Now that I've got my additional space in ESXi, I am trying to install Windows Server 2019, but I can't get vsphere client to boot to my Server 2019 ISO. Just for troubleshooting, I setup a new VM, attached Windows Server 2012 ISO and booted right up. I looked up requirements and 2019 is supported with ESXi 6.0. The 2019 ISO is valid, since I've used it with Hyper-V.
I can only go up to Windows Server 2012 when selecting a version. Any ideas why I can't boot to Server 2019?
Hey Ratchet2657,
From here I recommend you two different tests:
Even if you follow the first step, force the next boot to be BIOS so you can change the order.
What DO you see when you boot the VM?
That's what I see when trying to boot the VM. I've gone into the BIOS and selected CD ROM just like I've done with the 2012 VM, but only the 2019 VM is having issues.
This is what I see for the Network Adapter
From the screenshot, it looks like the VM is using virtual BIOS.
Try adding the following configuration to the vmx.
firmware="efi"
bios.forceSetupOnce="TRUE"
and change the virtual CDROM interface to SATA interface.
firmware="efi" makes the VM use virtual UEFI. This isn't just for the install process as a long term benefit it is best to work with UEFI with a modern OS.
bios.forceSetupOnce="TRUE" will power up to the virtual UEFI. Assuming the virtual CDROM is detected you should be able to select to boot from EFI CDROM. On top of that the VM has keyboard focus at this point and makes it easier to respond to the "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD..."
Hey, hope you are doing fine:
- Upload the ISO to a datastore and try connecting the ISO from the Datastore.
- On boot options: select boot to BIOS on next boot option:;
Nothing to do with boot but:
- Remove the E1000 interface and swap it for a VMxnet3 please, E1000 comes with a variety of issues on windows guests
-" Upload the ISO to a datastore and try connecting the ISO from the Datastore.
- On boot options: select boot to BIOS on next boot option:;
Nothing to do with boot but:
- Remove the E1000 interface and swap it for a VMxnet3 please, E1000 comes with a variety of issues on windows guests"
I've already removed the E1000 interface and selected boot to BIOS. Not sure what you mean by try connecting the ISO from the Datastore. I just upload the 2019 ISO to the Datastore and select it here:
It's the same way I upload the 2012 ISO, but that boots just fine. Just not the 2019 ISO. I used the same ISO for Hyper-V and works fine. I'm now looking to upgrade 6.0 to 6.5 since it's only compatible to 6.5. Maybe that will fix the boot issue.
Well, I tried to upgrade 6.0 to 6.5 U3 and this is the error I came across.
Shouldn't I be able to upgrade the existing VMFS datastore from 6.0 to 6.5 U3 ? I don't have an option to move to another datastore.
I would suggest starting a new thread on this topic.
As a moderator I could do that for you using a “branch” function, but you might be better doing it yourself and adding more detail about the host on which you have attempted the ESXi upgrade.