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1,643 Views 2 Replies Last post: Jun 3, 2008 6:12 PM by tumbleweed RSS
tumbleweed Enthusiast
tumbleweed
22 posts since
Jun 5, 2005
Currently Being Moderated

May 20, 2008 5:28 PM

System keyboard won't accept input on ESXi 3.5

 

Hi

 

 

I am evaluating the ESX server 3i installable version 3.5.0 build 82664 on a Dell poweredge 2950 with bios version 2.2.6.  Initally during the installation I had problems with the server accepting input from the keyboard, though I did mangage to reboot and install it.

 

After installing it, at first I was able to use F2 (I had to reboot a few times) to get into the configuration menus using F2.  Now for some reason I can not get in at all, even with a reboot, the system ignores keyboard input.  The VI client connects to the server with no problems and I am able to configure and run virtual machines.

 

I am able to run linux or access the Dell bios from the console keyboard without problems.  The keyboard is a USB device which is the only type of keyboard supported by Dell for this server.

 

At first I suspect a problem with ACPI power management, but there is no config menu for this in the bios on this server.

 

Any ideas?

 

Nataraj

 

 

 

ocremel Hot Shot VMware Employees
ocremel
241 posts since
Aug 8, 2003
Currently Being Moderated
1. Jun 3, 2008 5:29 PM in response to: tumbleweed
Re: System keyboard won't accept input on ESXi 3.5

 

Is the USB keyboard directly attached ? Did you try a different one ?

 

 

vmkernel log should mention if the keyboard was discovered.

 

 

Is there a BIOS setting for legacy keyboard emulation ?

 

 

tumbleweed Enthusiast
tumbleweed
22 posts since
Jun 5, 2005
Currently Being Moderated
2. Jun 3, 2008 6:12 PM in response to: ocremel
Re: System keyboard won't accept input on ESXi 3.5

 

Hi,

 

 

Thank you for the suggestion.  I just finally solved the problem a few minutes ago.  It appears that the VMware hypervisor does its own IO to the USB keyboard, without going through the bios (there are no PS/2 ports on the dell servers) and may not find or work properly with all USB ports on the system.  I had previously plugged the keyboard into a USB port on the back of the server (which worked fine when I booted linux).  When I connected the keyboard to a usb port on the front, it worked properly.

 

 

 

 

 

Nataraj

 

 

 

 

 

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