Photon OS is an open source Linux container host optimized for cloud-native applications, cloud platforms, and VMware infrastructure.

Setup minimal installed profile of PhotonOS

• Download the latest Photon OS OVA with virtual hardware v15 from https://github.com/vmware/photon/wiki/Downloading-Photon-OS
• In ESXi:
  • Create/Register VM:
    • Deploy a virtual machine from an OVF or OVA file
    • Name the VM
    • Upload the Photon OS OVA file
    • Specify the desired Target Datastore
    • Accept the License Agreement
    • Deselect Power on automatically
    • Confirm settings and Finish
  • Wait for the files to upload
  • 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
  • Actions > Edit Settings:
    • Set the required CPU and Memory requirements
    • If using NVMe storage for the datastore:
      • Add other device > NVMe controller
      • Hard Disk 1 > Controller location > NVMe controller 0
      • Save and reopen Edit Settings
      • Remove SCSI controller 0
    • Select other appropriate VM settings depending on desired applications
  • Power on the VM, then shut it down again to generate a MAC address
  • 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
  • Using an SSH client, connect to the hostname set above, then run:

# Login with root details from the VM note
# Follow instructions to set new password
 
# Remove docker related packages if not needed to save space and faster updates
tdnf erase containerd docker docker-cli docker-engine
 
# Update packages:
tdnf upgrade
tdnf clean all
 
# Disable password expiry:
chage -M -1 root
 
# Set new hostname:
hostnamectl set-hostname <hostname-as-set-in-router>
 
# Set the timezone to Perth
ln -sf /usr/share/zoneinfo/Australia/Perth /etc/localtime
 
# Change the SSH port to 50001:
sed -i "s/#Port 22/Port 50001/" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
sed -i "s/-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 22 -j ACCEPT/-A INPUT -p tcp -m tcp --dport 50001 -m state --state NEW -j ACCEPT/" /etc/systemd/scripts/ip4save
 
exit

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

Minimal installed profile of PhotonOS
User: root

Ports:
50001/tcp SSH

• Save a snapshot called Base Install

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

tdnf upgrade
tdnf clean all
reboot  # If desired/needed