Installation Instructions for VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1 for Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630

Installation Instructions for VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1 for Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630

Installation Instructions for VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1 for Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630

Table of contents

1.0 What you will need
2.0 Where to download device drivers and files
3.0 Preparing the hardware
4.0 Installing VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1

5.0 White papers
6.0 Notices


Revision level: 1.00

Updated: 8 August, 2017

© Copyright Lenovo 2017.

LIMITED AND RESTRICTED RIGHTS NOTICE: If data or software is delivered pursuant to a General Services Administration "GSA" contract, use, reproduction, or disclosure is subject to restrictions set forth in Contract No. GS-35F-05925.

Note: Before using this information and the product it supports, read the general information in 6.0 Notices in this document.

Supported servers: Lenovo® ThinkSystem SR630

Follow the instructions in this document in sequential order unless these instructions advise you to follow other operation procedures. Windows and messages might differ from those in this document. Throughout this document, the term select is used to denote the use of arrow keys, the Tab key, Alt + a letter combination, or the mouse to make a selection.

References to optional hardware in this document do not imply support of that hardware. For information about supported options, see the ServerProven® information for your server at http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/serverproven/.


1.0 What you will need

You must have the following software and hardware for the installation:

2.0 Where to download device drivers and files

You can download device drivers and files from the following sites:

3.0 Preparing the hardware

To prepare the hardware, update the system firmware, and configure the disk arrays, see the Lenovo ThinkSystem Information Center at the Lenovo ThinkSystem Information Center.

4.0 Installing VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1

Please set your preferred boot mode (UEFI mode or Legacy mode) in the UEFI setup menu before you begin the OS installation process.

To install VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1, follow the detailed instructions in vSphere Installation and Setup Guide to install and configure VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1.

For further information about installation and support of guest operating systems and configuration an administration of VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1, go to the VMware vSphere 6 Documentation.

NOTE: Enable remote logging when you set up embedded ESXi, before any problem occurs, so that Lenovo Support can solve complex problems quickly if they occur. For instructions for setting up remote logging, follow the instructions in http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1033696

The Lenovo VMware ESXi custom image contains important deliverables from Lenovo:
    1)  It is tested across Lenovo's server and adapter portfolio with the same ServerProven® support guarantee as VMware's base release.
    2)  The image enables support of Lenovo's tools, including ToolCenter that give the customer the ability to flash server firmware such as: uEFI; XCC; and vendor firmware from supported IO adapters.
    3)  The image includes the latest drivers that align with VMware's release schedule.  These updated drivers support Lenovo's portfolio.
NOTE: VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1 does not support onboard RAID for ThinkSystem servers. Use Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630 supported RAID adapters, and the Lenovo Custom Image, if you intend on installing VMware ESXi on RAID drives. Please refer to http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/serverproven/ for detail information about Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630 supported RAID adapters.

4.2 Updating firmware & device drivers

To make sure that the latest device drivers and firmware for the Lenovo® ThinkSystem SR630 unit are installed, follow the instructions in the README (.txt) file that is included with the device driver.

To download the device driver, firmware packages and installation instructions for Lenovo® ThinkSystem SR630, complete the following steps:

  1. Go to Lenovo Support Portal.
  2. Under Select a Product Family click on Data Center then select Servers.
  3. In the Select Series drop down box select ThinkSystem.
  4. In the Select Subseries drop down box select the model of your server.
  5. In the Select Machine Type drop down box select the machine type of your server.
  6. On the next page select Drivers & Software from the blue banner.
  7. In the Operating System drop down box select VMWare ESXi 6.5 Update 1.
  8. This will display a list of the most recent firmware and device drivers for your system.
  9. Follow the Readme.txt file in each download package for installation instructions.

4.3 Post-installation instructions

5.0 White papers

No white papers are currently available for VMware ESXi 6.5 Update 1 on Lenovo ThinkSystem SR630.

6.0 Notices

Lenovo may not offer the products, services, or features discussed in this document in all countries. Consult your local Lenovo representative for information on the products and services currently available in your area.

Any reference to a Lenovo product, program, or service is not intended to state or imply that only that Lenovo product, program, or service may be used. Any functionally equivalent product, program, or service that does not infringe any Lenovo intellectual property right may be used instead. However, it is the user's responsibility to evaluate and verify the operation of any other product, program, or service.

Lenovo may have patents or pending patent applications covering subject matter described in this document. The furnishing of this document does not give you any license to these patents. You can send license inquiries, in writing, to:

	Lenovo (United States), Inc.
	1009 Think Place - Building One
	Morrisville, NC 27560
	U.S.A.
	Attention: Lenovo Director of Licencing

LENOVO PROVIDES THIS PUBLICATION "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Some jurisdictions do not allow disclaimer of express or implied warranties in certain transactions, therefore, this statement may not apply to you.

This information could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes will be incorporated in new editions of the publication. Lenovo may make improvements and/or changes in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this publication at any time without notice.

The products described in this document are not intended for use in implantation or other life support applications where malfunction may result in injury or death to persons. The information contained in this document does not affect or change Lenovo product specifications or warranties. Nothing in this document shall operate as an express or implied license or indemnity under the intellectual property rights of Lenovo or third parties. All information contained in this document was obtained in specific environments and is presented as an illustration. The result obtained in other operating environments may vary.

Lenovo may use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it believes appropriate without incurring any obligation to you.

Any references in this publication to non-Lenovo Web sites are provided for convenience only and do not in any manner serve as an endorsement of those Web sites. The materials at those Web sites are not part of the materials for this Lenovo product, and use of those Web sites is at your own risk.

Any performance data contained herein was determined in a controlled environment. Therefore, the result obtained in other operating environments may vary significantly. Some measurements may have been made on development-level systems and there is no guarantee that these measurements will be the same on generally available systems. Furthermore, some measurements may have been estimated through extrapolation. Actual results may vary. Users of this document should verify the applicable data for their specific environment.

Document ID:HT505491
Original Publish Date:11/25/2017
Last Modified Date:11/25/2017