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esxi/network-firstboot-vmnic

Set the ESXi software install acceptance level.

Use this param to specify the device to plumb the network configuration up with post install in the installed OS after the Kickstart runs. This Param does not have a default value; existing code will assume the product default behavior of using vmnic0 if this Param is not set.

If the Param esxi/vmnic-device is set, that Param takes precendence over this one. This retains backwards compatability in the field for existing content.

Setting a value on this Param other than the default of vmnic0 has the following effects in ESXi:

  • Link the new vmnic device in to the default vSwitch0 Virtual Switch
  • Remove the vmnic0 device (unlink) from vSwitch0
  • destroy the vmk0 device
  • recreate the vmk0 device, using the MAC address of this Params defined interface (eg vmnic1)
  • configure the IP addressing according to the esxi/network-firstboot-type (and other associated Params)
  • restart the network IP stack in ESXi

For more complex network topology changes, please see the vmware-lib Content Pack.

It is possible to run the esxi-activate-network stage as a standalone stage to move the Management Network between vmnic devices. However, the behavior is undefined in cases of multiple NICs bound to the vSwitch0.

When switching from something other than vmnic0 back to vmnic0, you must set both the esxi/network-kickstart-vmnic (to the current vmnic device in use), and the esxi/nework-firstboot-vmnic to vmnic0. In this case the Kickstart defined param specifies the current value you are moving from.