# ESXi OS Imaging

This section defines the requirements and procedures for deploying VMware ESXi on HPE ProLiant bare metal servers using HPE Morpheus Enterprise. The deployment process uses ISO-based installation through HPE iLO virtual media and automates configuration using ESXi Kickstart scripts.

Morpheus supports the following ESXi distributions for deployment:

- VMware ESXi 8.x
- VMware ESXi 9.x

## Boot Volume Options

Administrators can deploy ESXi on either a local RAID volume or a Boot from SAN (BFS) volume. For BFS deployments, the system installs the OS image to a Fibre Channel SAN boot volume on an HPE Alletra storage array. For BFS configuration details and prerequisites, see [Boot from SAN](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00008014en_us/render?page=GUID-7A6944E8-6B89-48A1-8C76-4D9E21EB5099.html).

## Console Access

Morpheus provides console access to ESXi instances after provisioning. Administrators can use both Guest console and Hypervisor console modes to manage the deployed ESXi host.

## vCenter Integration

Administrators can add the deployed ESXi host to a VMware vCenter Server for centralized management after provisioning. vCenter drives post-provisioning operations, including virtual machine deployment, resource pool configuration, and cluster management. Verify network connectivity between the ESXi host and the vCenter Server before starting the import process.

**Subtopics**  

- **[ESXi Virtual Image Configuration](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00008014en_us/render?page=GUID-7CF37D69-B4F7-4506-B57C-5328B07BCF15.html)**
- **[ESXi Boot Prompt Configuration](https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/api/document/sd00008014en_us/render?page=GUID-9E872B61-4D13-4E27-8E83-B591BB5838B6.html)**
