IT:AD:VMWare/ESXi:HowTo:Create a new VM from an ISO

Creating a VM is relatively easy.

Installing the OS is easy too – bar one infuriating detail that will stump you a while…

If you've never done this before, you'll probably go batty before you figure it out…

That part's easy enough. Just ensure you choose the right numbers of CPU's and Cores (1/2 in my demo server's case).

You're using the Client VM tool of course.
Your VM needs to find an ISO somewhere. It has to be on the client (server will not work).
You'll get the notice that you have to Start the VM before you can (quickly) set the source of the ISO your Client .iso….and it *still won't see it. Infuriating!
The part that's missing is understanding that the newly created VM is trying to boot – but not even looking for a VM. So..
- Start the VM
- Click into the Console to change context
- Hit ESCAPE to get to the Boot sequence
- Select CDROM but don't hit enter yet.
- Ctrl-Alt back to the Client computer
- Add the DVD source (the *.iso on the memory stick)
- Click back into the Console/Remote server context
- Hit enter…and it finally picks up the *.iso.
- From there on, you know what to do.

Truly infuriating for a newbie…

Process