Create macOS Catalina Bootable ISO Image

macos-installer-to-iso.sh

#!/bin/sh
# 
# File: macos-installer-to-iso.sh
#
# Create a bootable ISO image from a macOS installer to install VMware ESXi guests.
#
# https://gist.github.com/Kutkovsky/613e29f35d3ef420b23b59ecdf7a28e0

# Debug on: set -x
set -eux

# App Store downloads macOS isntaller to here: 
# /Applications/Install\ macOS\ Catalina.app

buildDir=macos-build-iso
installBuild=install_build
target=Catalina
macOsInstallerName="Install macOS ${target}"

echo "Clean..."
if [ -d "/Volumes/${installBuild}" ]; then
  hdiutil detach /Volumes/${installBuild}
fi
if [ -d "/Volumes/${macOsInstallerName}" ]; then
  hdiutil detach "/Volumes/${macOsInstallerName}"
fi

if [ -d "${buildDir}" ]; then
  rm -rf ${buildDir}
fi

mkdir -p ${buildDir}

hdiutil create -o "${buildDir}/${target}.cdr" -size 10000m -layout SPUD -fs HFS+J

sudo hdiutil attach "${buildDir}/${target}.cdr.dmg" -noverify -mountpoint /Volumes/${installBuild}
sudo "/Applications/${macOsInstallerName}.app/Contents/Resources/createinstallmedia" --volume /Volumes/${installBuild} --nointeraction
hdiutil detach "/Volumes/${macOsInstallerName}"
hdiutil convert "${buildDir}/${target}.cdr.dmg" -format UDTO -o "${buildDir}/${target}.iso"
mv ${buildDir}/${target}.iso.cdr ${buildDir}/${target}.iso
rm ${buildDir}/${target}.cdr.dmg

# Now there should be an ISO called Catalina.iso in the `out` folder
# Upload the resulted ISO to vSphere datastore (upload to an ESXi host)
# Create a new VM as Guest OS set to `Other:Apple macOS 10.14 64-bit`. Don't start a VM
# Then compatibility should set to `ESXi 6.7 update 2 and later` and Guest OS to `Windows 10 64-bit`
# Start the VM, make sure that CDROM with datastore ISO (Catalina.iso) is connected
# Disable the Network boot option in vSphere BIOS menu. Restart VM
# Installer should start. You should choose Disk Utility, and initialize the VMware Virtual SATA Hard Drive Media
# (since keyboard ain't work - using existing `Untitled` name)
# Wait util installer completes. VM will not boot. Shutdown VM, change Guest OS profile back to `Other:Apple macOS 10.14 64-bit`
# Once Catalina is installed, download the latest VMware tools and install it.
# It took two reboots for me to completion (will require to unblock security extension)

# Credits to Intel008 and Bogdam from https://communities.vmware.com/thread/611961
# Credits to mkuzmin https://github.com/jetbrains-infra/packer-builder-vsphere/blob/master/examples/macos/setup/iso-macos.sh
# Credits to pat-s https://gist.github.com/agentsim/00cc38c693e7d0e1b36a2080870d955b

Thanks! This actually worked with macOS Catalina 10.15.4 Build 19E287 and VMware Fusion Professional Version 11.5.3 (15870345). The Fusion vm showed the Apple logo and booted straight into Recovery Mode.

@mistacabbage Good to know it works with macOS Catalina 10.15.4 and VMware Fusion Professional 11.5.3 !