adaptec 5805 compatibility with vmware ESXi 3.5 update 4

[lynxinator]

Community,

Has anybody tried ESXi 3.5 update 4 with the adaptec 5805 yet? I have read about PSOD problems with this card under earlier versions of ESXi & ESX in the vmware forums. Is the driver that is available on adaptecs web site required in order to get this card to work correctly? I noticed that the 5805 is not listed on the vmware HCL yet, but the 5405 is. I have a 5405 and it works great with ESXi 3.5 update 3. I am interested in using the 5805 with 8 SATA hard drives configured as 4 mirrors. Does anybody know if the prior issues had to do with using any of the RAID modes? I could use the SATA drives in BSOD mode for now if I have to.

Ryan

[Lunddahl]

This has been the official ansver from Adaptec for some time now:

-

---

8<----

---

1. Purple Screen of Death (PSOD) using the inbox ESX Server 3.5 Update 1 and 2 driver:

The AACRAID driver embedded in ESX Server 3.5 Update 1 and 2 is causing a PSOD. We recommend to download and install the driver RPM 1.1.5-2459 from our Support site instead.

Please reboot the server in order for the Operating System to see the logical drives.

Note: The VMware ESX 3.5 driver is in process of being certified by VMware. In its current state it is offered only for evaluating interoperability. Upon formal certification it will be fully supported by VMware Update 4, and will become available at www.adaptec.com and www.vmware.com.

2. Installation and use of Adaptec Storage Manager (ASM) on VMware ESX Server 3.0.2 and 3.5:

• Mount the Adaptec Storage Manager installation CD:
  mount -r /dev/cdrom /mnt/linux/

• Change to the manager directory on the CD-ROM:
  cd /mnt/cdrom/linux/manager

• Type the following command to install the 32-bit Linux Adaptec Storage Manager on the VMware ESX Server:
  rpm --install ./StorMan*.rpm

• Type the following command to open the range of ports required by Adaptec Storage Manager to connect remotely:
  esxcfg-firewall -o 34571:34581,tcp,in,"StorMan"

• Install Adaptec Storage Manager on a Windows or Linux machine.

• From the Windows or Linux client, connect to the Adaptec Storage Manager Agent on the VMware ESX Server using the ASM GUI.
  
  Note: The Adaptec Storage Manager Agent on the VMware ESX Server cannot be monitored from a guest operating system.

3. Support for ESXi Server 3.5:

There is a AACRAID driver embedded in ESXi Server 3.5 (see VMware Certified Compatibility Guides) but there is no Management Software (ASM or ARCCONF) available.

-

---

8<----

---

I havent seen any problems with the adaptec 2000 or 5000 cards on U4 yet, however i don't install ASM in the service console, since you are using ESXi, you don't have that option at all.

- Ulrik Lunddahl - vExpert 2009

(If your question has been resolved please mark the answers as "Helpful" or "Correct".)

[ccpspace]

I've tried to install the driver without success. on ESX 3.5 update 4. Are there any special instructions on how to install it?

Thanks

[mindragon]

I had the following server just sitting around:

SuperMicro SuperServer 7045A-WTB (X7DWA-N) - 2x Quadcore Intel Processors - 16GB RAM - BIOS version 1.2

Adaptec 5805 w/ 5.2.0 build 16501

8x Seagate 750 SAS drives

4.0TB Raid 5EE configuration (default settings)

EFI is turned on.

Popped in the VMWare ESXi 3.5u4 and it installs fine however it can't always see the entire array.

I've tried two different builds -- a 1tb container (with a 3tb container) and a 4tb container. When ESX loads up on the 1tb container it only sees 1tb free in the second (3tb) container for a datastore. When ESX loads up on the 4tb single container it only sees 92gb free to make a datastore.

I'm not entirely sure how to do a driver update or where to go from here other than making 4x 1tb datastores...?

[mindragon]

Just tried another configuration with 1024gb, 1024gb, 2048gb ... It picks up the two 1024gb volumes no problem but cannot recognize 2048gb available in the 3rd volume. It shows as 94gb free.

Screenie!

[Dave_Mishchenko]

ESX and ESXi have a 2 TB LUN limit. If you create 3 arrays (all under 2.0 TB) then you'll be able to use all the space.

[mindragon]

Dunno if you saw the screenie before you posted but I did make a 2tb LUN and it didn't recognize it.

[Dave_Mishchenko]

ESXi is seeing 2.09 TB so it's ignoring the 2.0 TB and giving you 0.09 TB. Is the array setup as 2048 GB?

[mindragon]

Yes. I set it up as a 2tb partition. When I have time on Monday I'll try 1.9TB but still ... It should recognize 2048 and drop the .09 ...

[Dave_Mishchenko]

ESX will do that (ignore the space over 2 TB). With ESXi I guess someone used > instead of <.

[mindragon]

I did another reconfiguration as follows:

250gb Raid 10

1.9tb Raid 5E

1.9tb Raid 5E

VmWare ESX 3i 3.50 build 153875 (current build) picks it up no problem. There's definately something wrong with the &gt; 2.0TB logic with VMWare 3.5

[Dave_Mishchenko]

The documentation for ESXi 4 will clear this up a bit by stating a maximum of 2.0 TB - 512B.