Install a minimal Debian server virtual machine

• Download the latest 64-bit PC netinst iso file from debian.org
• In ESXi:
  • Upload the iso to the iso folder in the datastore
  • Create/Register VM:
    • Create a new virtual machine
    • Name the VM, and choose Linux and Debian GNU/Linux <xx> (64-bit)
    • Specify the desired Target Datastore
    • Customise:
      • CPU:
        • Use the full amount of cores per socket to end up with one socket
      • If using NVMe storage for the datastore:
        • Add other device > NVMe controller
        • Hard Disk 1 > Controller location > NVMe controller 0
        • Remove SCSI controller 0
      • VM Options > Boot Options > Enable Force BIOS setup
      • Select other appropriate VM settings depending on desired applications
    • Confirm settings and Finish
  • If autostart is desired for this machine go to Host > Manage > System > Autostart:
    • Click on the current VM
    • Enable
    • Use Start earlier and Start later to set the desired order
  • Go to Virtual Machines on the sidebar and click on the current VM
    • Run and then stop the VM, it should have booted to its BIOS
    • Give the VM a static IP address from your router using the generated MAC address (found under Hardware Configuration > Network adapter 1) and desired hostname
    • Power on the VM
    • Go through the Debian setup process
      • Give an empty password for root to disable root login and setup sudo
      • In software selection, selecting only the SSH server and Standard system utilities
    • Once setup is finished and it has booted
      • Log in as the created user
      • Run:

        # Install VMWare tools if not already
        sudo apt install open-vm-tools
         
        # Change the SSH port to 50001:
        sudo sed -i "s/#Port 22/Port 50001/" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
        # Optionally enable root SSH login
        sudo sed -i "s/#PermitRootLogin prohibit-password/PermitRootLogin yes/" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
         
        # Optionally set the timezone to UTC:
        timedatectl set-timezone UTC
         
        exit

  • Shut down the VM
  • Edit VM note to be the following:

    Minimal server installation of Debian <xx>
    
    Ports:
    50001/tcp SSH

  • Save a snapshot called Base Install

• If desired, Log in to ESXi, navigate to the docker VM and create new snapshot
• Using an SSH client, connect to <hostname>:50001 then run:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt upgrade
  sudo reboot  # If desired/needed