How To Create A Bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (Vsphere) USB Pen Drive. - Te

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.
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How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0

(vSphere) USB pen drive. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR RSS FEED!
July 12th, 2009 Kiwi Si
There are a couple of methods to create a VMWare ESXi 3.5 or v FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER!
4.0 (vSphere) bootable USB key. Firstly though I should point out
that at this stage you can only buy/create ESXi and not ESX (ie:
the Service Console version) on a memory pen drive or card.
A Choice of Methods
UPDATE: VMware have now provided a much simpler method of installing ESXi onto a USB pen
drive as outlined in method 3 below. For step-by-step instructions on how to do this check out
my new post here.
As with most things in the world of computers there are multiple ways of doing the same thing
and creating a bootable ESXi 3.5 or 4.0 USB pen drive is no exception. The most popular
approach to creating a bootable ESXi USB pen drive is to use WinImage so in this article I will
be covering this method along with using an alternative Windows Command Line based method
(DD for Windows). However with the introduction of VMware ESXi 4.0 there is an option to
select USB pen drive as a target during the installation process – this being the easiest method
of all.
I have used both methods successfully but others have reported some problems when using ‘DD ABOUT TECHHEAD
for Windows’ under x64 Vista.
My name is Simon Seagrave
The reason for showing the ‘DD for Windows’ method is that most postings you’ll come across and I am a London (UK) based
only show examples of using WinImage to extract the Senior Technology Consultant
and vSpecialist working for EMC.
relevant files from the ESXi ISO and to save the resultant
image onto the USB key.
I love my work and spend most
I thought it good to show an alternative as I have of my time working with and
experienced issues when using WinImage under Windows exploring Virtualisation Technologies in particular
VMware products. In my home IT lab I use VMware
7 beta (7000) & RC (7100) x64 – though others report that it has run ok for them.
vSphere, HP Proliants and various storage products
I found that WinImage installed just fine under Windows 7 though when I along with many of Microsoft's back office products.
went to write an image to a USB key I was presented with a RED X with no
description or hint as to what the problem may be. Also the capacity of my This blog was created for my own use and as a
reference of useful articles, etc that I came across
USB key went from 2GB to 4MB something a
on my travels. Though as time has progressed it is
normal reformat could not fix ! To get your USB
good to see that other people are accessing it also. I
key back to its original capacity download the HP hope you find it useful. :)
USB Disk Storage Format Tool from here and run
it against your USB key. The Disclaimer Bit: Although I work for EMC, my
thoughts and views expressed in this blog are purely
I tried running WinImage as an administrator and also tried running it
my own and are not those of EMC. I am not a
with an XP and Vista shim under Window 7’s compatibility mode –
http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.uk
blogger for EMC and write about topics and products

still with no luck. Doh! So you may want to consider running which interest me, and hopefully you too.
WinImage under Windows XP or Vista.
Twitter: Kiwi_Si
Why create a bootable VMware ESXi USB VMware Community: KiwiSi
pen drive? Email: simon at techhead dot co dot uk
I really like the idea of having a bootable ESXi USB key around as it
is useful for quickly spinning up an ESXi install on one of my lab machines. For this project (and TECHHEAD POLL
also because I didn’t have any spare USB keys or sufficient capacity lying around) I went out
What is your Twitter client of choice on your
yesterday and bought 2 x 2GB USB keys (for £9.99). PC/Mac?
In this article I will provide steps for both ESXi pen drive creation methods so you can take your
HootSuite
pick.
TweetDeck
Two easy methods: Tweetie
1. DD for Windows (Command Line) twhirl
2. WinImage (GUI) twitterfeed

