VMware Communities: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible!

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44 Replies Last post: Feb 15, 2009 2:45 AM by mblake4u

ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible!

Dec 21, 2007 11:55 AM

VCPaul 2 posts since
Feb 16, 2007

I successfully booted ESX Server 3i from a USB flash drive on a machine with no local disks attached. It´s unsupported, but it works!

Requirements:

1 GB USB flash drive
WinImage
IZArc

Of course you can use your favourite tools and larger USB flash drives, but 1 GB is enough space for the boot image.

Perform the following steps to create a bootable ESX Server 3i USB flash drive:

Download ESX Server 3i Installable ISO
Extract INSTALL.TGZ from the root directory of the ISO image using an IZArc
Extract /usr/lib/vmware/installer/VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0-67921.i386.dd.bz2 from INSTALL.TGZ using IZArc
Extract VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0-67921.i386.dd from VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0-67921.i386.dd.bz2 using IZArc
Attach the USB flash drive and make sure you no longer need the data on it
Use WinImage to transfer VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0-67921.i386.dd to the USB flash drive
1. Disk->Restore Virtual Hard Disk image on physical drive...
2. Select the USB flash drive (Warning: If you select the wrong disk you will lose data!)
3. Select the image file VMware-VMvisor-big-3.5.0-67921.i386.dd
4. Confirm the warning message
5. Wait for the transfer to complete
Unplug the USB flash drive (Warning: If you forget to unplug the flash drive from the PC you might lose the data on your hard drives the next time you boot!)
Attach the USB flash drive to the machine you want to boot (Warning: If ESX Server 3i recognizes local drives, you might lose the data on it, so make sure you don´t need it anymore or unplug all hard drives!)
Turn the machine on and make sure the USB flash drive is selected as boot device
Watch ESX Server 3i boot
Configure
Enjoy!

I cannot be held responsible for any damage or loss of data this procedure might cause.

Tags: esx, 3i, 3.5, usb, boot, flash, drive

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 21, 2007 12:53 PM

vmroyale 1,253 posts since
Jun 15, 2007

Very cool! I wondered how long it would be before someone posted up this, and I'll have to admit that I didn't think it would be this quick...

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 21, 2007 3:08 PM

The-Kevster 82 posts since
Mar 7, 2007

VERY COOL! Just for sh**s and giggles...

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 21, 2007 5:17 PM

akemp 22 posts since
Nov 8, 2004 VMware

All,

This functionality was part of the beta program. As mentioned it is not supported, and should be used with caution. If you think about the security implications of USB sticks hanging out of the back (or front) of servers, and someone coming along and ripping one out as an example, the server will go down (PSOD). That is why the new servers with 3i have the USB device internal on the motherboard.

It is cool for demo's and getting something up and running very quickly on x86 hardware. You'd be surprised on the number of servers (and laptops) that 3i will boot up from!

Cheers,

Andre Kemp

Sr. Product Marketing Manager - APAC

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 22, 2007 2:26 AM

in response to: akemp

VCPaul 2 posts since
Feb 16, 2007

akemp wrote:

This functionality was part of the beta program.

It seems this is the most wanted feature of ESX Server 3i and many people are disappointed that the embedded version has not been released yet. It´s even unclear if such a version for installation on USB flash drives will ever be released or if flash drive boot will be limited to pre-installed ESX Server 3i that comes with new hardware.

As mentioned it is not supported, and should be used with caution. If you think about the security implications of USB sticks hanging out of the back (or front) of servers, and someone coming along and ripping one out as an example, the server will go down (PSOD).

If you think about the security implications of hot-pluggable hard drives accessible on the front of servers, and someone coming along and ripping two out as another example, the server will go down, too.

It is cool for demo's and getting something up and running very quickly on x86 hardware. You'd be surprised on the number of servers (and laptops) that 3i will boot up from!

It´s a shame that VMware didn´t include support for more SATA devices.

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 22, 2007 3:48 AM

in response to: VCPaul

vmroyale 1,253 posts since
Jun 15, 2007

HP (what I use) is on top of the USB security portion. Their USB ports for the bootable device are inside the case of the server (for many models). Check this out:

http://h71028.www7.hp.com/ERC/cache/547864-0-0-0-121.html

AFAIK, you can't use this internal USB (yet??) for 3i. If I ever find spare time, I will test it out with one of my HPs using the instructions above and post the results.

