Objectives
| # | Objective |
|---|
| 1 | Navigate the DCUI main menu and understand what each option exposes |
| 2 | Configure the management network — set static IP, subnet mask and gateway |
| 3 | Configure DNS servers and the hostname / FQDN |
| 4 | Test management network connectivity using the built-in ping tool |
| 5 | Open DCUI Tour — step through each main menu section and understand when you'd use it |
| 6 | Knowledge check — DCUI concepts and management network configuration |
Key Concepts
| Concept | What it means |
|---|
| DCUI | Direct Console User Interface — the yellow-on-grey text menu on the physical server console. Works even if the management network is down. |
| Management network | The VMkernel port ESXi uses for Host Client, SSH, vCenter, and syslog traffic. Always on vmk0 by default. |
| vmk0 | The first VMkernel interface — created at install time as the management VMkernel port on the default vSwitch (vSwitch0). |
| FQDN | Fully Qualified Domain Name. vCenter registers hosts by FQDN — if DNS doesn't resolve it, vCenter connection fails. |
| Lockdown mode | Disables direct ESXi host access — all management must go via vCenter. Configurable from the DCUI. |
DCUI Navigation
| Key | Action |
|---|
| ↑ ↓ arrows | Move between menu items |
| Enter | Select / confirm |
| Esc | Cancel / go back |
| F2 | Customise System / View Logs |
| F12 | Shut Down / Restart |
After configuring the management network and testing connectivity, click 📺 DCUI Tour in the top bar to step through what each DCUI section is used for in production.
Use the menu buttons and input fields in the DCUI console to complete each task. Click a menu item to select it.