3. ESXi Install CD (ESXi 4.0 Only) twitterrific
Web Client
What you’ll need for today’s project is: Other
Vote
1 x USB key (>1GB in capacity). I’m using a 2GB Dane-Elec USB key – never heard of them to
be honest but 2 for £9.99 I couldn’t pass up that deal. I have heard from some that not all USB View Results
keys work though that said I have never come across one so far that hasn’t. Maybe we could
start a list of known USB keys (ie: Manufacturer/Model) that work/don’t work at the bottom of this Polls Archive
article in the Comments section.
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Both of the ‘dd’ image files that you need are located in the INSTALL.TGZ file when this file is
E200 status
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Now onto the first method… MOST POPULAR POSTS (LAST HOUR)
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Firstly we want to extract the relevant ‘dd’ file from the VMware ESXi ISO image so that we can use with VMware ESX.
then apply it to the USB key. Differences between the various Windows Server
2003 Versions
For the purposes of this exercise I am going to build a bootable ESXi USB key based on
VMware ESXi U3 (it was a little while ago when I first wrote this article though the same still Running VMware vSphere Client on Windows 7
applies to ESXi 3.5 U4 and ESXi 4.0). The file name for this is: ‘VMware-VMvisor-InstallerCD- Useful Basic VMware ESX Commands #1 - How to
3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386’. Shutdown or Restart ESX
Using WinRar open your VMware ESXi ISO using WinRar. VMWARE NEWS & ALERTS
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Now whilst still in WinRar open (by double clicking) the ‘INSTALL.TGZ’ file. Storage Monkeys – Greg Knieriemen
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From here drill down the directories until you reach the ‘usr\lib\vmware\installer\’ sub-directory. Ken's Virtual Reality – Ken Cline
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Now double click on the ‘bz2’ file to extract it (in this instance called ‘VMware-VMvisor-big- The SLOG – Simon Long
3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386.dd.bz2’. The Virtual Traveller – Doug Hazelman
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You are now left with a single file with a ‘dd’ extension. This is the file that we are after. Extract VMGuru – Various Authors
this file to the same directory as where the ‘dd’ for Windows utility resides. (Note: The other VMGuy – Dave Lawrence
option would be to add this directory to the ‘Path’ environment variable within your Windows OS VMWare ESX Compatibility Guide
so that the ‘dd’ for Windows util can be access via command line from any directory). VMware ESX Partition Configuration
We are now at the stage where we’ll use the ‘dd for Windows’ utility to apply the image you just VMware Lover – Daniel Eason
extracted to a USB pen drive. If you have any WinRAR windows left open you can now close VMware Tips – Rick Scherer
them as we will only be dealing with the file with the ‘dd’ extension you just extracted.
VMWare Virtualised Infrastructure Webcast from HP
Insert your USB key that you wish to have ESXi installed onto into your PC. vSphere Land – Eric Siebert
With your USB key inserted into your PC open up ‘My Computer’ within the OS and take note of Yellow Bricks – Duncan Epping
the drive mapping letter that your USB key has been assigned.
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In my case it is the F (Removable Drive) drive.

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Open up a Command Prompt and navigate to the directory where the ‘dd’ for Windows utility and HP Active Answers
VMware ESXi image file is located. HP Certification Portal
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Run the command: ‘dd – -list’ (Note: there are two dashes before the list command) Notepad ++
If you are trying to run this from a Windows 7 Beta installation, as I am, you will notice that there Portable Freeware
is no entry for the USB pen drive (F:) under the ‘NT Block Device Objects’ section (see image Post Cast Server
below) – this is where we’d usually expect to see an entry for the pen drive and the other
True Crypt
attached hard disks. I’m guessing this is down to some incompatibility between ‘dd’ for Windows
Wildpackets IP Subnet Calculator
and Windows 7 Beta.
So this part of the process will need to be performed either using Windows XP or Vista. IT BLOGS (GENERAL)
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I don’t have a Vista machine built up at the moment though so I will perform the remaining steps
from within Windows XP where we run the same command (ie: ‘dd – -list’) we get the following DNS Stuff
output. I have run this process multiple times from a Vista based PC in the past and can confirm L8NC
it works the same as it does from an XP machine.
Microsoft Solution Accelerators

After running the ‘dd – -list’ from the XP machine notice how you can now see the hard disks and StatBrain
the USB drive (e:) appear in the ‘NT Block Device Objects’ Ted’s Web Tools
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SAN
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Microsoft MSDN SharePoint Forum
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We are now ready to apply the ESXi image onto the USB drive. To do this use the following TECHNICAL REFERENCES
command (for more details on the commands click here): Network Dictionary
dd bs=1M if=VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386.dd of=\\?

\Device\Harddisk1\Partition1 –progress
The portion of the command that starts with ‘\\?\’ specifies the location of your USB pen drive –
just to clarify this information you get from running the ‘dd –list’ (see above). This will most likely
vary between machines depending on how may hard disks and other USB drives it has attached.
With the dd process running you will see a number that increments like that seen below. The
process with generally run for a few minutes whilst the image is applied to the USB key.
Once the process has completed you are then a proud owner of a bootable VMware ESXi USB
pen drive!

