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The-Kevster
Contributor
Contributor

SATA Support Clear as Mud!?

From the updated I/O sheet this is what's mentioned on supported SATA controllers....

Supported SAS/SATA Dual Controllers

ESX Server 3.5 supports selected SATA devices connected to dual SAS/SATA controllers. This support is limited to ESX Server 3.5. It is not included with ESX Server 3.0.x.

The supported dual SAS/SATA controllers are:

  • mptscsi_2xx (PCIE) ‐ LSI1078*

  • mptscsi_pcie ‐ LSI1068E (LSISAS3442E)*

  • mptscsi_pcix ‐ LSI1068 (SAS 5)*

  • aacraid_esx30 ‐ IBM serveraid 8k SAS controller*

  • cciss ‐ Smart Array P400/256 controller*

So what is the best PCIE card for me to put into my S5000PAL server that will use the above driver, if only someone could make a list :smileygrin:

Thanks,

Kev

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supahted
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I'm am looking for a cheap ESX 3.5 test system and want to buy the HP ML110 G5. Can anybody confirm if SATA support is working with this system (with or without the use of the sata enable script). The onboard sata controller is the Intel 82801IR ICH9R.

blog: http://vknowledge.wordpress.com/
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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

I know the ML115 does. The new ML110 G5 does sport new faster cpus that the ML115

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supahted
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi rpartmann,

Does the Promise SATA300 TX4 works default with ESX 3.5 or do you use the SATA enable script?

Regards,

Ted

blog: http://vknowledge.wordpress.com/
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Dave_Mishchenko
Immortal
Immortal

The install will recognize these Promise devices by default

-


# cat sata_promise.xml

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supahted
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Well i did buy the HP Proliant ML 110 G5. I haven't got ESX 3.5 working on it. The integrated Broadcom NetXtreme (BCM5722) is not recognized so i probably have to use another NIC. I am having trouble installing ESX 3.5, because the internal disks are not recognized. The HP Proliant ML 110 G5 has an adaptec embedded SATA hostRAID controller. I thought ESX 3.5 should always recognize the disks during setup when the SATA controller is configured as 'not native sata' in the bios?

blog: http://vknowledge.wordpress.com/
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bards1888
Contributor
Contributor

For information, another unsupported card that works out of the box is;

Silicon image 3512 PCI SATA 'RAID'

I'd guess that any from /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_sil.xml would work;

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='iso-8859-1'?>

<pcitable>

<vendor id="1095">

<short>CMD Technology Inc</short>

<name>CMD Technology Inc</name>

<device id="3112">

<vmware label="scsi">

<driver>sata_sil</driver>

</vmware>

<name>SiI 3112 Serial ATA Controller</name>

</device>

<device id="0240">

<vmware label="scsi">

<driver>sata_sil</driver>

</vmware>

<name>Adaptec AAR-1210SA SATA HostRAID Controller</name>

</device>

<device id="3512">

<vmware label="scsi">

<driver>sata_sil</driver>

</vmware>

<name>SiI 3512 Serial ATA Controller</name>

</device>

<device id="3114">

<vmware label="scsi">

<driver>sata_sil</driver>

</vmware>

<name>SiI 3114 Serial ATA Controller</name>

</device>

</vendor>

</pcitable>

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blackforce
Contributor
Contributor

I couldn't get the 1210SA to work. It installs ESX, then it reboots. It does boot up. But then it comes up with loads of disk errors and driver errors in the console screen, which is not good news.

My mate has the same card and he got the same results

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boabie
Contributor
Contributor

I can confirm that the ML110 G4 with embedded SATA RAID works.

Must be turned on in the BIOS for RAID to work (default is off weirdly) otherwise its just normal SATA. VT is also turned off in the BIOS by default.

Robert McArthur - VCP
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supahted
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Boadie: Thanks for the information!

Do you use ESX 3.5? Did you install on a RAID configuration? I've looked at the HP website and ML 110 G5 is based on the same SATA RAID controller but it is a newer version. Can you use your SATA disks as a VMFS volume?

blog: http://vknowledge.wordpress.com/
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boabie
Contributor
Contributor

I only tried it with a single disk with the RAID off. Did it just as a test for a bit of a laugh. Got the servers very cheap from a distributor (£89 ex vat)

Pretty sure it would work though. Worked fine on the single disk though, no issues.

Yeah I had VMFS on the SATA disk.

Robert McArthur - VCP
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achana
Contributor
Contributor

Hi ALL,

I can't boot ESX 3.5 using an NEC Express 5800 120Ri-2 with a megaRAID 8300XLP controller. It installs successfully, but fails mounting the root.

Can anyone help hack a driver for this?

Newbie!!

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bards1888
Contributor
Contributor

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rpartmann
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Hi,

use the way that bards1888 posted.

And i think you must use the megaraid2.xml file and pobably adidionaly add the pci subsystems id´s.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/876485 and look for scrs28x for an example,

hth,

Reinhard.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.
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achana
Contributor
Contributor

Thanks for the advice guys.