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 22, 2007 6:14 AM

in response to: akemp

nsabinske 20 posts since
Feb 4, 2007

Is there really any security implication with losing the USB stick that isn't on par with someone yanking the cables/power on the server? It's an availability problem more than anything else. It's not like it's acting as a security device. And as stated, in those cases someone could yank the HDs too. So if you're worried about people with physical access, maybe you have a non-technical problem with your datacenter's security...

I hope VMware decides to start supporting USB in this capacity because it's rediculous not to (since it so obviously and simply works, all you're doing is dumping the disk image to the USB rather than the HD). The person implementing the system is the one who can decide if it's appropriate in their case or not.

As an aside, would it really crash the system? I've seen the RAID fail on an ESX box and it fragged the service console, but the other VMs ran like tanks (they are on the SAN). Obviously you're going to have trouble managing a box in this situation but you can probably hold out for an emergency safe shutdown of affected VMs.

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 22, 2007 7:49 AM

in response to: nsabinske

akemp 22 posts since
Nov 8, 2004 VMware

All,

3i was released on Wednesday for only 2 servers at the moment: Dell 2950 and HP DL385, so those brand new servers do have the 3i USB imbedded. We read from the image to collect some logging information,etc so removing the USB device (or any HDD that is being actively access by a ring 0 driver from any OS) will cause immediate issues. I agree there are other items in the DC that currently hang out on the outside - and if you have a physical access issue, you have other problems with your security.

We may release something in the future - I'll ask around internally about this and post what I can.

Cheers,

Andre Kemp

Sr. Product Marketing Manager - APAC

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Dec 26, 2007 9:41 PM

in response to: akemp

Schorschi 679 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

Did the same with Dell 2850 and Dell 2950, which we used beta and rc on flash drives. Unsupported? Have already requested that they officially support this, as they did for beta and rc candidates. Our VMware TAM got an ear full when he finally explained that what we have done for several months is now not allowed.

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Jan 4, 2008 12:56 PM

in response to: akemp

Virtual_JTW 38 posts since
Nov 1, 2004

Slight correction... there's experimental support for HP DL380 G5 which does have an internal USB port.

For those concerned about USB sticks being removed while the system is on, it should be easy enough to route a USB port internally on the system to prevent this from happening. Just don't do anything that would void your warranty.

Does anyone know when the DL380 will be certified?

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Jan 4, 2008 2:14 PM

in response to: Virtual_JTW

Schorschi 679 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

Ssshhh... ESX 3i installable works on a HP ML350 G3 too! Don't Tell!

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Jan 7, 2008 2:56 AM

in response to: Schorschi

einstein-a-go-go 222 posts since
Oct 6, 2005

it boots but I get:-

Cannot get bank 1 paramaters.
Warning: Bank 1 partition type invalid. Ignoring.
Cannot get bank 2 paramaters.
Warning: Bank 2 partition type invalid. Ignoring.
Panic: No useable banks found.

any ideas, has the copy worked, keep on trying different hardware?

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Jan 6, 2008 6:16 PM

in response to: einstein-a-go-go

GBromage 414 posts since
Jun 14, 2006

DL585 G2s have an internal USB port too.

I'll look forward to giving this a go but, likewise, I'd be happier if there was an offical VMWare supported solution.

I hope this information helps you. If it does, please consider awarding points with the 'Helpful' or 'Correct' buttons. If it doesn't help you, please ask for clarification!

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Jan 6, 2008 6:59 PM

Santhosh_vmware 275 posts since
Oct 12, 2007

Hi,
Were you able to create VMFS on USB ?Please let me know.

regards
santhosh

Reply Re: ESX Server 3i - USB flash drive boot possible! Jan 7, 2008 3:03 AM

in response to: Santhosh_vmware

einstein-a-go-go 222 posts since
Oct 6, 2005

no, not that I've found. inserted another usb flash drive on the other port, it's detected as vmhba32 and vmhba33.

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