ESXi ISO (VMWare vSphere 6.7.0)
You can install Manufacturing Connect Edge on a virtual machine using the ESXi Hypervisor (VMWare vSphere 6.7.0) with an ISO file.
A typical Manufacturing Connect Edge virtual file for ESXi deployment adheres to a naming convention as follows: <product>-std_3.1.5.0-amd64.iso.
- Prepare your environment for running virtualization by using VMWare ESXi - Hypervisor.
- The virtual machine will run on the same physical network card as the host environment. To ensure that the device can communicate with data sources such as PLC, DCS or CNC and can be accessed through the Web UI, make sure that communication can be established.
- Adjust the system clock for the host environment prior to installing Manufacturing Connect Edge. UTC is recommended. The 15-day trial period may be rejected and invalidated by the license server if the system clock is not adjusted. If this happens, contact your Litmus representative.
- Obtain a valid file in the ISO format. You can download it from Manufacturing Connect (MC) > Edge Management > Downloads. Alternatively, you can obtain an ISO file from Litmus.
To use ESXi-Hypervisor-ISO to install Manufacturing Connect Edge, you will need to do the following.
- Step 1: Create a Virtual Machine
- Step 2: Log in to Manufacturing Connect Edge
To jump to a specific section, refer to the Table of Contents on the right side and click the corresponding step.
You will first need to create the virtual machine that will run Manufacturing Connect Edge.
To install the ESXi-Hypervisor virtual machine:
Start the VMWare (VMWare vSphere 6.7.0) application. The VMWare ESXi application appears.
ESXi Application window- From the left panel, select Virtual Machines.
- Click Create/Register VM. The New virtual machine wizard > Select creation type window appears.
Select Create a new virtual machine and click Next.
This section allows you to provide a name for the virtual machine and identify the guest operating system.
Enter the details for the name and guest OS.
- Name: Enter a name for the virtual machine.
- Compatibility: Your selection must be compatible with your ESXi version Guest OS family (Linux).
- Guest OS family: The operating system is based on Linux.
- Guest OS version: The kernel used for the operating system is a 64-bit Yocto Kernel.
You will need to select a datastore for the virtual machine's configuration files and all of its virtual disks.
Select a datastore and click Next.
Note: The datastore must have at least 50 GB of free capacity.
You will need to configure the virtual machine hardware and virtual machine additional options.
Configure the Virtual Hardware parameters.
Select 4. This value is recommended to improve the performance of the VM. If the host system permits or the VM is a production deployment, more cores should be allocated.
Enter 8 GB or set the memory size to the desired allocation. At least 2048 MB should be allocated to prevent significant reduction in performance. If the host system permits, more memory is better.
Enter a minimum of 25 GB in the Hard disk field. Depending on your storage requirements, you may have to select a higher value.
Note: The VM should boot up successfully with the hard disk Controller location configured with an SCSI controller. If there are issues with the VM booting up, follow up with your IT department. Review this configuration by expanding this section.
Note:
- By default, VMs are defined with two network cards. They are configured for the first network card as a Bridged Network and the second network card as NAT.
- Based on the ESXi host environment, if a NAT network exists, a second network adapter must be added and set to NAT.
- If a NAT network exists, move to the next section. Otherwise, skip it.
To confirm the network adapter:
- Click Add network adapter.
- From the New Network Adapter drop-down list, select NAT Network.
To configure the CD/DVD Drive:
- From the CD / DVD Drive 1 drop-down list, select Datastore ISO file. The Datastore browser appears.
- Select the ISO file, and then click Select.
Click the VM Options tab.
To configure the VM options:
- Select the VM Options tab.
- Expand Boot Options and select BIOS from the Firmware drop-down list. BIOS is needed for the installer to load.
- Click Next.
- Click Finish. The new virtual machine link appears in the Virtual Machine list.
You will run the installer that will install Manufacturing Connect Edge.
Notes:
- During the installation, the progress bar may decrease at times due to partitioning.
- The time to complete the installation is based on the size of the hard disk drive. Large disk drives will cause the installation to take longer to partition the disk and therefore longer to complete setting up the virtual machine.
To configure the operating system installer:
- Click the new virtual machine link. The virtual machine details pane appears.
- Click the Terminal shell to start the virtual machine. Some errors appear in the terminal window. You can disregard them. The Welcome to Operating System Installer appears in the Terminal shell.
From the Welcome to Operating System Installer screen, enter yes and press ENTER. Select a drive to Install (sda) appears.
Enter sda and press ENTER. To Confirm Installation and format partitions appears.
Enter yes and press ENTER. The installation begins. During the installation, another error appears regarding an invalid partition table. You can disregard it.
- When the installation completes, close the terminal shell.
- From the virtual machine details pane, click Edit. The Edit settings dialog box appears.
- Select the VM Options tab.
- Expand Boot Options and select EFI from the Firmware drop-down list.
- Click Save. The virtual machine details pane appears.
- Click Power on, and then click the Terminal shell. The Welcome window appears.
- Note the IP address required for log in.
- See Access the Terminal User Interface for instructions on how to navigate and log in for the first time.