Skip navigation
VMware
Up to Discussions in VI: VMware ESXi™ 3.5

This Question is Answered (go to answer)

2 "helpful" answers available (6 pts)
9,929 Views 22 Replies Last post: Apr 25, 2008 5:07 PM by jhu RSS
1 2 Previous Next
catseye Novice
catseye
9 posts since
Aug 1, 2007
Currently Being Moderated

Mar 28, 2008 1:23 PM

CD-Rom not available as host device

Am I missing something obvious? I'm trying to install an OS from an ISO that is sitting on a server running ESX 3i. When I edit the settings for the vm, the Host Device drop down for configuring the CD-ROM says "No Devices available". I know the CD-ROM drive is functioning fine since that is where I installed 3i from. I went into the command line to see what I could see and I don't see anything under /dev that looks like a CD-ROM. This is on a Dell PowerEdge 2900. While technically this server is not on the 3i HCL, it is pretty close to a 2950, which is. From what I have been told, the only difference between the 2900 series and the 2950 series is form factor.

Tags: host, cdrom
Charu Enthusiast VMware Employees
Charu
43 posts since
Jun 15, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
1. Mar 28, 2008 4:25 PM in response to: catseye
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

You could be hitting a known issue. Try setting the CD-ROM device to something like /vmfs/devices/genide/vmhba0:0:0 instead of /dev/hda.

 

 

 

 

 

catseye Novice
catseye
9 posts since
Aug 1, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
2. Mar 31, 2008 6:18 AM in response to: Charu
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

Thanks Charu, but the only places I see where I can select the CD-ROM device are prepopulated drop-down lists. If I do it through Edit Settings and try to modify the existing CD-ROM device, it says "No Devices available" under the Host device list. If I remove the existing CD-DVD Drive and then attempt to add one, the Host device drop-down list contains no entries.

 

 

I tried editing via the Remote CLI, but all I can seem to do is list devices (esxcfg-vmhbadevs). I then tried via the Infratstructure Client's Configuration panel. Under Storage Adapters, vmhba32 is listed as the cdrom, so I chose "Manage Paths", but "Change" does not allow the user to modify the device path.

pvegulla Novice
pvegulla
6 posts since
Feb 27, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
3. Apr 1, 2008 4:08 PM in response to: catseye
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

Can you the following from VI Client -

 

Edit Settings... -> Add... -> SCSI Device -> Next

Fatemi Novice
Fatemi
5 posts since
Mar 17, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
4. Apr 2, 2008 1:00 PM in response to: pvegulla
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

I have the same problem.  I tried adding a SCSI drive as the last comment suggested but the client won't let me.  It says: This device cannot be added to this VM because:  There are no non-disk SCSI devices available on the host.

bretti Expert
bretti
565 posts since
Jun 10, 2004
Currently Being Moderated
5. Apr 2, 2008 1:50 PM in response to: catseye
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

Does your Dell PowerEdge 2900 have a SCSI CD-ROM or IDE CD-ROM installed on it?

Fatemi Novice
Fatemi
5 posts since
Mar 17, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
6. Apr 2, 2008 2:46 PM in response to: bretti
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

Hi,

 

 

We have the 2950 III and it has the 8X DVD-ROM (part# GG228) listed as IDE.  The only thing availabe under Host Device is /vmfs/devices/genide/vmhba0:0:0 which unfortunatly doesn't work.

 

 

phenrichs Hot Shot
phenrichs
203 posts since
Jul 7, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
7. Apr 3, 2008 10:52 AM in response to: catseye
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

OK, so they stripped out the linux kernel to reduce the overhead but along with that came a hardware handicap.  There is NO access to the host CD_ROM, SERIAL, or USB devices. Period.  They know that everyone wants USB.  They now know that CD-ROM is a huge concern as well.  I have spoken with them and there is no plan in the immediate future for cd-rom but perhaps serial.

 

 

 

 

 

SORRY.

 

 

 

 

 

Regards,

 

 

Paul

 

 

Fatemi Novice
Fatemi
5 posts since
Mar 17, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
8. Apr 3, 2008 11:10 AM in response to: phenrichs
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

Thanks.  Well that certainly helps (knowing it just won't work and not to keep trying & wondering).

ocremel Hot Shot VMware Employees
ocremel
241 posts since
Aug 8, 2003
Currently Being Moderated
9. Apr 3, 2008 2:51 PM in response to: phenrichs
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

The previous comment is incorrect or incorrectly phrased.

 

 

Host CD drives (of all stripes, IDE/SATA/SCSI/USB) are supported by ESXi for access by VMs. Granted the UI to attach a host CD drive to a VM is non-intuitive but it is possible. I am trying to locate relevant documentation to help you out.

 

 

If the comment referred to attaching other kinds of host USB devices to a VM then it is not supported by ESX in general, it is not an ESXi restriction. Solutions using USB over Ethernet (for USB dongles for instance) are supported and much preferred since they do not prevent vmotion.

 

 

As far as other host devices are concerned, parallel ports, serial ports and floppy drives are indeed not supported by ESXi for VM access in the currently shipping version.

 

 

pvegulla Novice
pvegulla
6 posts since
Feb 27, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
10. Apr 3, 2008 5:47 PM in response to: Fatemi
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

Can you check if "Connect at power on" is set for the CD/DVD drive.

 

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

pvegulla Novice
pvegulla
6 posts since
Feb 27, 2006
Currently Being Moderated
11. Apr 4, 2008 10:45 AM in response to: pvegulla
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

I just tried this on a Dell 2950 machine and IDE cdrom works fine. Please make sure that

 

 

you have both "Connected" and "Connect at power on" checked under "Device Status" for

 

 

CD/DVD Drive.

 

 

 

 

 

catseye Novice
catseye
9 posts since
Aug 1, 2007
Currently Being Moderated
12. Apr 7, 2008 6:20 AM in response to: ocremel
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

Any luck finding that documentation ocremel? I'm not sure if there is some small difference between the 2900 and the 2950 that would make the CD-ROM visible, but I am attaching a screen cap of the server config and the specific machine config.

Attachments:
ocremel Hot Shot VMware Employees
ocremel
241 posts since
Aug 8, 2003
Currently Being Moderated
13. Apr 7, 2008 4:06 PM in response to: catseye
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

So far I have only go this: http://pubs.vmware.com/vi3i_i35/admin/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm?context=admin&file=BSA_Configuring_VMs.16.3.html

 

 

which is not that helpful

 

 

georgedo Lurker
georgedo
2 posts since
Apr 22, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
14. Apr 22, 2008 1:29 AM in response to: ocremel
Re: CD-Rom not available as host device

 

Hi ocremel,

 

 

did you manage to locate any documentation on how to attach host CD-ROM devices? We've got the same problem with SunFire 4150 (it's on 3.5 but not on 3i HCL): CD-ROM is picked up by ESX but when configuring vm Host Device drop down for configuring the CD-ROM says "No Devices available". Note that in SunFire CD-ROM shows up as USB device but recognised correctly as "cdrom" by ESX. There must be some remote CLI command to "shove" the device down ESX throat

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

George

 

 

 

 

Go to original post 1 2 Previous Next

Bookmarked By (0)

Share This Page

Communities