Hi,

On the ESX Server installation CDROM, there's a file called boot.iso in the /images directory. If you burn this to a CD and boot your machine from it, you can install ESX from an FTP or HTTP server. Just copy the /VMware directory off of the install CD to your FTP / HTTP server and you're good to go.

Paul

You cannot directly use linux drivers for this. But if you look at the "Sata, clear as mud" article above then there's a PCI list which includes ICH8 so chances are that it works as quite a few drivers are already included.
You might have to follow the process down there on editing a config file. I haven't tried it down here myself.

--
Wil