If you would like to read the other articles in this series, they are listed here for your convenience.
HOW TO: Install and Configure VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)
HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) using the vSphere Client
In this series of basic VMware articles for the Novice, I’ll be showing you the basic VMware skills required to install, configure and deploy virtual machines using VMware’s FREE VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi).
This article will show you how to create an ISO CD-ROM/DVD-ROM image (*.iso), and MD5 checksum signature, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1).
What is an ISO? (Andy’s Laymen Definition)
An ISO is an image or bit copy of a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM, the ISO is a file, similar to a compressed archived file, this *.iso file contains the data from a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM. The ISO file is a virtual CD-ROM/DVD-ROM. Using an *.iso file has many advantages, some are listed below:-
- The original CDROM/DVD-ROM can be stored securely, and is no longer required, after an ISO image has been created.
- Multiple virtual machines can use the same *.iso concurrently.
- Computers without a CD-ROM/DVD-ROM reader can use the data stored on the *.iso file.
- Installing OS (operating systems) or transferring data is faster.
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Prerequisites
- An original operating system CD-ROM/DVD-ROM
- Download ISO Recorder from http://alexfeinman.com/isorecorder.htm
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Install ISO Recorder
Download ISO Recorder from http://alexfeinman.co/isorecorder.htm We like to use ISO Recorder, because it is a small lightweight application, which integrates into the shell of your OS (operating system). e.g. you right click the CD-ROM/DVD-ROM reader and the option is there to create an ISO.
There are several versions of ISO Recorder to download, ensure you download the correct version for your OS, and the correct version for your processor, as there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions available.
After you have downloaded the correct version, Double-Click the installer program (*.msi) you have download, we will install the Windows 7 64 bit version, which has the filename ISORecorder31x64.msi
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Create an ISO image file
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Creating a MD5 checksum signature of the ISO image file
We will use the MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility to create a MD5 checksum signature for our freshly created ISO image file. This is important, so we can compare these signatures, once we have completed the transfer to our VMware host servers, and confirm the ISO image file has not been corrupted in transfer.
The MD5 checksum for my Ubuntu 12.10 amd.iso is:-
MD5 Checksum: 7AD57CADAE955BD04019389D4B9C1DCB
SHA-1 Checksum: 8618058554FFD11E317356EC25885BCB8C1D0B36
Generated by MD5 & SHA-1 Checksum Utility @ http://raylin.wordpress.com/downloads/md5-sha-1-checksum-utility
Please note the MD5 checksum value for use with the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)
Congratulations you have successfully created your first ISO (*.iso), and created a MD5 checksum signature for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1).
In my next Article in this series, we will show you HOW TO: Upload and Check the MD5 signature of an ISO CD/DVD image to a VMware datastore using the vSphere Client, for use with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1)
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Tags: datastore, ESXi 5.0, ESXi 5.1, ISO, VMFS, VMware vSphere 5.0, VMware vSphere 5.1, VMware vSphere Hypervisor