VMware Communities: will this run esx 3.5?

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? May 13, 2008 1:12 PM

in response to: Dave.Mishchenko

tdubb123 405 posts since
Feb 15, 2008

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?

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Jun 27, 2008 10:06 AM

in response to: tdubb123

nprior 1 posts since
Jun 10, 2008

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Jul 3, 2008 11:09 AM

in response to: nprior

TheKingNL 11 posts since
Jul 23, 2006

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.

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Jul 29, 2008 5:59 AM

in response to: TheKingNL

TonyJZX 1 posts since
Jul 29, 2008

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Aug 2, 2008 6:07 PM

in response to: TheKingNL

d1c1ple 133 posts since
Nov 1, 2004

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.

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Aug 27, 2008 11:43 AM

in response to: d1c1ple

bucks133 8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Aug 27, 2008 7:03 PM

in response to: TheKingNL

vihila 5 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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:

Install a supported NIC
Go into the BIOS and change SATA Operation to "RAID Autodetect / ATA"
Enable Virtualization and VT for Direct I/O
Disable the onboard NIC
Reboot with ESX 3i 3.5 Update 2 CD and install image
Eject CD and restart when prompted
From the console, press F2 and set the root password
Log in to the web interface, download and install VI client
Use VI Client to create datastores

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 12:48 PM

in response to: vihila

bucks133 8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 1:03 PM

in response to: bucks133

vihila 5 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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.

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 2:56 PM

in response to: vihila

bucks133 8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 3:06 PM

in response to: bucks133

vihila 5 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 3:47 PM

in response to: vihila

bucks133 8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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.

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 3:56 PM

in response to: bucks133

bucks133 8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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.

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 4:11 PM

in response to: bucks133

vihila 5 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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

Boot and hit F2 to go into BIOS
Set SATA to "RAID On" mode
Save and Reboot
Hit the "Ctrl-I" keys when prompted to go into the RAID configuration (Intel Matrix Storage Manager)
Use either the "Delete RAID Volume" or "Reset Disks to Non-RAID" to make sure that both drives are non-RAID
Reboot and hit F2 to go into BIOS
Set SATA to RAID Autodetect / ATA
Reboot and install ESXi

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

Reply Re: will this run esx 3.5? Sep 4, 2008 4:25 PM

in response to: vihila

bucks133 8 posts since
Aug 27, 2008

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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