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8,313 Views 40 Replies Last post: Apr 9, 2009 9:15 AM by psubill78 RSS
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tdubb123 Expert
tdubb123
1,640 posts since
Feb 15, 2008
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15. May 13, 2008 1:12 PM in response to: Dave.Mishchen…
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

I really cannot seem to run esx 3.5 update 1 on this optiplex 755. First of all it does not see the cdrom drivers. So I tried NFS install and it does not see the sata controller.

 

 

 

 

 

Then I purchased the promise tx300 controller and it still did not see it. any idea if this optiplex model is supported?

 

 

nprior Lurker
nprior
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Jun 10, 2008
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16. Jun 27, 2008 10:06 AM in response to: tdubb123
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

Try using USB bootable for ESXi 3.5 U1 if just for testing... just downloaded ESX regular today to see if it would run on the 755, no go, so resorted to stick boot, booted fine apart from issue with network driver, by then it was time for beer, so next week will try a different NIC and see if it picks up the sata drive:

 

 

Stick Boot: http://gklooste.spaces.live.com/Blog/cns!1E62D345464EF998!450.entry

 

 

If you already got it running let me know

 

 

TheKingNL Novice
TheKingNL
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17. Jul 3, 2008 11:09 AM in response to: nprior
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

Hi guys,

 

 

I got it running on a 755 OptiPlex.

 

 

Pre-install:

 

  • Go into the Bios and change the SATA operation to "Legacy"

  • Enable Virtualization and VT for Direct I/O

  • Disable NIC, the NIC on the mobo will not work

  • Install a supported NIC. I installed an old HP 10/100 card for now. You can also buy a cheap, HP NC110T gbit card.

 

Reboot and insert the ESX CD. I used ESX 3.5 Update 1 (82663)

 

 

Install ESX and check if it loads and if you can open the website. Install the VI 2.5 and you will notice that you cannot create a datastore for the VM's.

 

 

Reboot the 755 and go into the Bios. Change the SATA operation to RAID Auto / ATA

 

 

Save changes, connect with VI to the ESX and you can now create a datastore. Create a datastore on the free disk space on the SATA disk. You can now create VM's!

 

 

I'm using a 755 DT with 8GB and a E6550 CPU. Again, you need another NIC as the other NIC is not supported by ESX. 

 

 

 

 

 

TonyJZX Lurker
TonyJZX
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Jul 29, 2008
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18. Jul 29, 2008 5:59 AM in response to: TheKingNL
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

have a 755dt which ran citrix xen fine but for some reason vmware thinks the Intel 1000 isn't a popular enough NIC

 

 

can't install until i find a slimline nic

 

 

d1c1ple Hot Shot
d1c1ple
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Nov 1, 2004
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19. Aug 2, 2008 6:07 PM in response to: TheKingNL
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

Thanks for the tip.  Legacy SATA mode gets by and lets the install continue.  I could not create a vmkcore or VMFS locally.  Will give a shot post install after putting sata mode back to the default configuration.

 

 

 

 

 

Setting up a lab; this got me installed; however 3.5U2 did not find the integrated Intel 82566DM-2 NIC???  Any ideas?  I'll check the IO guide but would think most Intel GigE nics would be supported.

bucks133 Novice
bucks133
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Aug 27, 2008
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20. Aug 27, 2008 11:43 AM in response to: d1c1ple
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

Hi TheKingNL,

 

 

 

 

 

I have just ordered my machine for the ESXi. I wonder if this is the spec you have. Please advice if the HDD setup shll be changed as I might be able to get Dell the change it.

