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bjrosen
Contributor
Contributor

Questions on free version of ESXi, support for desktop Core2 systems?

VMware has announced a free version of ESXi. I've been using VMware Server (both 1.0.6 and 2.0RC) on Fedora and CentOS systems. I gather ESXi differs from server in that it doesn't sit on a host OS, instead it is the host OS. I was wondering if ESXi can run on any desktop Core2 motherboards? I've read that ESXi is a stripped down Linux, if so can you install a standard Linux kernel on it? RHEL/CentOS doesn't run on modern motherboards because of the antique kernels they use, the remedy for that is to install a recent kernel (I'm using a 2.6.23.xx kernel on my CentOS5.2 box which gives me both hardware compatibilty and VMware Server 2.0RC1 compatibilty), can the same thing be done with ESXi?

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GiacomoEDP
Contributor
Contributor

My configuration:

ASUS P5Q PRO

Q6600 processor

Booting from USB KEY 1Gb ESX 3i 3.5.0 build-110271 with modified oem.tgz using console procedure (simple.map and pci.ids in order to catalogate 8086:3a22)

Setting Storage AHCI in BIOS

a SATA I HD detect during BIOS post ...

But I have no Disk detected in VC ... I don't understand ... what's wrong ?

How to debug ?

Any help is appreciated.

Thank's

Giacomo

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Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

So in the VI client, if you go to Configuration \ Storage adapters, do you 1) see the storage controller and 2) and disks attached to it? If yes, to both then you can add a datastore by using the add storage wizard on the configuration \ storage screen.

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GiacomoEDP
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Dave, thank's for your support.

No, I can see my HD only during post BIOS messages (today I have replaced original 300Gb SATA I with a 160Gb SATA II but the result is the same).

After connected with VC Client, I can see my Storage Adapter (six controller devices model "6 port SATA AHCI Controller (ICH10)" ... like my pci.ids string):

  • vmhba33

  • vmhba34

  • vmhba35

  • vmhba36

  • vmhba0

  • vmhba37

and one USB Storage Controller:

  • vmhba32

No disks are display attacched to this controllers, all tagets are equal to zero.

Entering ALT+F12 screen, I found the following lines:

PCI: driver ahci claimed 1 device

....

....

ata1: no device found (phy stat 00000000) for all ata from ata1 to ata6

Giacomo

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GiacomoEDP
Contributor
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Hi Dave,

SATA cable was erroneously connected to SATA_E1 connector.

Moved to SATA1 esx works fine.

Thank's

Giacomo

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zlham
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Kuldip,

I have been looking at the dialogue you have been having with the others. I would like to get my ICH10 based motherboard running. It hangs when the installer says <esc> R for repair or ENTER to install. hetting any of tehse kesy does nothing as the system has hung.

Anyway, I would like to modify the correct files and somehow get it back to bootable CD image.

The oem.tgz file I presume you extract the two files and add them to the relevent places - /etc/vmware/simple.map in the BINMOD.TGZ as well as /usr/share/hwdata/pci.ids.

You mention that the dd file in the install archive needs modding as well.

There seems to be so many levels and tarred and then zipped levels that I fear that I will not get it right.

Do you have an explicit way that the CD iso could be modded so I can install off the CD. I method I saw from one of your postings was for USB I think.

It's a pity VMware just doesn't release another ISO image for ICH10 as these are more common place and we cannot buy ICH9's anymore easily in NZ.

Maybe there is allready an ISO that has been slipstremed for ICH10?

The PC runs ubuntu 8.0.4 OK and needed to set it to AHCI mode for it to work though.

Thanks in anticipation..

Simon.

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Errik
Contributor
Contributor

Kuldipsingh,

I have read quite a few of your posts an d appreciate your support.

I too have been experiencing a similar problem to the previous post while booting from the installation CD I lose keyboard functionality immediately after the "Loading VMWare ISO" screen goes away. The system does not totally hang but I lose keyboard. The system continues to load but then I am stuck at the "ENTER to install" prompt since I have no keyboard. I have tried both a PS2 and USB keyboard. I have tried several USB slots and several different configurations in the BIOS. I have tried the VMWare ISO as well as one modified with your OEM.TGZ and each time I end up with the same results. If you have any suggestions I would greatly appreciate your time. I am running on an ECS P45T-A with ICH10R. If you need any further information please let me know! THANKS!

--Errik

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ultrazoom
Contributor
Contributor

I managed to get my whitebox with an Asus P5Q-EM & Q9550 up and running, through a 1GB Flash Drive, Storage set to AHCI mode in BIOS.

Thanks to kuldipsingh on adding the entries to simple.map and pci.ids and the link to updating the two files.

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nickqhe
Contributor
Contributor

Errik, did you get any help on this? I ran into exactly the same issue and can use some help here. Thanks.

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Errik
Contributor
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No nickqhe, I havnt figure this one out. Everything I have read suggests that this problem is not all that uncommon. Ive considered trying to modify the install script to somehow bypass these screens and just enter the keys I would enter if I had a keyboard but I dont know that I would have a keyboard once it was installed.... I have a feeling I would not. I would appreciate anyone who has some further information on this. Thanks!

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Errik
Contributor
Contributor

GOOD NEWS!

