VMware

This Question is Answered

1 "correct" answer available (10 pts) 2 "helpful" answers available (6 pts)
4 Replies Last post: Feb 10, 2009 10:44 AM by swspjcd  

Getting virtuals to see SATA DVD-RW on Dell 2900? posted: Feb 7, 2009 7:46 PM

Click to view swspjcd's profile Enthusiast
swspjcd
61 posts since
Nov 14, 2003

I'm sort of entering into new territory here. I bought a Dell 2900 with a PERC 6i card and a SATA DVD drive attached to SATA port 0 on the motherboard. I would like to make my virtuals see the DVD drive as a real DVD and not as a "NECVMware" drive. Ultimately I'd like to install a DVD+-RW drive and connect it to the second SATA port and use it as a DVD burner for my different virtuals. Is this possible? I've never had a ESX Host with a SAS/SATA controller before so this is all new to me.

Thanks all.

Re: Getting virtuals to see SATA DVD-RW on Dell 2900?

1. Feb 9, 2009 9:05 AM in response to: swspjcd
Click to view Texiwill's profile Guru User Moderators vExpert
Texiwill
10,338 posts since
Jan 13, 2004
Hello,

I'm sort of entering into new territory here. I bought a Dell 2900 with a PERC 6i card and a SATA DVD drive attached to SATA port 0 on the motherboard. I would like to make my virtuals see the DVD drive as a real DVD and not as a "NECVMware" drive. Ultimately I'd like to install a DVD+-RW drive and connect it to the second SATA port and use it as a DVD burner for my different virtuals. Is this possible? I've never had a ESX Host with a SAS/SATA controller before so this is all new to me.

ESX does not really like SATA based DVD/CDROM drives at the moment. In generally it is best to use an ISO image or CD/DVD drive in the machine from which you run the VIC.

If you can change the CDROM to IDE it will work. USB may work. SATA generally does not except for install.


Best regards,
Edward L. Haletky
VMware Communities User Moderator
====
Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.
Blue Gears and SearchVMware Pro Blogs -- Top Virtualization Security Links -- Virtualization Security Round Table Podcast

Re: Getting virtuals to see SATA DVD-RW on Dell 2900?

2. Feb 9, 2009 9:15 AM in response to: Texiwill
Click to view swspjcd's profile Enthusiast
swspjcd
61 posts since
Nov 14, 2003

Crap. That's what I was afraid of. I was hoping to move all my physical boxes (the ESX host is in my home) to virtual and then just use the one internal DVD+-RW drive for all of them. I guess I'll be returning the SATA DVD+-RW drive I just bought for exactly this. Hopefully support will be added in VI4 or maybe a maint update for 3.5.0.

Thanks for your help.

Re: Getting virtuals to see SATA DVD-RW on Dell 2900?

3. Feb 10, 2009 6:10 AM in response to: Texiwill
Click to view swspjcd's profile Enthusiast
swspjcd
61 posts since
Nov 14, 2003

Just so I am clear and hopefully so I can avoid a bunch of trial and error, are you saying I can connect an IDE/PATA DVD+-RW drive to an IDE/PATA controller in the 2900 and use it between my virtuals? If so, any recommendations on a PCIx IDE controller card that plays well with ESX? Since this machine is in my home, I want to minimise the amount of hardware running if at all possible (the 2900 is going to make my electric bill massive to begin with!) and if I can get an IDE/PATA drive to work within ESX and be able to be shared and recognised amongst my virtuals, all the better.

Thanks for your help.


Re: Getting virtuals to see SATA DVD-RW on Dell 2900?

4. Feb 10, 2009 10:44 AM in response to: swspjcd
Click to view swspjcd's profile Enthusiast
swspjcd
61 posts since
Nov 14, 2003
Unfortunately it looks like there is no way for my virtuals to see the DVD-+-RW drive as a DVD+-RW drive. Instead, no matter what I have tried, it always sees it as "NECVMWare" ide device. I through an IDE card in the 2900 and connected a spare DVD+-RW drive I had laying around. ESX sees it as /dev/hda but the virtuals only see it as "NECVMWare. I guess I'll still have to have a second physical box just but burning CDs and DVDs. Ugh

Actions

VMware Beta Programs

Want to be Considered for Future Beta Programs?

Learn More

VMware Developer

Download SDKs, APIs, videos,
training, and more in the Developer community.

Learn More

Developer
Sample Code

Increase your developer productivity with VMware API sample code.

Learn More

VMworld
Sessions & Labs

Online access to the latest VMworld Sessions & Labs and online services.

Learn more

Purchase PSO Credits Online

Purchase credits to redeem training and consulting services online.

Buy Now

Community Hardware Software

View reported configurations or report your own.

Learn More

Only VMware ... Delivers Nexus 1000V

Ensure consistent, policy-based network capabilities to virtual machines across your data center.

Learn More

Communities