VMware ESXI brains surgery on bootup.

http://robwillis.info/2014/01/dell-cs24-esxi-5-5-install-stuck-relocating-modules-and-starting-up-the-kernel/

vmware forum thread referencing headless problem

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/326371?start=30&tstart=0

This has an example on how to stop ESXI boot and change options.  Later to make it persistent contains info on that.

steps:

Below are the steps to install ESXi 5.5 on a CS24:

1. Boot ISO

2. Press Shift + O during startup of an ESXi 5.5 installation

3. Append the boot option: ignoreHeadless=TRUE

4. Installer should now work – Install, Remove Media, Reboot

5. Upon reboot repeat step 2 (Shift + O, Append the boot option: ignoreHeadless=TRUE)

6. These next few steps are to make the ignoreHeadless=TRUE setting persistent through a reboot…

Once ESXi is booted, press F2 and login

7. Under System Customization, go to Troubleshooting Options

8. Enable the ESXi Shell and ESC all the way out

9. Back at the main console screen, hit Alt + F1 to access the shell

10. Login and enter the following command:

     esxcfg-advcfg --set-kernel "TRUE" ignoreHeadless

11. Type exit

12. Hit Alt+F2 to go back to the main ESXi screen

13. Complete! Don’t forget to disable the ESXi Shell if you don’t want it on!