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1 2 3 4 5 6 ... 8 Previous Next 116 Replies Last post: Jun 16, 2009 11:59 PM by esloof   Go to original post

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

45. May 8, 2008 4:51 AM in response to: hw-man
Click to view paulo.meireles's profile Master 999 posts since
Oct 29, 2004

Hw-man,

You need a SAS fanout cable (Google it) like this one:

http://www.bizrate.co.uk/computercables_adapters/oid540088478.html

Regards,

Paulo

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

46. May 8, 2008 5:00 PM in response to: jkahn_au
Click to view jkahn_au's profile Novice 9 posts since
May 7, 2008
The BIOS update didn't help with the RAM issue. Something to keep in mind for anyone considering a dc7100 ESX box.

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

47. May 11, 2008 11:50 PM in response to: paulo.meireles
Click to view hw-man's profile Lurker 3 posts since
Apr 23, 2008

Hi Paulo,

thank you for the information.

Do you use or tested that cable?

I tested a new Adaptec Cable ACK-I-SASx4-4SATAx1-SB-0.5M R but it not works.

The machine I would like to use the P400 is a dc7800. The controller is initialized but the drives are not detected (PCIe x16 slot).

First I think the controller is defect but I could tested it in a HP ML350G5 machine. It works.

My SATA drives are ok too. I tested it in a ML350G5.

Regards,

Hw-man


Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

48. May 12, 2008 12:56 AM in response to: hw-man
Click to view paulo.meireles's profile Master 999 posts since
Oct 29, 2004

Hi hw-man,

My cable is precisely equal to this one: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140185290406 (I bought mine on eBay from this seller).

It's been working fine on my dc7700. I don't know if the P400 would work on a dc7800, though it should.

Maybe you could test the cable on the ML350 before you buy a new one?

Regards,

Paulo

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

49. May 12, 2008 2:06 AM in response to: Argyle
Click to view Virtual_Jazz's profile Novice 36 posts since
Feb 7, 2008

Hi Guys,

Can anyone advice me if this whitebox would work. Is it VT enable and support x64 Vm.

HP/Compaq DC7100 Tower PC P4 HT 2.8Ghz/1GB/DVD/160GB/XP

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HP-Compaq-DC7100-Tower-PC-P4-HT-2-8Ghz-1GB-DVD-160GB-XP_W0QQitemZ370049844820QQihZ024QQcategoryZ179QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

50. May 12, 2008 5:31 AM in response to: Virtual_Jazz
Click to view Argyle's profile Hot Shot 86 posts since
Dec 29, 2006

A P4 2.8 GHz will not support x64 VMs.

You can check for VT compatibility in this list for intel:
http://www.cpu-world.com/info/Intel/processor-number.html

Model number 520 in that list is a P4 2.8.

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

51. May 20, 2008 3:03 AM in response to: Argyle
Click to view Virtual_Jazz's profile Novice 36 posts since
Feb 7, 2008

Hi Guys,

Has anyone been able to get a whitebox that supports x64vms and works straight out of the box for about £300? Still looking for the right whitebox, but a bit short on cash

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

52. May 20, 2008 3:22 AM in response to: gopherhockey
Click to view Erik Zandboer's profile Master 727 posts since
Jun 11, 2007
Running ESX 3.5 update1 on two identical machines:

Asus M2N-VM mainboard
4x 1GB DDR2 ram
AMD 64 X2 4000+ dualcore CPU
2x Intel Gbit desktop NICs (1x PCIe, 1x PCI)
Adaptec 29160

This configuration runs 5-7 VMs per host easilly, for storage I use an EONstor (device that carries RAID arrays of SATA disks and presents them on two parallel SCSI busses). Even VMotion, DRS and HA works! 64bit OSses run as well. (Tested XP64 and Solaris10 64bits)

I have seen issues with SATA just like you, able to install ESX, but it fails on bootup. The solution which comes to mind: Use ESX 3i !! Boot the server from a USB stick carrying 3i, and use SATA for VMFS storage only. Works like a dream :)

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

53. May 20, 2008 5:00 AM in response to: Erik Zandboer
Click to view Virtual_Jazz's profile Novice 36 posts since
Feb 7, 2008

Hi Erik,

How did you get your stuff to work. I have similar kit, actually ASUS M2N-SLI deluxe AM2 motherboard, AMD Athlon 64*2 2.8GH 5600+ processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB SATA and Adpatec 2940 3*18Gb scsi.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I would rather spend another £100 -£150 to get this box working, than buy a new box altogether.