Insert it into a compatible server/PC and boot to test that it works.
Method #2 – ‘WinImage’:
First begin with starting WinImage (assuming you’ve already installed it).
From the ‘Disk’ drop-down menu select ‘Restore Virtual Hard Disk image on physical drive…” as
you want to restore the VMware ESXi image into your USB pen drive.
The next screen (below) should show you a list of all your attached removable drives. If you
have multiple removable drives attached then take care to select the correct USB pen drive –
don’t want any accidents happening to we?
Select you USB pen drive to write the ESXi image to and click ‘Ok’

See image below – to select your VMware ESXi ‘dd’ image file.
Once you have selected ‘All files (*.*) ‘ and can now see you ESXi ‘dd’ image file select ‘Open’
Select ‘Yes’ at the ‘Warning’ screen..

The VMware ESXi image at this stage is now written to your select USB pen drive.
Once the ESXi image has been written when you open your USB pen drive within Windows
Explorer, containing the ESXi image, you should see the following few files. You don’t have to
perform this step – only if you want to check to see if the image was written successfully.

Method #3 – ‘ESXi Install CD’ (ESXi 4.0 Only):
This third option is the easiest and most hassle free of all. From ESXi 4.0 you get the ability to
install a USB pen drive into a USB port of your server and then boot from the ESxi 4.0
installation CD. When you get to to stage in the installation process to select the destination for
the ESXi install you should see your USB pen drive as a destination along with your server’s
internal hard disk.
Just select your USB pen drive as the target for the ESXi 4.0 install and follow the rest of the
installation process through – everything going to plan you should see it install onto your USB
pen drive.
Finished! Now go and put the cello tape, scissors and clothes peg back into the drawer..
Have fun..

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25 Responses to “How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0

(vSphere) USB pen drive.”
starter says:
14 July, 2009 at 1:49 pm
wasnt this article published before (shows 12th of July)?

anyway: Since ESXi 4.0 is out it is possible to install it directly from CD to an USB Stick:
http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/Boot_ESXi_from_USB_flash_drive.php (more resources on web
stating this) will try it within this week.
[Reply]
Kiwi Si Reply:
July 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Hi starter,
You’re definitely on the ball on both accounts.
This article was published before though I had a problem with some of the formatting corrupting so
had to re-publish and took the opportunity to adding a section on WinImage and a quick mention of
ESXi 4.0.
Good catch re: installing ERXi directly from the install media.. I was a bit rushed trying to get the
article out before work so didn’t have enough time to include a section on mentioning installing from
the distribution ISO/installer. Will be adding this shortly.
Thanks for reading TechHead.
All the best,
Si
[Reply]
J says:
27 July, 2009 at 8:39 am
I’ve found that Winimage sometimes leaves a winimage.exe process running even when you exit the
program. When you restart Winimage and try to do the “recovery” process, it fails with the error you

described.
I guess what happens quite often is that people start Winimage (when UAC is enabled) and notice
that you cannot do the recovery (no devices listed), exit the Winimage (which really does not exit), and
try to run the WinImage (Administrator) ie. in elevated privilege mode. Which, at that point, does not
work. To recover from the situation open Task Manager, kill the background winimage.exe and then
start WinImage (Administrator), then it worked at least for me.
[Reply]
Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)
mlaccetti says:
29 August, 2009 at 1:10 am
dd works with Windows 7 RTM (64 bit) – WinImage doesn’t seem to play nice at all.
[Reply]
Rating: 1.0/5 (1 vote cast)
Tweets that mention How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. |
TechHead.co.uk -- Topsy.com says:
2 September, 2009 at 12:14 pm
[...] this page was mentioned by livedoorcliphot (@livedoorcliphot), Aben Samuel (@neop26),
TechHead.co.uk (Simo (@kiwi_si), ?????? (@ivaylov), Simon West (@swests) and others. [...]
Clemente says:
Hello, I already create my bootable USB pen drive,
I jus have a question:

Can I install the Windows XP on my mini laptop with this disk or I have to install the VM ware
software?
[Reply]
Carlos Beppler says:

To see the remaining drives no Windows Vista or 7 you must open the prompt as administrator.
[Reply]
Stuart Mycock says:

