Dell Nutanix: How to Create Phoenix ISO Image for Node Initialization

1. Deploy Foundation VM
2. Download Files
3. Create Phoenix ISO Image File

Deploy Foundation VM

• Dell article 208453, Dell Nutanix: How to deploy Foundation VM. 

Download Files

1. Acropolis operating system (AOS) Installer

Download the AOS Installer file of the target version (Filename:nutanix_installer_package-release-xxx.tar.gz) from this page:
 Nutanix Website AOS Login Page 
 

2. Hypervisor Installer

• AHV

 Nutanix Website AHV Login Page 
 

• ESXi

• Dell article 176963, Dell Customized Image of VMware ESXi Availability and Download Instructions

Create Phoenix ISO Image File

NOTE: This procedure is based on the following article from the Nutanix Support Portal:
 How to create a Phoenix ISO or AHV ISO from a CVM or Foundation VM.

1. Using WinSCP, copy the AOS Installer and Hypervisor Installer that were downloaded in Download Files to the directory /home/nutanix/foundation/tmp of the Foundation VM.

NOTE: Before connecting with WinSCP, clear the Optimize connection buffer size setting in the Connection section of the Advanced Settings.

Figure 1: Login Advanced Settings Screen

Figure 2: Clear Optimize Buffer Size Setting in Connections Screen

2. SSH into the Foundation VM as a Nutanix user
3. Run the following command to change the current directory.

$ cd /home/nutanix/foundation/bin

4. Run the following command to create the Phoenix ISO image file including AOS and Hypervisor.

• AHV

$ ./generate_iso phoenix --aos-package=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/<AOS Installer Filename that was copied in Step 1> --kvm=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/<Hypervisor Installer Filename that was copied in Step 1>

Example:
$ ./generate_iso phoenix --aos-package=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/nutanix_installer_package-release-fraser-6.5.1.8-stable-6cefee1bd0b0ac0ef2111f6642455a96df83d33a-x86_64.tar.gz --kvm=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/AHV-DVD-x86_64-el7.nutanix.20220304.336.iso

• ESXi

$ ./generate_iso phoenix --aos-package=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/<AOS Installer Filename that was copied in Step 1> --esx=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/<Hypervisor Installer Filename that was copied in Step 5>

Example:
$ ./generate_iso phoenix --aos-package=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/nutanix_installer_package-release-fraser-6.5.1.8-stable-6cefee1bd0b0ac0ef2111f6642455a96df83d33a-x86_64.tar.gz --esx=/home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/VMware-VMvisor-Installer-7.0.0.update01-17325551.x86_64-DellEMC_Customized-A01.iso

It can take approximately 10 minutes. When the command is completed, the output should be as follows:

Figure 3: Result of Generating Phoenix ISO

5. Confirm the ISO image file (Filename:phoenix-x.x.x-xxx-x86_64.iso) is created in the directory /home/nutanix/foundation/tmp.
6. Run the following command to confirm the md5 checksum of the Phoenix ISO image file.

$ md5sum /home/nutanix/foundation/tmp/<Phoenix ISO Filename that was confirmed in Step 5>

7. Download the ISO off the CVM using WinSCP to any machines.

NOTE: As with step 6, clear the Optimize connection buffer size setting in the Connection section of the Advanced Settings before connecting with WinSCP.

8. Confirm that the md5 checksum of the ISO that was downloaded in step 7 matches the value confirmed in step 6. If the value is not the same, the ISO may be corrupted during the download. If that is the case, download the ISO again.
9. Delete the AOS Hypervisor Installer and Phoenix ISO files in /home/nutanix/foundation/tmp of the Foundation VM.