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Create vContainer VM Instance on ESXi

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To create a vContainer host, you must create a virtual machine (VM) instance for it on a server that is running hypervisor software. This article describes how to create a VM on a server running the VMware vSphere ESXi Hypervisor software. You can also create the VM on a server running the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) Hypervisor software or on Amazon AWS.

To create a vContainer VM on the ESXi hypervisor:

  1. Launch the vSphere Client and create a vContainer VM.
  2. Start the vContainer VM instance and connect to the console.

The details of each step are provided below.

If you are using the VMware vCenter Server to create the vContainer host, follow the same procedure. Note, however, that the vCenter Server screens look different than the vSphere Client screens shown in the procedure below.

Launch vSphere Client and Create a vContainer VM

  1. Launch the VMware vSphere Client application, and enter the IP address or name of the EXSi server, your username, and your password. Click Login to log in to the ESXi server.

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The system displays the ESXi screen.

  1. Download the vContainer host .vmdk file from the Software Center release folder in the Viptela support portal at viptela.com/support and copy it to the Datastore of the ESXi server:
    1. In the left pane, select the IP address or hostname of the ESXi server.
    2. In the right pane, click the Summary tab. Then right-click on Storage and select Browse Datastore.

    3. In the Datastore Browser screen, select the root folder listed in the left pane.
    4. Click the new folder icon located above the Search tab to create a folder for the vContainer host image.
    5. In the New Folder popup screen, enter the name of the folder.
    6. Click OK.

    7. Locate and then select the folder you just created.
    8. Click the Upload icon located above the Search tab, and select Upload File.

    9. Select the .vmdk file and click Open.
    10. In the Upload/Download Operation Warning message, click Yes. The .vmdk file uploads.

  2. The .vmdk file is now in the folder you created. In the File menu, select New ► Virtual Machine to create the vContainer VM.

  1. In the Create New Virtual Machine screen, select Custom. Then click Next.

  1. In the Create New Virtual Machine screen, enter the name of the vContainer host. Then click Next.

  1. In the Storage screen, select the storage drive if not already selected. Then click Next.

  1. In the Virtual Machine Version screen, select Virtual Machine Version: 8. Then click Next.

  1. In the Guest Operating System screen, select Other.
    1. In the Version drop-down, select Other (64-bit).
    2. Click Next.

  1. In the CPUs screen, select the required number of virtual sockets and number of cores per virtual socket. Then click Next.

  1. In the Memory screen, select the desired amount of memory for the vContainer host. The minimum required memory is 2 GB. Then click Next.

  1. In the Network screen, select the number of NICs you want to connect. You must connect at least three NICs.
    1. In the NIC fields, select the appropriate network for each NIC. NIC1 is for the management of the vContainer host and must be part of the corresponding network. NIC2 must be part of the management network for the vSmart controllers to be configured in the vContainer host. NIC3 must be part of the transport network for the vSmart controllers.
    2. In the Adapter fields, select the appropriate adapters that are available on the ESXi server.
    3. Ensure that the Connect at Power On check boxes are selected.
    4. Click Next.

  1. In the SCSI Controller screen, ensure that LSI Logic Parallel is selected for the SCSI controller. Then click Next.

  1. In the Select a Disk screen, select Use an existing virtual disk. Then click Next.

  1. In the Select Existing Disk screen, click Browse to upload the .vmdk file that you downloaded from the Viptela support portal in Step 2.
    1. Click OK.
    2. Then click Next.

  1. In the Advanced Options screen, ensure that the Virtual Device Node value is IDE (0:0). Then click Next.

  1. In the Ready to Complete screen, select Edit the virtual machine settings before completion. Then click Continue.

  1. In the Virtual Machine Properties screen, click Add.

  1. In the Add Hardware ► Device Type screen, select Hard Disk for the type of device you wish to add. Then click Next.

  1. In the Add Hardware ► Select a Disk screen, select Create a new virtual disk. Then click Next.

  1. In the Add Hardware ► Create a Disk screen, select the appropriate disk size. This disk is configured a second partition of the vContainer host and is used to store all vSmart controller images. The minimum size of this partition is 10 GB.
    1. For Disk Provisioning, select Thick Provision Lazy Zeroed.
    2. For Location, select Store with the virtual machine.
    3. Click Next.

  1. In the Add Hardware ► Advanced Options screen, for Virtual Device Node, select IDE (0:1). Then click Next.

  1. In the Ready to Complete screen, click Finish.
  2. In the Virtual Machine Properties screen, click Finish.


The system has successfully created the VM instance with the parameters you just defined and displays the vSphere Client screen with the Getting Started tab selected.

Start the vContainer VM Instance and Connect To the Console

  1. In the left navigation bar of the vSphere Client, select the virtual machine instance you just created, and click Power on the virtual machine. The vContainer VM is powered on.

  1. Select the Console tab to connect to the vContainer host console.

  1. At the login prompt, log in with the default username, which is admin, and the default password, which is admin.

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