Create a PXE Boot Server Profile

1. Create the PXE boot server profile.

   The PXE boot server profile must have only one VNIC that is connected to the PXE server where the ESXi 5.x boot image will reside.

2. Create the server profile.

   For example, to create the server profile esx55i for the PXE boot server gorgon, which is connected through IB port 23 on the Oracle Fabric Interconnect tuffy:

   add server profile esx55i gorgon@tuffy:ServerPort23

3. Create the VNIC for the PXE boot server profile.

   add vnic vnic1.esx55i 2/1

   A VNIC named vnic1 in the server profile esx55i is created and the VNIC is terminated on Gigabit Ethernet port 1 in slot 2.

4. Create a VHBA for the PXE boot server profile.

   add vhba vhba1.esx55i 8/1

   A VHBA named vhba1 is created in the server profile esx55i and the VHBA is terminated on Fibre Channel port 1 in slot 8.

5. Set the VNIC for PXE booting.

   set vhba vhba.esx55i -boot-capable=true

6. If the server has an OS, verify that the server profile is configured correctly and in the up/up state.

   show server-profile esx41i
   name     state    descr    connection               def-gw     vnics     vhbas
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   esx41i   up/up             gorgon@tuffy:ServerPort23             1         1
   1 record displayed

   If the server has no OS installed, the server profile state is up/unassigned, and not up/up.

7. Edit the PXE configuration file on the PXE boot server.