 

 

The specs is: 

 

 

Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processor E6550 (2.33GHz, 1333MHz FSB, 4MB L2 cache)80PLUS, ASF 2.0 system mngt

8.0GB 800Mhz NON-ECC DDRII Memory (4*2GB)

250GB (7,200 rpm) SATA2 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

 

 

Hope you will be able to help.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

133

 

 

vihila Novice
vihila
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Aug 27, 2008
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21. Aug 27, 2008 7:03 PM in response to: TheKingNL
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

I can verify that ESX 3i 3.5 Update 2 Build 110271 will run on an Optiplex 755 with a new NIC.  I used an Intel PRO Server NIC.  Everything was the same as TheKingNL mentioned, except that I started with SATA operation in RAID Auto / ATA mode.  I could NOT get it to install in "Legacy" mode.  Also, the onboard RAID will not work with ESXi.  Therefore, my process was as follows:

 

  1. Install a supported NIC

  2. Go into the BIOS and change SATA Operation to "RAID Autodetect / ATA"

  3. Enable Virtualization and VT for Direct I/O

  4. Disable the onboard NIC

  5. Reboot with ESX 3i 3.5 Update 2 CD and install image

  6. Eject CD and restart when prompted

  7. From the console, press F2 and set the root password

  8. Log in to the web interface, download and install VI client

  9. Use VI Client to create datastores

 

bucks133 Novice
bucks133
8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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22. Sep 4, 2008 12:48 PM in response to: vihila
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

Hello,

 

Thanks for your instruction Vihila.

The ESX 3.5 installation went very well!! 

 

I thought to give ESXi a go after the success but it failed to meet the requirement and would not allow me to continue with the installation.

This is really for user who like to use the technology and cannot afford to fork out the cash to buy the full version.

 

Is there anyone out there manage to get ESXi installed on Dell Optiplex 755 with the specs we have got on this thread?

 

Thanks again.

 

Cheers,

Bucks133

vihila Novice
vihila
6 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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23. Sep 4, 2008 1:03 PM in response to: bucks133
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

As I mentioned above, I was able to get ESXi working using RAID Autodetect / ATA mode on the Optiplex 755 with a new NIC.  You probably were not using the right SATA mode.

bucks133 Novice
bucks133
8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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24. Sep 4, 2008 2:56 PM in response to: vihila
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

Hi Vihila,

 

 

No, I have tried all the options on SATA Operation but still getting the same result - it say it is unable to find a supported device to write the VMware ESXi image on. Is this because I have RAID1 ?

 

 

I suppose I can only try to reimage ESX every 60days then

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

Bucks133

 

 

 

 

 

vihila Novice
vihila
6 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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25. Sep 4, 2008 3:06 PM in response to: bucks133
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

Yes, it is because you are using RAID 1.  Onboard RAID will not work on ESXi.  If you break the RAID array, and set it to "RAID Autodetect / ATA", it will work, but you will have two (non-redundant) disks instead of the mirror.  This is not good for production use, but it is good for testing.

 

 

Hope this helps

 

 

bucks133 Novice
bucks133
8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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26. Sep 4, 2008 3:47 PM in response to: vihila
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

Hello, I dont seem to find the option to break the RAID array on the BIOS. Is that something I have to do it on the hardware? I did try to use only one HDD (and set it to Autodetect/ATA) but it still failed.

bucks133 Novice
bucks133
8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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27. Sep 4, 2008 3:56 PM in response to: bucks133
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

Hello, I have just found the way to disable it now. However, it is still fail on the same reason. Thanks for your help. I will have to use ESX trial.

 

 

 

 

 

vihila Novice
vihila
6 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
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28. Sep 4, 2008 4:11 PM in response to: bucks133
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

 

I think the only way to make absolutely sure is to do this:

 

  1. Boot and hit F2 to go into BIOS

  2. Set SATA to "RAID On" mode

  3. Save and Reboot

  4. Hit the "Ctrl-I" keys when prompted to go into the RAID configuration (Intel Matrix Storage Manager)

  5. Use either the "Delete RAID Volume" or "Reset Disks to Non-RAID" to make sure that both drives are non-RAID

  6. Reboot and hit F2 to go into BIOS

  7. Set SATA to RAID Autodetect / ATA

  8. Reboot and install ESXi

If it still doesn't work, you may be out of luck

bucks133 Novice
bucks133
8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008
Currently Being Moderated
29. Sep 4, 2008 4:25 PM in response to: vihila
Re: will this run esx 3.5?

With your steps I managed to get that installed now. BIG Thanks.

Why is it still saying that you have to register it after 60 days? I have ESX 3i 3.5.0 build 110271 installed.

Off to bed now. Speak tomorrow.

Good night!

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