Wasn't 100% sure on how to run through all the procedures, but this is what I have tried.

1. Booted ESX server using the console option.

2. Executed lspci to find the device id for the controller. name: LSE LOGIC / SYMBIOLOGIC: UNKNOWN DEVICE 0413 (rev 02)

3. The vendor/device id is 1000:0413

4.The driver file being used is megaRAID_sas.xml, which I modifed an exisiting device with id 0411 to 0413. The reason why I chose megaRAID_sas.xml and not megaRAID2.xml is because this is the driver ESX uses during the first install.

Is this correct, or do I have to add the whole sub-section in the .xml file in _sas.xml in ..raid2.xml?

This is really annoying the hell out of me now.. Please help!

http://SORRY GUYS, BUT HAVING RE-READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY I HAD FORGOT TO RUN *ESXCFG-PCIID.*

IT WORKED!

BUT NOW Vertual Centre is complaining when you try to add it as a host!

THANKS GUYS. YOU WILL ALL BE GETTING POINTS!

Newbie

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supahted
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

To add to the list, I can conform that ESX 3.5 is running on a HP Proliant ML 110 G5. Here are the Specs:

HP ProLiant ML110 G5 - Microtower model - 1 x Dual-Core Xeon 3065 / 2.33 GHz - RAM 8 GB - Harddisk 2 x 250 GB - DVD±RW- Gigabit Ethernet.

The integrated Broadcom NetXtrem NIC is not recognized so you have to add a supported (intel) NIC. SATA configuration works default with ESX 3.5 and you can use the SATA disks for VMFS storage. Using the integrated SATA RAID controller is not recognized by ESX 3.5. I'm trying to get the RAID controller recognized using the method described in this thread. I will post my results in this thread.

This is a very cheap and quiet whitebox system for ESX 3.5!

blog: http://vknowledge.wordpress.com/
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Tses
Contributor
Contributor

Hi All,

I just make my cheap home server box working with ESX 3.5 adding

<device id="0550">

<vmware label="scsi">

<driver>sata_nv</driver>

</vmware>

<name>MCP68 SATA Controller</name>

</device>

in /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_nv.xml

Unfortunately the system detects only the first HD but it works fine two days now.

Using ubuntu live cd the O/S detects all hd correctly

If anyone has any idea or solution please let me know.

M/B ASRock ALiveNF7G R5.0 (nForce 630A – MCP68?)

NIC : Intel Pro /1000T - 82544GC (the M/B integrated NIC does not work)

Thanks for this great topic.

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sshd_root
Contributor
Contributor

Hi, all.

I trying start ESX 3.5 on the Intel 865 chipset ( ICH5 ). After install I loading in "troubleshooting mode", customize gosata.sh and run it.

root@localhost root# ./gosata.sh

SATA BootFix for VMware ESX Server by Reinhard Partmann

check ifrunning on an ESX host :

isESX: 1

isESXfailsafe: 1

DEBUG: BOOT_MOUNTED 1

DEBUG: 1==BOOT_MOUNTED 1

INTeL ...

VENDOR_FILENAME: ata_piix

DEVICE_ID: 24d1

DEVICE_ID_REPLACE: 2920

creating temp directories...

patching xml files...

loading /etc/vmware/pci.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/3c90x.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/DAC960.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/aacraid_esx30.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/adp94xx.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/ahci.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/aic79xx.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/aic7xxx.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/ata_piix.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/bnx2.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/cciss.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/e100.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/e1000.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/forcedeth.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/igb.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/ioat.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/ips.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/iscsi_mod.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/lpfc_740.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/megaraid2.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/megaraid_sas.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/mptscsi_2xx.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/qla2300_707_vmw.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/qla4010.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/qla4022.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/s2io.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_nv.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_promise.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_sil.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_svw.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/sata_vsc.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/tg3.xml...

loading /etc/vmware/pciid/unm_nic.xml...

writing /etc/vmware/pci.xml.merged

Replacing /etc/vmware/pci.ids file...

Replacing /etc/vmware/pcitable file...

Replacing /etc/vmware/pcitable.Linux file...

Replacing /etc/vmware/vmware-devices.map file...

cleanup...

1

DONE.

happy ESXing...

But the server still does not run.



I run /bin/vm-support and collect log to usb flash.


/log/messages



Loading vmnixmod

Warning: loading /lib/vmware/vmnixmod.o will taint the kernel: non-GPL license - proprietary

See for information about tainted modules

Module vmnixmod loaded, with warnings

Loading VMkernel

Using /lib/vmware/vmkernel

0: 0x0:0x0

1: .text 0x600000:0x226f90

2: .data 0x1403000:0x261e8

3: .rodata 0x826fa0:0x492d3

4: .bss 0x1429200:0x13f2840

5: .comment 0x0:0x1ea8

6: .shstrtab 0x0:0x3d

7: .symtab 0x0:0x29450

8: .strtab 0x0:0x32b0f

The vmkernel is loaded.

