Archive for June, 2009

Install ESX without DVDs

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Most of the time I want to have completely scripted installation of ESX3/4 without having to touch a physical server except for press F12 and doing it through the PXE boot appliance – the UDA…

For some time I’ve been using UDA 2.0 in its beta format to install ESX4 in unattended fashion. But occasionally I want to do a manual installation. My problem is all my boxes have CDs, not DVD players. Also the virtual media method although is OK, it’s deadly slow.

Anyway, over on http://www.virtuallifestyle.nl, Joep Piscaer has show how can take the UDA – and just use it to do a PXE boot and use its web-service to deliver media – minus the script installation. Joep’s small edit presents you with an over-the-network installation using the full graphical installer.

http://www.virtuallifestyle.nl/2009/06/uda-2-0-with-a-twist/

http://www.rtfm-ed.co.uk/?page_id=366

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Mike’s in the Mountains – Part Two

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Well, I’ve had some more time in the mountains since getting back from the User Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. Actually, one of these videos was taken the day I arrived but didn’t get time to pull the video of my camcorder and re-encoded it until yesterday. So there’s one video where I show you where I am staying, and the other two videos are of me taking a break from the booky wook and playing my guitar.

Yesterday I took a walk in the dem der hills. Got a little lost in the forest… Walked about 6 miles in the mid-day sun in away that only mad dogs and Englishmen do! After doing this blog post I’m going to carry on to Gatlinberg which is in the Smokey Mountains, but technically not even in the same state as where I’m staying. I’m in Bryson City, NC but Gatlinberg is in TN. Main reason to drive there is to see some scenary and get some good driving in – but also because Gatlinberg is mentioned in the Johnny Cash song “A boy named Sue”. I want it to have as a claim to fame that I’ve actually been there.

Anyway, the videos: