Guides

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 Photon OS OVA with virtual hardware v13 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 Automatically Start'
  • Confirm settings
  • Actions > Edit Settings
  • Select appropriate VM settings depending on desired applications
  • Use NVMe Controller for the hard disk if using NVMe storage
  • Set desired autostart setting
  • 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 and desired hostname
  • Power on the VM
  • Using a SSH client, connect to the hostname set above, then run:

# Login with root details from the VM note
# Follow instructions to set new password
# Update packages:
tdnf upgrade
# Disable password expiry:
chage -M -1 root
# Set new hostname:
hostnamectl set-hostname <hostname-as-set-in-router>
# Change the SSH port to 50001:
sed -i "s/#Port 22/Port 50001/" /etc/ssh/sshd_config
exit

• Shutdown the VM
• Save a snapshot called Base Install
• Edit VM note to be the following:

Minimal installed profile of PhotonOS
User: root

Ports:
50001/tcp SSH

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

tdnf upgrade
tdnf clean all
reboot  # If desired/needed