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Completing a clean installation using the ISO image if your installation or upgrade fails

Symptoms

  • ESX Server host installation fails to complete.
  • Reinstalling ESX Server host does not complete.
  • Upgrade of ESX Server host does not complete.
  • You have attempted an upgrade using a tarball that failed. You are now unable to complete the installation with the ISO image or tarball.
  • Only the word GRUB is visible on screen after failed upgrade.

Purpose

If a server has previously had an operating system installed, this data can cause an ESX Server installation or upgrade to fail. This document describes the process required to erase all data from your server by rebuilding your Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) configuration, and completing a fresh installation.

Resolution

To perform a fresh installation of ESX Server software:

  1. Backup any virtual machines that you want to keep before continuing.
  2. Disconnect any storage area networks (SANs) until the installation of the ESX Server system is complete.
  3. Check for a mirrored drive on the server.
  4. If you have RAID 1 configured on the ESX Server host, break the RAID 1 configuration.

    Note    : If you are unfamiliar with RAID, please contact your hardware vendor for assistance.

  5. Rebuild the RAID 1 configuration through the options available in the BIOS of your RAID controller.

    Caution    : All data on your hard disks is completely erased by this step.

  6. Save the settings of the BIOS.
  7. Download the ESX Server ISO image for the version of the ESX Server system you want to install at  http://www.vmware.com/download/ .
  8. Record the image to CD.
  9. Insert the CD into your ESX Server system.
  10. Reboot your server and boot from the ESX Server Installation CD to complete the installation.

Tags

exisiting-operating-system install-esx install-esx-fails

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