VMware / ESXi

VMware / ESXi Deployment

Arrow produces an OVA (Open Virtualization Appliance) image for VMware environments. This format is compatible with VMware Workstation, VMware Fusion, and vSphere/ESXi.

VM Credentials

Credentials are randomly generated during the build process. You can retrieve them from the ARROW Portal under your device’s details page.

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VMware Workstation / Fusion

Import the OVA

1. Open VMware Workstation (Windows/Linux) or VMware Fusion (macOS)
2. Go to File > Open (or Import)
3. Select the .ova file from the extracted Arrow build ZIP
4. Choose a name and storage location for the VM
5. Click Import

Adjust VM Settings

Before powering on, review the VM settings:

Setting	Recommended Value
Processors	4 cores (minimum 2)
Memory	16 GB (minimum 8 GB)
Network	Bridged or NAT depending on your use case
Display	Enable 3D acceleration for desktop usage

To adjust settings:

1. Right-click the VM > Settings
2. Modify processors, memory, and network adapter as needed
3. Click OK

Power On

1. Select the VM and click Power On
2. Log in with the credentials from the ARROW Portal

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vSphere / ESXi

Deploy via vSphere Client

1. Log in to the vSphere Client
2. Right-click your target host or cluster
3. Select Deploy OVF Template
4. Choose Local file and select the .ova file
5. Follow the wizard:
   • Name and folder — Enter a descriptive name
   • Compute resource — Select the target host/cluster
   • Storage — Choose a datastore with sufficient space
   • Network — Map to your desired port group
6. Review and click Finish

Deploy via ovftool (CLI)

ovftool \
  --name="kali-arrow-client" \
  --datastore="<datastore_name>" \
  --network="<port_group>" \
  --acceptAllEulas \
  kali-arrow-client.ova \
  "vi://<username>:<password>@<esxi_host>"

Recommended Resource Allocation

Setting	Minimum	Recommended	High Performance
vCPU	2	4	8
Memory	8 GB	16 GB	32 GB
Disk	120 GB	120 GB	120 GB

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Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution
OVA import fails with “unsupported hardware”	Upgrade VM hardware compatibility version in VMware settings
VM boots to black screen	Enable EFI boot in VM settings: Options > Advanced > Firmware type > UEFI
No network connectivity	Verify the network adapter is connected and mapped to the correct network
Slow performance	Ensure VMware Tools is installed and 3D acceleration is enabled
Password doesn’t work	Credentials are generated at build time. Retrieve them from the ARROW Portal under your device’s details page.