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Last active August 6, 2025 13:08
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install-iso-vmware-esxi-8u3-via-kvm-in-ovh-servers.md

Install ISO VMWare ESXi 8 U3 via KVM in OVH Servers

I hope this helps you all!

I’m the only one who has managed to solve this issue, and so far, no one else has posted about it. That’s why I’ll be the first to share the correct solution because I’ve successfully done it.

To keep using ESXi, the first thing you need is an ISO that includes the correct drivers. I’ve prepared an ISO specifically optimized for OVH servers.

The ISO is: ESXi-8.0U3sb-24262298-nvme-usbnic

Link: Download ISO Custom ESXi-8.0U3sb-24262298-nvme-usbnic

This version contains all the necessary drivers to ensure a successful installation.

Steps to Follow:

  1. Disable Secure Boot: Make sure to disable Secure Boot from the BIOS options, as this ISO will not work if Secure Boot is enabled.

  2. KVM Compatibility: I’ve successfully installed ESXi from:

  • A machine with support for Java Applet (KVM Desktop).
  • The web version of KVM.

Therefore, you can ignore the information in the following article: https://help.ovhcloud.com/csm/es-dedicated-servers-ipmi?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0044043, which claims that the web version of KVM is not compatible for this purpose. I’ve tested it myself, and it works!

Troubleshooting

If, when attempting to mount your ISO using the Java mode, the console closes automatically, please refer to this article: https://help.ovhcloud.com/csm/en-dedicated-servers-ipmi?id=kb_article_view&sysparm_article=KB0044037 (Note: 64-bit versions of Java can prevent the Redirect ISO/Redirect CDROM menus from opening and may cause JViewer to crash.)

The recommended solution is to install Java SE 8 x86 (32-bit) for Windows.

Download the appropriate version here: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/javase8-archive-downloads.html

After installing Java SE 8 x86, open the .jnlp file you downloaded from OVH with a text editor and delete the following lines:

<resources os="Windows" arch="amd64">
   <j2se version="1.7+"/>
   <nativelib href="release/Win64.jar"/>
</resources>

Save the file and run it.

This will force the Java launcher to use only the x86 version, preventing it from running in x64 mode. If you do not make this adjustment, the error will persist and the window will continue to close.

The ISO

The ISO was created using the following script: https://github.com/itiligent/ESXi-Custom-ISO As of now, it still works well.

I hope this guide helps you solve your installation issue. If you need more details, feel free to ask.

Cheers! 🚀

@jesussuarz
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jesussuarz commented Jun 28, 2025

Thank you for your message and I’m glad my post was useful!

About your question this particular networking setup with ESXi on OVH (host route gateway outside the subnet, strict gateway validation, etc.) is actually a niche scenario I’ve dealt with quite a bit. I’ve developed a working solution for this, but it’s something I’ve learned through a lot of trial and error and isn’t publicly documented.

I hope you don’t mind, but this is part of the specialized consulting I offer. If you’d like, we can chat via WhatsApp (https://soporteserver.com/whatsapp) to discuss your case in detail and agree on a fair fee to help you configure VMware with your OVH setup.
I’d be happy to guide make sure everything works as you need.

Thanks for your understanding, and let me know if you want to discuss further!

Best regards,
Jesús

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