Installing Nutanix Community Edition (CE): A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide walks you through the installation of Nutanix CE, recreating a cluster, and accessing the Prism interface. It is intended for IT professionals and homelab enthusiasts.

System Requirements

Minimum Hardware

• CPU: 4-core (Intel VT-x or AMD-V enabled)
• RAM: 32 GB minimum
• Storage: 200 GB SSD (3 disks recommended: boot, CVM, data)
• Network: 1 Gbps NIC, static IPs for host and CVM

Step 1: Download and Prepare Installation Media

1. Register and download the Nutanix CE ISO from the Nutanix NEXT portal.
2. Use Rufus or Balena Etcher to create a bootable USB.

Step 2: Boot and Install Nutanix CE

2.1 Boot from USB

1. Insert the bootable USB drive into the target server.
2. Power on the server and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing DEL, F2, or F12 during boot).
3. Set the USB drive as the primary boot device.
4. Save changes and reboot. The system should boot into the Nutanix CE installer.

2.2 Login to the Installer

Once the system boots into the installer:

• You’ll see a login prompt on a black screen.
• Enter the following credentials:
  • Username: install
  • Password: (leave blank, just press Enter)
• This will launch the Nutanix CE installation wizard.

2.3 Configure Installation Parameters

The installer will guide you through several configuration screens. Here’s what to expect and how to fill them out:

a. Keyboard Layout

• Select your preferred keyboard layout (e.g., us for U.S. English).
• Press Enter to continue.

b. Network Configuration

You will be prompted to enter static IP addresses for both the host and the Controller VM (CVM).

• Host IP Address: This is the IP of the physical server.
• CVM IP Address: This is the IP of the Nutanix Controller VM that will be created.
• Subnet Mask: Typically 255.255.255.0 or /24.
• Gateway: Your network’s default gateway.
• DNS Server: Use a public DNS like 8.8.8.8 or your internal DNS.

Ensure that both IPs are in the same subnet and not already in use.

c. Disk Selection

• The installer will detect available disks.
• Select the appropriate disks for:
  • Hypervisor boot
  • CVM storage
  • Data storage
• If you only have one disk, it will be used for all roles (not recommended for production).

d. Cluster Configuration

• Choose “Create a Single Node Cluster” if you’re setting up a standalone CE instance.
• For multi-node setups, you’ll need to configure additional nodes post-installation.

e. EULA and Final Confirmation

• Read and accept the End User License Agreement (EULA).
• Confirm all settings.
• The installer will now begin writing to disk and setting up the environment. This process can take 15–30 minutes depending on hardware.

2.4 Post-Installation

• Once installation is complete, the system will reboot automatically.
• The CVM will start and begin initializing services.
• You can now proceed to cluster creation (Step 3).

Step 3: Initial Cluster Setup

After installation, the Controller VM (CVM) will boot automatically.

1. SSH into the CVM:
2. Create the cluster:

Step 4: Recreate the Cluster (If Needed)

To reset the environment:

1. SSH into the CVM:
2. Destroy the existing cluster:
3. Recreate it:

Step 5: Access Prism Interface

1. Open a browser and navigate to:
2. Login:
   • Username: admin
   • Password: nutanix/4u (you’ll be prompted to change it)
3. Register the cluster with your Nutanix NEXT credentials.

Video Walkthrough

Below is a professional video walkthrough of the Nutanix CE installation process:

Next Steps

• Explore Prism features: VM creation, storage configuration, and monitoring.
• Consider adding Prism Central for multi-cluster management.
• Secure your environment: change all default passwords and configure NTP.