19 October, 2009 at 11:50 pm

I’ve been looking for a nice clean simple method for dumping the .dd image to USB under Windows 7
and have come across this:
https://launchpad.net/win32-image-writer/+download
Works a treat for me, just change the default “image open dialog” search from *.img to *.dd in the
filename box, select the image, select the destination USB drive, hit “write”, then just sit back with a
nice frosty beer and a smile.
[Reply]
Kiwi Si Reply:
October 20th, 2009 at 6:18 am
Hi Stuart,
Thanks for letting us know about this nifty sounding utility. I’ll definitely be giving it a go – sounds
very straight forward!
Cheers,
Si
[Reply]
Stuart Mycock Reply:

October 20th, 2009 at 7:27 am
I found it when trying to figure out why my ESXi key wouldn’t boot after installing onto the USB
key using the CD installation…
I was getting “Panic: no usable banks found.” when trying to boot, so thought the installer had
failed. I got the exact error message after using this tool, but turns out it was to do with my BIOS
emulating the wrong type of USB device.
I had reformatted it with the HP USB tool prior to imaging but that may not be necessary.
Credit goes to vm-help.com for the USB fix:

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/ESXi_35_common_issues.php
Stu.
[Reply]
How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive « Snip IT Blog says:
16 November, 2009 at 12:48 pm
[...] Posted on November 16, 2009. Filed under: VMWare | Tags: VMWare |
http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive [...]
Mike Meier says:

Hello,
I also tried both ways, but I am only able to use the WinImage way.
While I DD’d the USB stick, it was not bootable.
Difference I mentioned:
WinImage Way:

\\?\Device\Harddisk1\Partition1
link to \\?\Device\Harddisk1\DP(1)0-0+5
Removable media other than floppy. Block size = 512
size is 4177920 bytes
DD Way:
\\?\Device\Harddisk1\Partition1
link to \\?\Device\Harddisk1\DP(1)0-0+5
Removable media other than floppy. Block size = 512
size is 8015249920 bytes
Any Ideas?
BR
Mike
[Reply]
Nigel Boulton says:

2 December, 2009 at 8:47 am
Hello Si,
OK, so I have a bootable ESXi 4.0 USB pen drive in my ML110 built as per (the earlier version of) this
article. It’s running as a standalone host. What’s your recommended approach to updating this to
update 1? Is there a procdure or should I have a crack at the vSphere Host Update Utility (which I’ve
never looked at)?
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Nigel
[Reply]
StorageMaven says:
16 December, 2009 at 11:58 am
Hi, I am trying out the create bootable ESXi 4.0 USB procedure. Am trying “Method 3″ and it does not
like a computer name longer than 16 characters. I am trying to change my computer name but since
this is controlled by my organization, I am having trouble with this, too. Please include a warning in the
procedure about this limitation.
Thanks.
Maven
[Reply]
StorageMaven says:
16 December, 2009 at 4:24 pm
More questions: Method 3 fails in the installation of vCenter Server Directory Services instance. So, I
decided to try Method 2. VMWare ESXi 4.0 is delivered as a .iso file. It does not contain Install.tgz and

is not formatted as a .dd file. Now what?
[Reply]
Marc says:
2 March, 2010 at 11:11 am
Winimage 8.5 is working for me on a Windows 7 64Bit installation
[Reply]
Kiwi Si Reply:
March 8th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Hi Marc,
Thanks for the letting us know. That sounds like the update we’ve been waiting for – though I
now just build my ESXi images off of the VMware install media. Much easier.
All the best,
Simon
[Reply]
VMware vSphere – Now Available for Trial and Download! | TechHead.co.uk says:
20 March, 2010 at 6:37 pm
[...] The ESXi 4.0 version, as with the previous version (3.5) of ESXi, contains the necessary ‘dd’ file to
make a bootable USB stick/pen drive version as outlined in my article here. [...]
Installing VMware ESXi 4.0 on a USB Memory Stick “The Official Way” | TechHead.co.uk says:
22 March, 2010 at 10:53 pm
[...] writing my original post last year on installing VMware ESXi 3.5 onto a USB memory stick things
have changed and with the [...]
New Server - Untangle Forums says:

1 June, 2010 at 6:33 pm
[...] with the Controller) So the first thing i did after powering it on was to boot from my ESXi USB.
(http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-cre…-usb-pen-drive) Booted Up without any problems and no
problem with Storage or Network drivers. So now just the [...]
ESXi 4.1 install notes | Toxaq says:

13 August, 2010 at 7:46 am
[...] followed method 2 from the directions on found this site noting that the image on 4.1 is called
image2dd.bz2. This entailed using WinImage to write this [...]
AnonyMou.se says:

