Learn how to get started with creating VMs to build your ESXi environment.
Since September 15, 2025, OVHcloud has provided an ESXi 8 installation template for its dedicated servers.
Requirements
- An ISO Image
Instructions
Step One - Uploading an ISO to VMware ESXi
The first step when creating a VM in any hypervisor is to make sure we can install an OS on the VM. ESXi makes uploading your ISO easy to achieve directly from the UI. To begin, click Storage from the "Navigator" panel on the left-hand side of your screen.
Next, click the Datastores tab at the top of the page and choose the datastore on which you wish to store your ISO.
Click the Datastore browser button at the top of the page. Select the location you would like to store your ISO and click Upload at the upper-left-hand side of the ensuing pop-up.
In our example, we have created a folder called ISOs to store our ISO files. You can store them wherever you choose.
The time it takes for your ISO to upload will be dependent upon the speed of your network and the size of the ISO. Once the upload is complete, you are ready to create your VM in ESXi.
Step Two - Creating a VM in VMware ESXi
To create a VM in VMware ESXi, click Virtual Machines from the "Navigator" panel on the left-hand side of your screen.
Click the Create/Register VM button at the top of the page, and you will see the following pop-up.
NOTE: In this article, we are deploying a new virtual machine from scratch. However, VMware offers numerous appliances as OVFs, and you can also use this screen to install VMs from VMDK files as well as to register deleted VMs that were not removed from the managed host's datastore. To learn more about these options, please consult VMware's documentation.
Select the Create a new virtual machine option from the pop-up menu. Then, click Next. On the "Select a name and guest OS" screen, enter the relevant information to the OS you would like to install and choose a name for your VM. Then, click Next.
In our example, we will be using Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.
On the following screen, you can select the datastore on which you wish to store your VM and then click Next. This brings us to our virtual hardware settings.
Make sure all of the hardware on this screen is sufficient for the operating system you are using, as well as the programs the VM will be running. For networking information, please refer to our How to Connect a VM to the Internet Using VMware ESXi guide. To load your ISO, click the drop-down menu next to "CD/DVD Drive 1" and choose Datastore ISO file.
Choose the ISO you uploaded in Step One and click Select when you are done. Back on the "Customize settings" page, click Next. Review your VM information and verify that it is correct. Once you have verified that the hardware information of your VM is correct, click Finish, and a new VM will be created. You are now ready to install an OS on the VM.
Step Three - Installing an OS in VMware ESXi
The actual installation of the OS will differ depending on the OS you choose. However, you can easily begin the installation in ESXi's user interface. To begin, click Virtual Machines from the "Navigator" panel on the left-hand side of your screen.
Then click the VM on which you wish to install an OS.
After this, click the Power on button (as seen in the above screenshot) and proceed to follow your operating system's installation instructions.
Conclusion
Having read this guide, you should be able to create a VM from scratch using nothing but the VMware ESXi GUI and an ISO image. To learn more about what you can do with VMware ESXi and the VMs you create inside of it, please check out our How to Deploy VLANs with VMware ESXi or How to Connect a VM to the Internet Using VMware ESXi articles.