Loading vmklinux

Using /lib/vmware/vmklinux

Module load of vmklinux succeeded with --exportsym option.

Loading configuration

No driver found for 'Vend:Dvid' 'Subv:Subd' at Bus:Sl.F. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for 'Vend:Dvid' 'Subv:Subd' at Bus:Sl.F.

No driver found for 'bus' '' at Spawned. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for 'bus' '' at Spawned.

No driver found for '8086:2570' '1458:2570' at 000:00.0. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:2570' '1458:2570' at 000:00.0.

No driver found for '8086:2572' '1458:2572' at 000:02.0. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:2572' '1458:2572' at 000:02.0.

No driver found for '8086:24d2' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.0. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24d2' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.0.

No driver found for '8086:24d4' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.1. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24d4' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.1.

No driver found for '8086:24d7' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.2. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24d7' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.2.

No driver found for '8086:24de' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.3. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24de' '1458:24d2' at 000:29.3.

No driver found for '8086:24dd' '1458:5006' at 000:29.7. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24dd' '1458:5006' at 000:29.7.

No driver found for '8086:244e' '0000:0000' at 000:30.0. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:244e' '0000:0000' at 000:30.0.

No driver found for '8086:24d0' '0000:0000' at 000:31.0. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24d0' '0000:0000' at 000:31.0.

No driver found for '8086:24d1' '1458:24d1' at 000:31.2. Trying just id

No driver found for '8086:24d3' '1458:24d2' at 000:31.3. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24d3' '1458:24d2' at 000:31.3.

No driver found for '8086:24d5' '1458:a600' at 000:31.5. Trying just id

No vmkernel driver found for '8086:24d5' '1458:a600' at 000:31.5.

No driver found for '8086:1051' '1458:e000' at 001:08.0. Trying just id

Loading VMkernel ata_piix.o (options: '')

Using lib/vmware/ata_piix.o

Module load of ata_piix succeeded.

Loading VMkernel e100.o (options: '')

Using lib/vmware/e100.o

Module load of e100 succeeded.

All drivers successfully loaded.

Loading lvmdriver

Using /lib/vmware/lvmdriver

Module load of lvmdriver succeeded.

Loading vmfs3

Using /lib/vmware/vmfs3

Module load of vmfs3 succeeded.

(forcing normal run)

Red Hat nash version 3.5.13.6 starting

Creating block devices

/lib/usb-ohci.o: init_module:

Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.

You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg

</div>

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rpartmann
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Hi,

when you boot your std. entry in ESX mode. Which error message do you get?

Please post also the output of "mount" when in troubleshooting mode.

bye,

Reinhard.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.
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rpartmann
Hot Shot
Hot Shot

Hi Dave,

hp dc 7800:

- installs when you add an supported NIC to the system. Builtin NIC is NOT WORKING!

- SATA drive is only detected as "hda" ->> NO VMFS support.

bye,

Reinhard

ps: you have the Promise 300 TX4 two times in your SATA section on http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3.5/Whiteboxes_SATA_Controllers_for_ESX_3.5_3i.htm. Smiley Wink

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.

ps: Award points if you find answers helpful. Thanks.
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Grimfish
Contributor
Contributor

I would like to add a system to the list of comaptible systems t the list. I have purchased an ASUS V3 P5 G33 Barebones box. This has an ASUS P5K-VM motherboard in it and runs the ICH9 controller for SATA. I have had a full install of ESX 3.5 (not the 3i version, untested at this point in time but I am almost certain it will work as other posts for systems with the same MB have indicated this worked).

The only issue you will find is if you use a PATA DVD Drive as the PATA controller is not supported (I disable the PATA Controller in the BIOS). I used an ASUS SATA DVD drive an it installed like a dream.

Also to my suprise when I connected to the VI Console I could use the VMFS Partition on the local to run VM's from as the HDD (320GB Samsung SATA 2 HDD) was detected as a SCSI disk and as such ESX classes this as Enterprise so it will run :^0.

As a side bonus I am running 8 GB of Ram as the board supports this so I have plenty of head room for VM's to run on. All in all it is a quick system that runs ESX 3.5 very well. The total sysem parts are:

ASUS V3 P5G33 Barebones

Intel Q6600 Processor

Kingston Value Ram 8GB (KVR667D2N5K2/4G) Incedentally the 800 MHz ram will work also (KVR800D2N5K2/4G)

2 * Intel Pro 100 Nic's (Will be upgrading to the Intel Pro 1000 PT Dual Adaptor soon

I have a Gigabyte 7800 GTX 256 Graphics card (NOT NEEDED as onboard card works fine, I swap drives from a caddy and use this system for games as well :smileycool: hence the extra card)

All up less the graphics card it was under $800.00 AUS. I plan to buy another system exactly the same and run a Thecus N5200B Pro with ISCSI for VMotion and HA. (At the moment however the Thecus isn't capable of doing thi sproperly yet but I am sure it is just a matter of time before Thecus release a new firmware version to do it)

Cheers and thatks all that posted their systems as it really helped me narrow down my choice to this config.

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