Why use WinRAR when there’s free & better 7-zip?!
[Reply]
Rating: 5.0/5 (1 vote cast)
Rating: +1 (from 1 vote)
Jay says:
18 December, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Hi
Using the WinImage way for example, would this mean the USB Key would always need to be in the
server?
Thanks
[Reply]
Alexander says:
25 January, 2011 at 7:49 pm
Here is the way to avoid this error thing on Windows 7. The error only occurs if there is already a
partition on your flash drive.
Instructions to make it work:

1. Insert your flash.
2. Run cmd.exe as administrator
3. Run diskpart within command prompt (just type diskpart and then press enter)
4. type in “list disk”
5. Note the flash drive you want to use.
6. Type in “select disk 1″ – if your flash drive is displayed as disk 1
7. type in “clean”
8. Once successful -run Winimage as administrator and write that image.
Steps may also be good for Vista -I just made it to work under 7.
Wishing you Successful virtualisation !

Alex
[Reply]
james says:
17 February, 2011 at 10:20 am
Thanks for the article. I attempted the install with ESXI 4.1 u1 and apart from the filenames being
different (imagedd.bz2 within the iso and imagedd (no extension) inside that) it has gone ok. I did find
that Winimage didn’t offer my USB drive (or any drive) so I tried DD which only offered my optical
drive as an NT Block device object. This on Windows Vista Home Premium SP2. However once I ran
both programs (cmd prompt and winimage) elevated I could see the device ok and winimage handled
it fine (once the filemask was changed to show imagedd)
[Reply]

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How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0 (vSphere) USB pen drive. | TechHead.co.

How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0

July 12th, 2009 Kiwi Si

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

blogger for EMC and write about topics and products

1. DD for Windows (Command Line) twhirl

2. WinImage (GUI) twitterfeed

1 x Copy of WinImage, downloaded from here. VMware vSphere 4 ( ESXi 4) on Windows 7 PC by

1 x Roll of Cello tape RECOMMENDED SITES

Ok – so ignore the last 4 items

ML 110 ESXi 4.1 U1 Nic Hangs Host

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

posted in forum HP ML110 & ML115 by Centit on 7

Centos 5.5, ESXI 4.1 and hp nc360t poor net

Dell Perc 5i performance

Help ! - Installing E200 in a HP ML115 G5 SATA

Method #1 – ‘DD for Windows’: vBeers Special Event This Week!

How to configure OpenFiler v2.3 iSCSI Storage for

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Around the Storage Block Blog – Calvin Zito

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat – Steve Foskett

Storage Nerve – Devang Panchigar

Boche.Net – Jason Boche

Gabes Virtual World – Gabrie van Zanten

Hypervizor – Hany Michael

Mike D’s Blog – Mike DiPetrillo

Musings of Rodos – Rodney Haywood

PlanetVM – Tom Howarth

RTFM Education – Mike Laverick

3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386.dd.bz2’. The Virtual Traveller – Doug Hazelman

vCritical – Eric Gray

Virtualised Reality – Barry Coombs

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

In my case it is the F (Removable Drive) drive.

Windows Live Writer

HEWLETT PACKARD (HP) RELATED LINKS

VMware ESXi image file is located. HP Certification Portal

I.T UTILITIES & TOOLS

ApplyIT – Vince Westin

View Yonder – Steve Chambers

IT COMMUNITIES & INFORMATION SITES

Expiring Domain Names

Microsoft IMM Team Blog

Das Blinken Lichten – Jon Langemak

ONLINE UTILS & TOOLS

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

Windows Shell Setup Reference

Joe Oleson’s – Sharepoint Land

dd bs=1M if=VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0_Update_3-123629.i386.dd of=\\?

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

Insert it into a compatible server/PC and boot to test that it works.

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

Select ‘Yes’ at the ‘Warning’ screen..

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

http://www.techhead.co.uk/how-to-create-a-bootable-vmware-esxi-usb-pen-drive[3/24/2011 11:00:01 AM]

Technorati Tags: VMware,ESX,ESXi,boot,bootable,USB,key,drive,pen,create,make,dd for

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25 Responses to “How to create a bootable VMware ESXi 3.5 & 4.0

wasnt this article published before (shows 12th of July)?

You’re definitely on the ball on both accounts.

Thanks for reading TechHead.