Kickstart entries - ESXi 4.1 and 5.0

The Kickstart Entries tab lets you modify the contents of the Kickstart file. The Kickstart file is a text file used in unattended installations.

Kickstart entries are automatically generated based on your input on the system package tabs. The generated entries appear in the first edit box at the top of the Kickstart Entries tab.

You can append additional entries to the automatically generated entries. You can also change the automatically generated entries.

Note

For format and syntax examples for a Kickstart file for ESXi 4.1 servers, see Kickstart-entries-example-for-ESXi-4-1-and-5-0.
Ensure that the Kickstart file does not grow beyond the size limit of 64 kilobytes. For more information, see Serialization error when saving the system package due to large kickstart file in Troubleshooting-provisioning-issues.
If you create a custom Kickstart file, the Provision Job wizard displays the Customized Unattend Entries panel. Using that panel, you can edit the custom Kickstart file for the particular Provision Job. See the following procedures.

Task	Procedure
To leave existing Kickstart entries unchanged and add entries	To leave the automatically generated entries in the first edit box unchanged and add entries for configuration elements that are not covered by the system package tabs, use this procedure. Leave Customize the Kickstart file unchecked. Add new entries in the Additional entries for the kickstart file box.
To change existing Kickstart entries	To modify the automatically generated entries in the first edit box and also add entries, use this procedure. Check Customize the Kickstart file. Modify the entries in the first edit box. Still in the first edit box, add additional entries. In this scenario, because you want to modify the automatically generated entries in the first edit box, you must add additional entries to the first edit box, not the second edit box.

Task

Procedure

To leave existing Kickstart entries unchanged and add entries

To leave the automatically generated entries in the first edit box unchanged and add entries for configuration elements that are not covered by the system package tabs, use this procedure.

Leave Customize the Kickstart file unchecked.
Add new entries in the Additional entries for the kickstart file box.

To change existing Kickstart entries

To modify the automatically generated entries in the first edit box and also add entries, use this procedure.

Check Customize the Kickstart file.
Modify the entries in the first edit box.
Still in the first edit box, add additional entries.
In this scenario, because you want to modify the automatically generated entries in the first edit box, you must add additional entries to the first edit box, not the second edit box.

Proceed to the Post-install configuration - ESXi 4.1 and 5.0 tab.

Kickstart entries - ESXi 4.1 and 5.0

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