ESX unable to find root partition

[cttechnologies]

Hello,

after a disk change of our RAID-5 array ESX 4.0 refuses to start. The error occurs in the script 69.mount-root:

The root partition specified (UUID=...) was not found on COS VMDK that specified (/vmfs/volumes/.../esxconsole-.../esxconsole.vmdk).

Trying to change the UUID in the kernel boot line didn't help.

Any ideas?

Thank you in advance and best regards,

Martin Schetat

[kopper27]

server model?

did you try removing the disk you just replaced? and start the server again?

and while the server is up and running again insert the new disk?

[cttechnologies]

Yes, we tried all this but it's still the same problem. The server is a Dell PowerEdge 2950 with one RAID-5.

By the way, I verified the directory in /vmfs/volumes/4a963c4c-d5b9c4ca-4e55-002219b42e81/esxconsole-4a9656e4-0120-7e2b-1d63-002219b4e281, both files esxconsole.vmdk and esxconsole-flat.vmdk exist.

[MarekZdrojewski]

Hi there,

Looks like the esxconsole.vmdk may be detected as a snapshot. Check this KB article to troubleshoot this issue.

hth

Regards.

[cttechnologies]

Hi,

I tried this one, didn't help. The entries in esx.conf where already correct. By the way, I can't run esxcfg-boot, I get the error message /bin/sh: esxcfg-boot: not found.

The problem is that root cannot be mounted. The mounted devices are:

/dev on /dev type tmpfs (0)

/proc on /proc type proc (0)

/sys on /sys type sysfs (0)

/dev/pts on /dev/pts type devpts (0)

/vmfs on /vmfs typte vmfs (0)

The init script fails in /etc/vmware/init/init.d/69.mount-root.

Regards,

Martin

[DavidRalston]

We just experienced the same problem .. to no available .. Vmware support claims there is no solution? Did you ever figure anything out?

The only thing I can potentially link to this is there is a chance the ServiceConsole datastore name was changed several weeks ago -- prior to install 4.0 U2 without a reboot in between.

[cttechnologies]

Hi David,

we had to reinstall the ESX host and restore the VMs from our backup.

Regards,

Martin

[virtualserver4]

I have faced the same issue today. Checked service console is not detected as snapshot.

Any one any any solution for this issue? If not, If I reinstall the ESX 4.1, will I loose data?

Thanks in advance!

-Abhishek

[fadel83]

I have experienced same problem. I have on partition that stores all vms and esxconsole. I have been able to reinstall ESX and using  preserving vms option. Fortunately all goes well like a charm. My Esx host starts well and all my vms are still there. I used ESX 4.1

[jithinraj]

is there any way to avoid this situation as we want to migrate ESX 4.1 Boot LUNs to new storage Box. When we tried for 1st ESX got the snapshot issue.

Please help..

Thanks in advance.

Regards

Jithin