OK so last night after posting the above message I decided I would see if there were any updates on the VMWare website... hoping for a miracle. I found that there is a U3 ISO for download. Decided to download that and burned it and booted it and had the same exact problem. Then I thought I would try the OEM.TGZ mentioned earlier in this thread. Modified the U3 ISO with the OEM.TGZ and booted and with a USB keyboard it WORKS! Not sure exactly what changed but it works now... PS2 is still a no go. Everything installed and configured just right. Of course I had to follow the instructions mentioned in this thread earlier and boot from a linux LiveCD and overwrite the OEM.TGZ on the install too but now things work famously! Thanks!

Now if anyone can help me figure out the JMICRON IDE issue im having... cant see my IDE drives on a JMICRON controller though the SATA drives come up fine.... even when I modify the TargetFilter.py script. Any ideas?

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Green_N00b
Contributor
Contributor

Errik,

Can you tell me which linux LiveCD you used? I tried different linux distros and they arent working well for me.

Thanks

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Errik
Contributor
Contributor

I used Gentoo Linux available at . Go to "Get Gentoo" and then just download and burn the "Gentoo 2008.0 Minimal CD/InstallCD" -- the actual "LiveCD" has much more on it than you need.

Gentoo Linux, its the best Linux around! ;O)

--Errik

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Green_N00b
Contributor
Contributor

Errik,

Thanks for that.

I tried to follow Kuldip's instructions, but I'm running into a wall. I'm using a modified ISO that uses Kulip's OEM.TGZ file, which allows me to successfully install VMWare ESX on my ASUS P5Q MB with SATA drives.

Then I get to the second step, where I'm supposed to use a live cd and replace the OEM.TGZ file in the Hypervisor partition.

Here is where I'm stuck:

How do I gain access to the Hypervisor1 partition?

I booted using the gentoo live cd, get to the command prompt and have no idea how to get to it.

Any ideas?

Thanks,

Ken

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Errik
Contributor
Contributor

This is how I did it as best as I can say from memory:

Copy a copy of the OEM.TGZ to a USB stick, boot from the Gentoo CD.

Mount /dev/sda4 (or was it 5, your mount point may be different) you will use a command similar to "mount /dev/sda4 /mnt/gentoo". If you do an "ls /mnt/gentoo" you should see an OEM.TGZ if not then "umount /mnt/gentoo" and try mounting /dev/sda5.

You should be able to mount your USB stick in a similar fashion... if I remember correctly it was /dev/sdb1 for me... again, yours may be different. And you will have to specify a different mount point (ie you might need to "mkdir /mnt/usb" and then "mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb"

Once you have mounted both the correct VMWare partition and your USB stick then you will want to copy the OEM.TGZ from the USB stick to the VMWare partition with "cp /mnt/usb/oem.tgz /mnt/gentoo" it should ask you if you want to overwrite it, say yes.

Now you need to "umount /mnt/gentoo /mnt/usb" and "shutdown now -h" then you should be able to boot your VMWare partition. I hope this makes sense... but obviously if you dont have much Linux experience its going to be a learning process. Keep at it and youll get it. Best of luck!

--Errik

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Green_N00b
Contributor
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Thanks Errik.

You are correct, I am new to linux. I only know the basics.

I'll give this a try and see how far I get.

Thanks for all your help,

Ken

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Green_N00b
Contributor
Contributor

Errik,

I think I am on the brink of success, but I'm having a hard time with the last and most important step of mounting my usb drive.

Thanks to your instructions, I was able to mount the Hypervisor partition by using "mount /mnt/dev/sda5 /mnt/gentoo". I can see the OEM.TGZ file in there, but I can't seem to mount my USB device to overwrite that file.

I ran lsusb, lsdev, but can't find the device name for my USB drive.

I used your suggestion of "mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/usb" but that's not working.

Since I'm new to linux, I'm stuck.

Any siggestions?

Thanks,

Ken

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Green_N00b
Contributor
Contributor

Ok, after I followed your instructions to the letter, I managed to replace the oem.tgz file in the hypervisor partition.

When I boot, it looks like it's going to work, I get 75 % through the bootup process and I receive the error message "lmvdriver failed to load".

I get to a screen that says:

VMware ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build - 123629

System manufacturer P5Q

Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40Ghz

8 GB Memory

Download tools to manage this host from:

http://0.0.0.0/ (Static)

<F2> Customize System <F12> Shut Down/Restart

At this point, I might just give this whole thing up.

Thank you kuldip and errik for all of your help.

Ken

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Errik
Contributor
Contributor

Sound like you have it working, just need to configure it now. Configure an IP address for it on the same subnet as your workstation, connect to that IP address in your web browser (http://x.x.x.x) and download the VMWare Infrastructure Client and away you go building up virtual machines!

Dont give up yet, youre almost there!

--Errik

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NiklasIlves
Contributor
Contributor

First thanks for a great guide. I have a problem with configure the NIC.

I got the same text as "green N00b" but when i try to configure the IP address (F2 > Configure Management Network) i only get this:

Restore Network Factor Settings

This option will reset all your network

configuration.to the factory defaults.

Are you sure you want to restore your network?

<F11> Yes, reset <Esc> Cancel

I can't find any else where to configure the NIC

are you using the embedded network adapter on the MB (P5Q Pro) or do you have a PCIE card?

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crazyx
Contributor
Contributor

Hi,

I have also a P5Q Pro Board and the embedded NIC does not work...Go and buy a Intel Pro/1000MT Desktop if you wann have a cheap working NIC.

bye

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