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10,725 Views 14 Replies Last post: Apr 27, 2009 6:52 AM by BrennanB RSS
EdwinVoskamp Novice
EdwinVoskamp
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Sep 23, 2008
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Sep 23, 2008 10:19 PM

How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

I installed ESXi on a Dell PowerEdge SC1420, but don't have access to the limit CPUID value in the BIOS.  I installed by hitting tab on booting from CD and entering nocheckCPUIDLimit.

 

After the installation complete, and removing the CD, then rebooting, I am unable to get to entering the options: neither Shift+o nor tab do anything.

 

So, how do I get to where I can enter the advanced options?

Tags: esxi, 3.5i, nocheckcpuidlimit
Dave.Mishchen… Guru User Moderators vExpert
Dave.Mishchen…
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Nov 15, 2005
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1. Sep 23, 2008 10:36 PM in response to: EdwinVoskamp
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

Shift - O should work for you - are you trying it when the screen is at the "Loading VMware Hypervisor stage?  You should then get the prompt as shown in the first attached image.  Once you have the host booted,  you can set the option permanently (see 2nd image).

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Dave.Mishchen… Guru User Moderators vExpert
Dave.Mishchen…
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2. Sep 23, 2008 10:41 PM in response to: EdwinVoskamp
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

PS - disregard the option name I used in the one image - the correct option is nocheckCPUIDLimit.

EdwinVoskamp Novice
EdwinVoskamp
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3. Sep 23, 2008 11:19 PM in response to: Dave.Mishchen…
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

Yeah, I know it should work for me.  It doesn't though. 

 

I replaced the keyboard with another, checked the shift key works and that shift+o works.

 

I get a split-second a screen that may at the top left say something like 'Multi-boot ...' but it is gone too fast to even read, then immediately goes to the "Loading VMware Hypervisor" screen.  Except for the "Loading VMware Hypervisor" title, the underline, all that is showing is the white progress bar at the bottom.  Shift+o does not work.  I checked the Caps Lock key isn't on, tried holding down shift and not.  Nothing.

EdwinVoskamp Novice
EdwinVoskamp
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4. Sep 23, 2008 11:20 PM in response to: Dave.Mishchen…
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

And your "Shift - o" means depress the Shift key and hold it, then, at the same time hit the o (as in Oscar) key, right?

Dave.Mishchen… Guru User Moderators vExpert
Dave.Mishchen…
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5. Sep 23, 2008 11:50 PM in response to: EdwinVoskamp
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

If you try Shift+R, at the loading screen do you get an error message about there not being a backup image?  

 

As an alternative,  you could boot the host with a Linux live CD,  then edit the boot.cfg file on the Hypervisor0 partition.   You would basically just add  the same option in that file.

EdwinVoskamp Novice
EdwinVoskamp
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6. Sep 24, 2008 12:58 AM in response to: Dave.Mishchen…
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

Yup, ShiftR got me the error message about there not being a backup image, enter continued booting, and ShiftO worked on that boot.

 

Edited config file to put in checkCPUIDLimit = "FALSE" and she's happy now.

a13x212 Novice
a13x212
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7. Oct 25, 2008 11:37 PM in response to: EdwinVoskamp
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

Can someone confirm whether the option nocheckCPUIDLimit works with ESXI (the free version).

 

When I hit tab, I see a line like:

 

vmkernel.gz --- binmod.tgz --- ienviron.tgz --- cim.tgz --- oem.tgz --- license.tgz --- install.tgz

J_Jab Lurker
J_Jab
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8. Oct 27, 2008 7:26 AM in response to: a13x212
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

I'm getting that aswell....once I type the command nocheckCPUIDLimit in the Boot menu it starts loading the ISO. Right after it's done laoding I get another error message, 'could not find kernel nocheckCPUIDLimit'

avninder Novice
avninder
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9. Dec 29, 2008 4:20 AM in response to: J_Jab
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

 

Give the space between kernel.gz and no check like "mboot.c32 Vmkernel.gz nocheckCPUIDLimit -

"

 

 

and try to boot now. hopefully u'll not get error this time.

 

 

BrennanB Enthusiast
BrennanB
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10. Jan 5, 2009 12:55 PM in response to: avninder
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

Worked like a champ for me on a GX280. Used Shift O and then entered in adjustments to the string. Once it was loaded I was able to make the change permennant via VI client. Thanks for the info guys!!!

hotwings Lurker
hotwings
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11. Mar 9, 2009 11:45 AM in response to: BrennanB
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

I want to load esx server 3i on my Dell gx280 but am unsuccessful.  Can you elaborate more with the steps?  I entered the the nocheck option on the boot menu but still getting the "cpuid is limited".  error.  Thanks.

iben Novice
iben
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12. Apr 7, 2009 11:38 AM in response to: Dave.Mishchen…
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

 

confirming this worked for me with latest ESXi 3.5.0 update 4  - also note that Hard Drive SATA Operation setting needs to be "Normal" not "combination" for ESXi to detect and install correctly. This box only has 2 x 512KB DIMMs but we will try to put 4 x 1 GB or maybe 4 x 2 GB chips to upgrade RAM.  Anyone know max memory config?

 

 

   

 

 

I b e n +14087824726 IM info: ibenrodriguez - yahoo iben.rodriguez - gmail ibenr - aol ibenrodriguez - skype Follow me on http://twitter.com/iben http://communities.vmware.com/people/iben
sipero Lurker
sipero
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13. Apr 26, 2009 4:13 AM in response to: iben
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

 

Hi,

 

 

On the Desktop or Tower machines the lomit is 4 x 1Gb and you have to be careful with your selection of memory as not all DDR2 1Gb modules will work from other postings I've seen.

 

 

 

 

 

Jonathan Hamon

 

 

 

 

 

BrennanB Enthusiast
BrennanB
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14. Apr 27, 2009 6:52 AM in response to: hotwings
Re: How to enter nocheckCPUIDLimit on ESX Server 3i 3.5.0 build-110271?

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. At the initial bootloader screen (when booting from the ISO), press TAB to edit the boot options

  2. add "nocheckCPUIDLimit" right after
         "vmkernel.gz", so that the first part of the boot options BEFORE the
         first "---" reads: "mboot.c32 vmkernel.gz nocheckCPUIDLimit ---"

  3. Press enter to finish

 

Now that it will load make sure to login to the machine using VI Client and set the NoCheckCPUIDLimit in the advanced settings.

 

 

1.Open the ‘Configuration’ tab of the ESXi host

 

 

2. Click on ‘Advanced Settings’

 

 

3. Open the VMkernel variable and then the Boot list and there will be a checkCPUIDLimit box, make sure this is unchecked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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