VMware ESX Server - set up VM

A basic, step-by-step instruction sheet to set up a VM with VMware ESX. Really no-brainer stuff, but who knows, a 5-year-old kid may want to be spoon-fed... :)

Any personal choices are illustrated in []'s; so yours may differ...

1. Create a new virtual machine
2. Typical
3. [VM test]
   
4. Assign a resource pool (if necessary)
5. Choose a datastore
6. [Microsoft Windows]
   [Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition (32-bit)]
7. [1] Virtual processor
8. [512MB] RAM
9. [1] NIC to connect
   [Flexible]
   [Connect at Power On]
10. [20GB] for maximum size of storage
11. Finish
12. Tada!
    

Test running VM

1. Under Inventory on the VMware Infrastructure Client (you need to connect to your VMware server using this client), select [VM test] under the resource pool he's been assigned to
2. You'll need to make sure he's got an ISO mounted for installing the OS, so... make sure you mount an ISO, one way or the other... for example the default is CLIENT DEVICE so you just need to click on CONNECT CD/DVD 1 when you power on the virtual machine (see below). In the interim, you need to make sure the boot sequence is right - either hit ESC when the VMware logo shows up after powering up the VM, or edit this permanently in the BIOS of the VM.
3. Edit virtual machine settings
4. Select Options TAB at the top
5. Advanced --> Boot Options --> Force BIOS Setup must be checked.
6. OK
7. Power on the virtual machine
8. Select Console to view the progress (if you have a DHCP server and use TFTP boot options, then obviously you'll have to assign a MAC ADDRESS to an IP for this guy)
9. If he won't boot up and it says "operating system not found" then you need to change the boot sequence as mentioned in step 5 or make sure you press ESC straight after step 7.
   
10. Tada!