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6 Replies Last post: Jun 4, 2009 11:58 AM by timmp

ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc.... posted: May 14, 2009 12:27 PM

Tomahawk!

10 posts since
Jan 3, 2007

I am installing ESX via DVD, and HTTP kickstart to my blade server. During the install the installer prompts me: "Partition table on device sda was unreadable…", and Partition table on device sdb was unreadable…", and "Partition table on device sdc was unreadable…" etc. for what I believe to be all of my SAN drives presented to the blade. How do get the installer to skip these drives and to only format and install ESX onto the local drive (cciss/c0d0)? Here is the excerpt from my kickstart file that I am using:

install
lang en_US.UTF-8
langsupport --default en_US.UTF-8
keyboard us
mouse genericwheelps/2 --device psaux
skipx
network --device eth0 --bootproto static --ip 10.6.175.101 --netmask 255.255.255.0 --gateway 10.6.175.254 --hostname esxsvr02.localdomain
rootpw --iscrypted $1$I2FyAXFF$SyoooKYopRRmQdgSv3kQp0
firewall --enabled
authconfig --enableshadow --enablemd5
timezone --utc America/New_York
bootloader --location=mbr
reboot --eject
vmaccepteula

clearpart --all --initlabel --drives=cciss/c0d0

part / --size 5120 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3 --asprimary
part /boot --size 250 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3 --asprimary
part swap --size 1600 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype swap --asprimary
part /var --size 4096 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3
part /tmp --size 1024 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3
part /opt --size 2048 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3
part /home --size 1024 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3
part vmcore --size 100 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3
part VMFS --size 2048 --ondisk cciss/c0d0 --fstype ext3

%packages
grub

%post

Tags: esx, installation, installing, kickstart

Re: ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc....

1. May 14, 2009 1:32 PM

in response to: Tomahawk!

Chamon

822 posts since
Aug 15, 2007

Two suggestions.

One is to remove the drivers for your HBA cards from your ISO and have the ks add the drivers in the post portion of the script

Two unpresent the LUNs from the host before you run the install

Here is what ours look like for the partitioning. Notice that the file type for the VMFS is NOT ext3

Langauge Support

langsupport --default en_US

Keyboard

keyboard us

Mouse

mouse none

Reboot after install ?

reboot

Firewall settings

firewall --disabled

Clear Partitions

clearpart --all --initlabel --drives=cciss/c0d0

Partitioning

part /boot --fstype ext3 --size 250 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part / --fstype ext3 --size 5120 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part swap --size 2048 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part None --fstype vmfs3 --size 10000 --grow --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part None --fstype vmkcore --size 110 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part /var --fstype ext3 --size 4096 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part /tmp --fstype ext3 --size 5120 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part /home --fstype ext3 --size 1024 --ondisk cciss/c0d0
part /opt --fstype ext3 --size 3072 --ondisk cciss/c0d0

VMware Specific Commands

vmaccepteula

%packages
@base
@ everything

%post
#################

Configure DNS #

#################

Wow all of the # turned into 1. when I pased it in.

Message was edited by: Chamon

Re: ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc....

2. May 18, 2009 10:44 AM

in response to: Tomahawk!

dinny

425 posts since
Sep 20, 2006

Hiya,

You only need to remove the drivers from the ISO - you don't need to add them back in later - this is because the drivers are loaded specifically for the install - separate drivers are loaded by ESX itself, once it is installed.

I wrote a whitepaper on it ages ago:

(It was hosted on Xtraviert's site - but it doesn't seem to be there any more - pm me with your email address and I'll send you a copy...)

But even better easier just script it all - only takes 5 mins or so to amend the ISO

http://www.jume.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=34&Itemid=5

Dinny

Re: ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc....

3. May 19, 2009 6:48 AM

in response to: dinny

Texiwill

10,236 posts since
Jan 13, 2004

Hello,

Add a %pre section to REMOVE the drivers for the HBA from the installer. This is the problem. You should either disconnect the cables, depresent the LUNs, or remove the drivers. On the remove timing is most important.

Best regards, Edward L. Haletky VMware Communities User Moderator, VMware vExpert 2009, DABCC Analyst
Now Available on Rough-Cuts: 'VMware vSphere(TM) and Virtual Infrastructure Security: Securing ESX and the Virtual Environment'
Also available 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise'
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Re: ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc....

4. Jun 4, 2009 10:26 AM

in response to: Texiwill

timmp

23 posts since
May 2, 2006

So to add to the previous thread, your kickstart file would have something like this:

VMWare License options

vmaccepteula

%vmlicense_text

%packages

@base

%pre

#!/bin/sh

==============================================================

This will remove the loaded HBA modules from the kernel

remove_qla() {

for i in $(lsmod | grep qla | awk '{print $1'}); do

echo Will remove: $i >> /dev/tty1

rmmod $i

sleep 1

done

}

remove_lpfc() {

for i in $(lsmod | grep lpfc | awk '{print $1'}); do

echo Will remove: $i >> /dev/tty1

rmmod $i

sleep 1

done

}

remove_qla

sleep 2

remove_qla

remove_lpfc

%post

The above should remove the Emulex and Qlogic HBA's prior to installation.

Re: ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc....

5. Jun 4, 2009 11:00 AM

in response to: timmp

mcowger

2,078 posts since
Aug 22, 2007

Thats a neat trick - never thought of that one.

Will add that to my kickstart so I dont have to shut/noshut my fiber switch ports during install.

Thanks!

--Matt
VCP, vExpert, Unix Geek

Re: ESX kickstart installation is seeing device sda, sdb, sdc....

6. Jun 4, 2009 11:58 AM

in response to: mcowger

timmp

23 posts since
May 2, 2006

Yes it works well. I am still paranoid and disable the fiber switch ports anyways. Defense in depths

Nothing worse than mashing an existing lun or wiping one that has running vm's on it.

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