Boot the server using Drive A. When the installer asks you to select a target disk, select Drive B (your second USB drive).
: Click the SELECT button next to "Boot selection" and browse to your downloaded ESXi 7.0 ISO file.
Rufus will display a warning stating that the ESXi installer uses an outdated menu system. It will ask to download newer menu files ( menu.c32 or vesamenu.c32 ). Click Yes to allow Rufus to replace them, ensuring compatibility with modern USB boot states.
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For those with specific hardware, like Dell PowerEdge servers, a specialized path exists through the Dell Support site , where —pre-loaded with essential drivers—can be found.
: Access the Broadcom Support Portal (broadcom.com).
To download the ESXi 7.0 ISO portable version, follow these steps: Boot the server using Drive A
Access the system BIOS/UEFI during bootup and ensure or UEFI Boot matches the configuration used during installation (ESXi 7.0 supports UEFI natively). Select the portable drive as the primary boot device.
ESXi 7.0 dropped support for many older CPU generations (e.g., Intel Xeon E5 v1/v2). If your portable media throws a CPU incompatibility error, you can append the boot option allowLegacyCPU=true by pressing Shift+O at the initial purple boot screen.
For mass-portable deployments, embed a KS.CFG file into a modified ISO. This script can auto-partition, set root passwords, and configure networking. This is the enterprise version of "portable." Rufus will display a warning stating that the
If you are deploying ESXi 7.0 on an enterprise server (e.g., a Dell PowerEdge or HPE ProLiant), do not use the generic ISO. Download the customized image directly from the hardware vendor's support page or the Broadcom customized image tab. This ensures your storage controllers (RAID cards) and network interfaces are recognized during installation. 3. Creating a Custom "Portable" ESXi 7.0 ISO
VMware ESXi 7.0 is a type-1 hypervisor, also known as a bare-metal hypervisor, which runs directly on the host server's hardware. This allows for efficient use of resources and improved performance. ESXi 7.0 is a key component of VMware's vSphere suite, which provides a comprehensive virtualization platform for building and managing virtual data centers.
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In this guide, we will walk through how to download the correct ISO, the hardware you need, and the steps to make your ESXi installation truly portable. 1. Where to Find the ESXi 7.0 Download ISO
: Choose the 7.0 release from the dropdown menu.