If you are using remote management software to set up ESXi, you might need to configure the boot setting for virtual media.

Virtual media is a method of connecting a remote storage media such as CD-ROM, USB mass storage, ISO image, and floppy disk to a target server that can be anywhere on the network. The target server has access to the remote media, and can read from and write to it as if it were physically connected to the server's USB port.

Prerequisites

ESXi Installable and ESXi Embedded cannot exist on the same host.

Procedure

  1. Connect the media to the virtual device.
    For example, if you are using a Dell server, log in to the Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) or a similar remote management interface and select a physical floppy or CD-ROM drive, or provide a path to a floppy image or CD-ROM image.
  2. Reboot the server.
  3. While the server is powering on, enter the device selection menu.
    Depending on your server hardware, the key might be a function key or Delete.
  4. Follow the instructions to select the virtual device.

Results

The server boots from the configured device once and goes back to the default boot order for subsequent boots.