Hey guys,
I have a new Dell Precision 690 that I'm trying to load ESX 3.5 on, but it never gets past loading the kernel. When I try to install, it brings up the install GUI, but selecting either of the install methods (GUI/command) it gets exactly this far:
Uncompressing Linux... Ok, Booting the Kernel.
_
That's it, it just hangs there with the command prompt blinking and the disk spins up and then down. The machine has 6 GB of Kingston FB ECC memory, 2 x Intel Xeon X5355 Quad-Core CPU's, and 1 x Seagate (ST3300655SS) 300 GB 15,000 RPM SAS drive. I have tried every BIOS revision A01-A07 and none change anything and it's using an LSI Logic SAS1068-IR / Firmware Rev. 0.06.05.00 onboard controller. I've tried disabling all peripherals, including USB and onboard NIC, but no love. I tried 3 different CD-Rom drives and even made a bootable USB flash drive with ESX 3.5, they all hang at the kernel. And I can't even get into debug (Alt+F12) because it hangs before I can enter it.
This really has me stumped, I can load MS Server 2003, Vista and even Fedora 8 no problem, and I burned several different copies of ESX but same thing, I know the disk is ok because it will install on every other PC I try it on.
I have only been able to find one other post with this issue, but there was never a resolution posted - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/89940
Is there anything else I can try? Has anyone else had a similar problem?
Thanks -
I have a new Dell Precision 690 that I'm trying to load ESX 3.5 on, but it never gets past loading the kernel. When I try to install, it brings up the install GUI, but selecting either of the install methods (GUI/command) it gets exactly this far:
Uncompressing Linux... Ok, Booting the Kernel.
_
That's it, it just hangs there with the command prompt blinking and the disk spins up and then down. The machine has 6 GB of Kingston FB ECC memory, 2 x Intel Xeon X5355 Quad-Core CPU's, and 1 x Seagate (ST3300655SS) 300 GB 15,000 RPM SAS drive. I have tried every BIOS revision A01-A07 and none change anything and it's using an LSI Logic SAS1068-IR / Firmware Rev. 0.06.05.00 onboard controller. I've tried disabling all peripherals, including USB and onboard NIC, but no love. I tried 3 different CD-Rom drives and even made a bootable USB flash drive with ESX 3.5, they all hang at the kernel. And I can't even get into debug (Alt+F12) because it hangs before I can enter it.
This really has me stumped, I can load MS Server 2003, Vista and even Fedora 8 no problem, and I burned several different copies of ESX but same thing, I know the disk is ok because it will install on every other PC I try it on.
I have only been able to find one other post with this issue, but there was never a resolution posted - http://communities.vmware.com/thread/89940
Is there anything else I can try? Has anyone else had a similar problem?
Thanks -