create-esxi-image

#!/bin/bash

# This script prepare a bootable pendrive from a VMware ESXi iso image.
# the official install steps are documented here:
# https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/vsphere-esxi-67-installation-setup-guide.pdf
# Use at Your own risk!

ISO=$1
DEVICE=$2

# Syslinux MBR image
MBR="/usr/share/syslinux/mbr.bin"

if [ $# -ne 2 ]
  then
    # print help
    echo "Usage: $0 ISO_IMAGE DEVICE"
    exit 1
fi

syslinux --help 2>/dev/null ||  { echo "Error: syslinux package not found"; exit 11; }

if [[ ! -e "$MBR" || ! -f "$MBR" || ! -r "$MBR" ]]
then
  echo "Error: '$MBR' file is not readable."
  echo "Fix the syslinux MBR image location first!"
  exit 12
fi

if [[ -e "$ISO" && -f "$ISO" && -r "$ISO" ]]
then
	echo "The following image will be used:"
	file -b ${ISO}
	echo
else
  echo "Error: '$ISO' file is not readable and/or not a regular file"
  exit 3
fi

if [[ ! -b "$DEVICE" || ! -w "$DEVICE" ]]
then
  echo "Error: Can't write to device: '$DEVICE'"
  exit 2
fi

echo "The following device will be wiped:"
lsblk -fp ${DEVICE}
echo

read -p "Type capital YES to continue: " confirm
if [ "$confirm" != "YES" ]
then
  echo "Image creation cancelled."
  exit 22
fi

ISO_DIR=`mktemp -d`
DEVICE_DIR=`mktemp -d`

echo
echo "Preparing the partitions..."
sfdisk -q --delete ${DEVICE}
sleep 2

echo 'label:dos' | sfdisk -q ${DEVICE}
echo 'type=c, bootable' | sfdisk -q ${DEVICE}
echo

sleep 2
echo "Creating the filesystem..."
mkfs.vfat -F 32 -n USB ${DEVICE}1
echo

sleep 2
echo "Syslinux stuff..."
syslinux ${DEVICE}1
cat ${MBR} > ${DEVICE} >/dev/null
echo

echo "Mounting the temporary directories..."
sleep 2
mount -r ${ISO} ${ISO_DIR}
sleep 2
mount ${DEVICE}1 ${DEVICE_DIR}
echo

sleep 2
echo "Copying the files..."
cp -r ${ISO_DIR}/* ${DEVICE_DIR}/
sed "s/APPEND -c boot.cfg/APPEND -c boot.cfg -p 1/" ${ISO_DIR}/isolinux.cfg  > ${DEVICE_DIR}/syslinux.cfg
echo

sleep 2
echo "Cleaning up the temporary directories..."
umount ${ISO_DIR}
umount ${DEVICE_DIR}
echo

echo "Cleaning up the temporary directories..."
rmdir ${ISO_DIR}
rmdir ${DEVICE_DIR}
echo

echo "Done."