Finally, the openWRT is working well 👏on Esxi 6.7 (VMware Virtual Platform) with Lenovo ThinkCentre M4500Q mini PC. It took me about 3+ days 😅 for installation and fine-tune the setting.
Step 1: VMware ESXI 6.7U3 installation
Download ESXi 6.7U3 Installer ISO Image and use the Rufus tool to create a bootable USB drive. In next, boot up mini PC with the USB driver included the ESXI installer and follow the step by step to install ESXI.
Key points:
1) Remember to set the static IP for network interface management.
2) For any external USB network adapter, it need to be installed driver manually before using.
PS.: Can find many video guid in youtube.
Step 2: OpenWrt virtual machine installation in ESXI
Download openWrt installer image and convert it to the ESXI format .VMDK. In next, create the virtual machine.
Note: Add the network adapter accordingly. And can refer to many EXSI Openwrt virtual machine installation video in youtube.com.
Step 3 : Openwrt start and setting
After openwrt boot up, it will show a DOS layout. Needs to update IP address for web internal as following steps.
1) Key the command: vi /etc/config/network;
2) Press “i” key to enter edit model.
3) Move to lan ip addess and update the ip base “X.X.X.X” according to your LAN setting.
4) Press “Esc” key and type “:wq” to save&exit.
5) Type “reboot” to restart openwrt.
After the IP address setting up, openwrt can be connected and managed by using the web interface client in other PC/Laptop. Just to open internet browser and key in the IP address of openwrt. It will show the LuCI web interface login page.
At first, go to network interface to do the setting for LAN & WAN.
After done the correct network setting, internet is to be connected. And in the rest, it just other side option to set like web interface style etc. You can install some add-in software to enhance the function of openwrt software router.