Installing Micro Edge on VMware ESXi

Overview

You can deploy Micro Edge as a virtual machine in VMware ESXi. This deployment method uses a pre-configured virtual machine disk (VMDK).

Step 1. Download the virtual machine disk and descriptor file

1. Log into ETM Dashboard and choose Get Started > Software Downloads.
2. Select Micro Edge and choose the most recent version.
3. Download both files under the heading VMDK (VMware Image).

Step 2. Upload the virtual machine disk to the ESXi datastore

1. In the VMware ESXi management console, navigate to the Datastore browser.
2. Select your preferred directory or create a new directory to contain the virtual machine.
3. Click Upload and select either of the two Micro Edge VMDK files.
4. After uploading the first file, repeat this step to upload the other VMKD file. Note that the Datastore browser may consolidate both files and display only a single file.
   

Step 3. Create a new virtual machine

1. In the VMware ESXi management console, navigate to Virtual Machines and click Create / Register VM.
   
2. On step one of the wizard, choose Create a new virtual machine.
3. On step two:
   • Specify a name (e.g. arista-micro-edge).
   • For Compatibility, use the default value (e.g. ESXi 6.5 virtual machine).
   • For Guest OS family, select Linux.
   • For Guest OS version, select Other Linux (64-bit).
     
4. On step three, choose the storage device where you want to save the virtual machine.
5. On step four:
   • Remove the CD/DVD Drive and Hard disk devices.
   • Remove the hard disk.
   • Specify a number of CPUs and Memory (minimum 512 MB).
   • Click Add hard disk → Existing hard disk and browse the datastore to the Micro Edge virtual disk file.
   • Click to expand the new hard disk and change the Virtual Device Node or Controller Location to IDE controller 1 as Master.
   • Choose Disk Mode Independent - Persistent.
     
   • Click Add network adapter.
   • Confirm that both network adapters connect at power on and use the E1000 adapter type.
   • Confirm that the first listed adapter connects to your LAN switch/internal network. The second listed adapter should connect to your WAN switch/internet connection.
     

6. On the final step, review your settings and click Finish.
7. Select your new virtual machine and click Power on.

Step 4. Access the virtual machine

1. After you create the virtual machine, click Power on to launch the Micro Edge system.
2. Click Console → Open in browser console.
3. Allow approximately one minute for the system to boot, then click in to the virtual machine to access the system.
4. Press the Enter key on your keyboard to access the login prompt.
5. At the login prompt, enter the login root and the password passwd. 
6. Type cat /etc/config/uid to obtain the UID of the system. Make a note of this UID for the next step.
7. Log into your ETM Dashboard account and add the appliance.
8. Alternatively, you can access the web administration from a management system attached to the LAN side of your Micro Edge virtual machine.