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19,456 Views 15 Replies Last post: Mar 15, 2012 4:50 PM by petersk

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computech911

6 posts since
Aug 19, 2009

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Aug 19, 2009 5:18 PM

Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Hello Guys,

I have sucessfully installed ESXi on the ML150G6 without any issues. However it refuses to see the RAID controller/logical drives and instead sees only the hard drives directly. It creates an individual datastore for each hard drive. I need to make use of fault tolerance so this doesn't work for me.

I assumed all the Proliant G6 servers supported ESXi fully, so it is my fault for not doing the doing the research before hand. After speaking with HP they informed me that the ML150G6 model is the only HP Proliant G6 that does NOT

support ESXi v4, and I imagine that is because of the RAID controller (Smart Array B110i). Interesting enough the ML150G6 fully supports ESX just not ESXi. After looking on the VMware compatibilty guide it appears that only the HP Smart Array E-series controllers are supported so I am still puzzled why the Smart Array B110i works on ESX but not ESXi. Do I need to break down and buy one of these controllers for my ML150G6? (over $500). Or is there a driver I can install manually for ESXi to make this work?

Thanks,

::Travis

Dave.Mishchen…

11,904 posts since
Nov 15, 2005

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1. Aug 20, 2009 12:24 AM

in response to: computech911

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

I took a look at the driver from HP for this and it appears to be a rebranded Intel ICH10R controller (PCI id 8086:3a25). ESX(i) doesn't support RAID with software based RAID controllers like the ICH*R models.

http://www.vm-help.com/esx40i/Hardware_support.php

Dave

VMware Communities User Moderator

New book in town - vSphere Quick Start Guide -http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2009/08/12/new-book-in-town-vsphere-quick-start-guide/.

Do you have a system or PCI card working with VMDirectPath? Submit your specs to the Unofficial VMDirectPath HCL - http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=21.

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J1mbo

1,815 posts since
May 20, 2009

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2. Aug 20, 2009 1:10 AM

in response to: Dave.Mishchen…

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Even if it did work, performance would be awful because it doesn't have BBWC. I'd look to get a controller like the E200 with 128MB BBWC.

blog.peacon.co.uk

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J1mbo

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May 20, 2009

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3. Aug 20, 2009 1:13 AM

in response to: J1mbo

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

To add, the Dell PERC 5i might be worth a punt if it's a test/dev/home server, these come up on eBay for about £100 and have 256 or 512MB BBWC.

blog.peacon.co.uk

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computech911

6 posts since
Aug 19, 2009

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4. Aug 20, 2009 8:11 AM

in response to: computech911

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll probably just get the E200 w/ the BBWC and be done with this. I know the ML150 is an entry level G6, but it is also the only G6 WITHOUT an E-Series hardware RAID controller, which is frustrating when HP isn't up front about that.

::Travis

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bwinkler999

2 posts since
Sep 29, 2009

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5. Sep 29, 2009 11:43 AM

in response to: computech911

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Just ran into the exact same issue on a DL160 G6, so the ML150 G6 is not the only G6 server without a proper RAID controller.

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DSTAVERT

10,090 posts since
Nov 30, 2003

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6. Sep 29, 2009 12:20 PM

in response to: bwinkler999

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Both the DL160 and the ML150 are available with hardware raid controllers. You just chose the model that didn't come with hardware raid.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator

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bwinkler999

2 posts since
Sep 29, 2009

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7. Sep 29, 2009 12:25 PM

in response to: DSTAVERT

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

I agree with that assessment. But the Quickspecs don't say anything about the fact that the B110i, while supported in ESXi, is a software-based RAID... so our posts hopefully contribute to the body of knowledge to prevent others from making our mistakes. If you want hardware RAID, don't buy the non-hot-plug chassis version of the DL160 G6.

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KiwiSi

46 posts since
Nov 8, 2007

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8. Apr 1, 2010 7:17 AM

in response to: bwinkler999

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Hi All,

Just for the record, the HP Proliant ML110 G6 also uses the B110i and as would be expected this doesn't work either with ESX or ESXi.

Cheers,

Simon

Simon Seagrave

TechHead

VMware vExpert 2009

http://www.techhead.co.uk

http://twitter.com/kiwi_si

Simon Seagrave TechHead VMware vExpert 2009 http://www.techhead.co.uk http://twitter.com/kiwi_si http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/38-20623/vExpert_logo_100x57.jpg

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Lagerstars

5 posts since
Oct 29, 2008

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9. Jul 6, 2010 2:13 PM

in response to: KiwiSi

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Out of interest, will this ML110 G6 with this B110i SATA controller work with ESX or ESXi without RAID? As in just use a single drive with the VM's on?

I'm wanting to run a basic server at home and RAID doesnt interest me, but the cheap ML110 G6 does.

If it does run ESX or ESXi, are you able to share the local CD drive to VM's for installing software?

Thanks in advance!

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Lagerstars

5 posts since
Oct 29, 2008

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10. Jul 13, 2010 7:30 AM

in response to: Lagerstars

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Anyone able to offer any info on the B110i controller?

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DSTAVERT

10,090 posts since
Nov 30, 2003

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11. Jul 13, 2010 8:19 AM

in response to: Lagerstars

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

The B110i is a software based RAID controller which ESXi does not support. You will need to get a RAID controller from the Hardware Compatibility List if you want RAID. http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator

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Lagerstars

5 posts since
Oct 29, 2008

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12. Jul 13, 2010 9:48 AM

in response to: DSTAVERT

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

As i asked above tho, i dont want to use RAID, i jsut want to put a drive in and for it to be recognised and to be able to use the DVD-ROM drive or whatever it comes with to install software and use with VMWare.

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DSTAVERT

10,090 posts since
Nov 30, 2003

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13. Jul 13, 2010 10:04 AM

in response to: Lagerstars

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

You really need to post your own question. Questions marked as already answered don't tend to get much attention.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator

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MattGagliardi

35 posts since
Sep 4, 2009

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14. Sep 2, 2010 8:19 AM

in response to: computech911

Re: Is there a workaround for ESXi v4 to see the HP Smart Array B110i SATA RAID controller on the ML150G6?

Well, it may have been answered...but not correctly. I just ran into this today, was able to get one DL160 G6 running but not a second one. Found the solution...go into the BIOS and find the SATA options (IIRC it's the second "tab" over, a couple of entries down the list). Change the mode from RAID to AHCI. Reboot. Basically what you've done there is disable the software RAID and now ESXi will be able to correctly utilize the drives, even non-hot plug.

Please reward with points

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