Take a look here for your option - http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Hardware_support.php.

OK, the next step in the saga: I used the instructions at vm-help.net to access the tech-support console (ALT-F1) from the Installer and ran lspci. It shows my two SATA cards as "Unknown mass storage controller"s, but then correctly lists them as "Promise Technology, Inc. PDC20375 (SATA150 TX2plus)". The vendor ID and device ID of both are listed as "105a:3375".

Checking the list of supported hardware at vm-help.net shows that "105a:3375" should be natively supported. Any idea what might be wrong?

Also, there are no other "unknown" devices listed by lspci - these are the only two.

Thanks!

Nathan

If you were able to get the install to work with the nocheckCPUIDlimit, during the boot, hit shift o, and a screen will appear with advanced options at the bottom. Enter the nocheckCPUIDlimit and press enter, the system will boot to 3i. After boot, connect to the server using the VI client and modify advanced options, boot. There will be an option to force CPUID check. Uncheck that and apply and the server will boot without intervention.

I'm running the Promise cards with a JBOD.

However, I THINK I might have figured out my problem, but I would appreciate your confirmation (or rejection): the Promise cards support both PATA and SATA (they each have one PATA and one SATA connector), and I am using PATA hard drives on them. Looking through the ESXi installation guide again, it appears that ESXi only supports SATA drives. Is this correct? Is there any way to force the detection and use of PATA drives?

This topic has helped me a lot, thanks.
The only problem is that I now have to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit at every boot up.
I'm using a Dell PowerEdge, but don't have access to the limit CPUID value in the BIOS.

Is there any other way to boot VMware hypervisor without having to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit at startup?

Im trying to install the latest version of Esxi on my PowerEdge sc420. Ive done the nocheckCPUIDlimit but about 3/4 of the way through loading the iso, it crashes and is showing crazy colors with changing pixels (its like it is a video driver problem) It happens in the exact same spot every time. Anyone know of anyway to get around it?

Ill update my own question.

1.> While the thumbdrive did not work for the Tab option, the CDROM ISO did following above instructions. Do SC420 will install if add nocpuchecklimit...during initial boot up.

--Not sure yet about local SATA Drive..

Ok just finished.

I have a SC420 built on MB controller (On MB), 146 Gi SATA Drive, and 1 Gig of Ram with Celron Processor.

ALL work just fine with bootable install of esxi on ISO (not thumb drive)

You have to follow this thread and disable the cpucheck, otherwise it works fine. Look and make sure you go into vi client and disable the CPU check there as well. DELL SC420 420 Server.

My Built in NIC worked as well.

Overall, very easy. I would add that I already have a vm running of XP on the system now, do this makes for a good basic test lab.

THANK YOU everyone who contributed. Now if I can find a low cost CPU upgrade and a bit more ram I am set. Might even see if I can get thumb drive to work someday..Ill post if I do.