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

54. May 20, 2008 6:33 AM in response to: Virtual_Jazz
Click to view Erik Zandboer's profile Master 727 posts since
Jun 11, 2007
Hi Virtual_Jazz,

SATA is not always supported on consumer mainboards. I know it does NOT work on the M2N-VM (which I have), I know it DOES WORK on the M2N-E (collegue of mine). However, the M2N-E will install ESX on SATA, but not boot it. He uses 3i to boot ESX, then uses the SATA pure as VMFS storage. I'm not sure on the Asus M2N-sli deluxe, chances are that SATA won't work on that one (as with many other consumer mainboards).

The solution I use is somewhat out of the ordinary (and way from supported): I use an EONSTOR which delivers a dual SCSI bus (allthough my disks are SATA), and I have Adaptec 29160 SCSI cards in both of my ESX hosts.

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

55. May 20, 2008 7:08 AM in response to: Erik Zandboer
Click to view Virtual_Jazz's profile Novice 36 posts since
Feb 7, 2008

Hi Erik,

I have an adaptec 2940 and 3*18GB scsi drives, but esx 3.5 does not see them while trying to install. So might work if I get the 29160, and some more scsi disks?


Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

56. May 20, 2008 7:25 AM in response to: Virtual_Jazz
Click to view Erik Zandboer's profile Master 727 posts since
Jun 11, 2007

Hi,

I have succesfully used Adaptec 2940UW cards with ESX 3.0 and ESX 3.5. Make sure your 2940 is on the HCL:

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vi35_io_guide.pdf

Do'nt forget that if you get a PCIx card (64 bit PCI), it will work in an 32 bit slot, but you should make sure that the PCB behind the slot is clear of any tall components...

Do you see the disks in the BIOS of the card? did you setup the SCSI IDs on all disks properly?

I would recommend to get a RAID controller, then you can join your 18GB disks in a RAID5 or even RAID0 config, which can actually be quite speedy once you get to U160 (that is, if your disks support those bus speeds).

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

57. May 20, 2008 7:46 AM in response to: Erik Zandboer
Click to view Virtual_Jazz's profile Novice 36 posts since
Feb 7, 2008

Hi Erik,

Cant confirm now if my card is on the hcl, but I am guessing so. If I were to go for the 29160, I have found 1 on ebay for about £40, would this be a recommended solution, however if Iam considering a raid controller, got any recommendations. Really looking to spend no more than £100 - 150 to get this thing working.

Thinking back though, @ post my pc keeps saying no disks found, but it says that for even my sata drive. I would be so happy if I can get this thing working

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

58. May 20, 2008 10:18 AM in response to: Virtual_Jazz
Click to view Dave.Mishchenko's profile Guru User Moderators vExpert 9,179 posts since
Nov 15, 2005
I have an adaptec 2940 and 3*18GB scsi drives, but esx 3.5 does not see them while trying to install.

Do you get a message about picking an install source before you get the above error? It may be that ESX is having a problem with the install CD and not the storage. What model of SATA controller does the MB have?

Re: Low Cost ESX 3.5 System - Suggestions?

59. May 20, 2008 11:21 PM in response to: Virtual_Jazz
Click to view Erik Zandboer's profile Master 727 posts since
Jun 11, 2007

Hi Virtual_Jazz,

Adaptec 2940 should simply work. Even the non UW's are on the HCL. If your machine does not find any disks at bios post, you can be almost certain ESX won't either. The only exception is when you have devices not on LUN0, but that will not be the case when you hook up disks. I think your first step should be to check your SCSI cable setup, it can be rather complex if you are not used to SCSI chaining. Make sure you have all disks on a chain with a terminator at the end. Make sure your 2940 also has a terminator active (enter the BIOS of the card). From the BIOS, you should be able to see your disks. If they do not show there, you have a problem, but it is not called ESX... Also do not forget to make sure all your disks have a different SCSI ID (jumpers on the disks), or otherwise they'll share the same SCSI ID, which is kind of like an IP address conflict.

I remember a saying which said to offer a goat every once in a while to your SCSI cable to keep it working ok, so pay attention to your setup :)

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