
Last versions may have limited future updates

ESXi 8.x:

Requires newer CPU generations (older CPUs may not be supported)
Increased hardware security requirements (TPM 2.0 recommended)
Improved lifecycle management and performance
Some legacy drivers removed

ESXi 9.x:

Designed for modern, next‑generation hardware only
Stronger security enforcement by default
Enhanced automation and cloud integration
Legacy hardware and drivers are not supported

Important: Always verify your server hardware compatibility using the VMware Compatibility Guide before installation.

Prerequisites

Before starting the installation, make sure you have:
A physical server or supported system
VMware ESXi ISO image (downloaded from VMware)
Bootable USB/DVD or mounted ISO via iLO/iDRAC
Keyboard, monitor, and network connectivity

Screenshot 1: ESXi ISO mounted / boot menu screen

Step 1: Boot from ESXi Installation Media
Power on the server and boot from the ESXi installation media (USB/DVD/virtual media). The ESXi installer will load required files automatically.

Screenshot 2: Loading VMware ESXi installer

Step 2: Welcome Screen
Once the installer loads, you will see the Welcome to the VMware ESXi Installer screen.
Press Enter to continue with the installation.

Screenshot 3: ESXi welcome screen

Step 3: Accept the License Agreement
Read the VMware End User License Agreement (EULA).
Press F11 to accept the license and continue.
Screenshot 4: License agreement screen

Step 4: Select Installation Disk
The installer will scan available storage devices.
Select the disk where ESXi will be installed
Press Enter to proceed
All existing data on the selected disk will be erased.
Screenshot 5: Select installation disk

Step 5: Select Keyboard Layout
Choose the appropriate keyboard layout (default is US English).
Select your preferred layout
Press Enter
Screenshot 6: Keyboard selection screen

Step 6: Set Root Password
Create a strong root password for ESXi management.
Password requirements:
Minimum 7 characters
Must include a mix of characters
Enter and confirm the password
Press Enter to continue
Screenshot 7: Root password configuration

Step 7: Confirm Installation
The installer will display a summary and warning that the disk will be repartitioned.
Press F11 to confirm and start installation
Screenshot 8: Confirm installation warning

Step 8: Installation in Progress
VMware ESXi will now install on the selected disk. This usually takes a few minutes.
Screenshot 9: ESXi installation progress

Step 9: Installation Complete
Once installation finishes, you will see the completion screen.
Remove the installation media
Press Enter to reboot the system
Screenshot 10: Installation completed successfully

Step 10: ESXi First Boot Screen
After reboot, ESXi will load and display the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI).
This screen shows:
ESXi version
Host IP address
Management network status
Screenshot 11: ESXi DCUI main screen