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This guide walks you through deploying a TrueNAS on ESXi 8, from preparing storage to configuring the virtual machine.
Follow the steps to set up ISO files, create the VM, and adjust settings for your desired storage layout.
Deploying TrueNAS in VMWare ESXi
Launch your VMware ESXi interface using your login credentials.
Set up the storage needed for the new VM. First click on Storage and then the drive allocated for TrueNAS. Create the datastore directories for the ISO media and the TrueNAS virtual machine.
Uploading the TrueNAS ISO
After creating the ISO directory, upload the TrueNAS .iso file to the ISO directory.
Select the directory created for the .iso file and then click Upload.
Creating the Virtual Machine
After setting up the storage needs, create the new virtual machine.
Select Virtual Machines on the navigation panel on the left side of the screen.
Select the storage drive for the TrueNAS VM and then click Create/Register VM. The New virtual machine creation wizard displays. Use these settings:
- On the Select a name and guest OS screen, choose Linux for Guest OS family and Debian GNU/Linux 6 (64-bit) for Guest OS Version.
- On the Customize settings screen set CPU to 2, Memory to 16 GB, and Hard disk 1 to 16 GB. Add additional hard disks as needed for your storage layout (e.g., a mirror needs at least three disks).
To add a second required disk, click Add hard disk and create a new standard hard disk of at least 16 GB. Set the location to the datastore directory you created for TrueNAS.
Enable VMware to provide serial numbers for virtual disks: open the VM Options tab, expand Advanced, click Edit Configuration, add the parameter disk.EnableUUID with the value TRUE, and confirm.
Finish the wizard, then review the Ready to Complete screen and click Finish. Your TrueNAS VM now appears in the list of virtual machines.
Reviewing the New TrueNAS VM
Click the VM name to open its details screen.
You can edit settings or add more hard drives before installing TrueNAS, or you can power on the VM and launch the console.
Follow the official TrueNAS installation instructions to complete the setup.
Editing the Virtual Machine
After the initial setup, you can modify the VM’s configuration.
On the VM details screen, click Edit to open the editing panel.
Choose Add hard disk and select New standard hard disk to add additional storage. Expand the new hard‑disk row to adjust size and other parameters as needed.
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