ESX 5.0 U1 hung on "Initilizing ACPI"

[Croydon]

I have a whitebox I'm trying to install ESXi 5.0 U1 on that is getting hung on Initilizing ACPI. Is there a way to bypass this stage? Maybe with kernel options? I have tried acpi=off and noacpi options with no success.

I'm using a Shuttle SZ77R5 with a Intel 3770 IvyBridge processor. I have a similar setup on a SZ68R5 with a SandyBridge that works great.

Any feedback/help would be really appreciated.

Cheers,

Croydon

[john23]

check this...

http://vm-help.com/esx40i/vmkernel_boot_options.php

[Croydon]

Thats the first page I tried. None of the kernel options seem to work in ESXi 5.

Thanks

[zXi_Gamer]

Can you confirm the acpi settings in the processor information in BIOS screen of the two servers. Also, try to disable any acpi option in the bios screen of Intel 3770 IvyBridge processor.

[Croydon]

I tried all the BIOS options, tried all the combonations. I did manage to get ESXi 4.1U1 installed with a PCI Intel NIC added but the SATA didn't work. I have since exchanged the SZ77R5 for the SZ68R5 and all is working great.

Cheers,

Croydon

[MarBen]

Dear all,

does that mean that there is currently no way to get ESXi 5 running on the SZ77R5?

I want to use this particular combination as well ...

Cheers

[Croydon]

MarBen,

If you figure it out I'd love to hear how you did it.

The current setup I'm using is a SZ68R5, i7 2600k or 3770, 32GB of Corsair CMZ8GX3M1A1600C10 RAM, and a Seagate 750GB Hybrid drive.

Cheers,

Croydon

[MarBen]

Hi,

that's basically the problem: I'm gonna wait to buy the unit until somebody who's already bought it found out a way to make this work ...

Cheers,

Markus

[Croydon]

MarBen,

I have setup 12 Whiteboxes (for Demo units) using the SZ68R5 now and have been very happy with the performance. I bought the SZ77R5 for home use, but had to exchange it for a SZ68R5 for the above reasons. I'm not sure if a BIOS update could make the SZ77R5 work, I tried the latest from 24 May 2012.

Good Luck,

Croydon

[MarBen]

My boss has the SZ68R5 running fine with ESXi 5, too. But I will definetely not buy this one for home use.

Obviously, I'll have to wait until someone figures it out ...

Cheers

[pizzulicchio]

I'm having the same issue using my new Intel Desktop Board DQ77KB

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/motherboards/desktop-motherboards/desktop-board-dq77kb.html

The system stop during APCI initialization....

I also tried to connect a usb memory with ESXi 5 U1 already installed and the system always stops at initialization of ACPI

So installing onto new esxi 5 or using an already working esxi 5 with this board, the problem is the same.

The chipset of this board is an Intel® Q77 Express Chipset and the cpu is an Intel Xeon E3-1260L

Memory installed are two bank of ddr3  8 GB ( total of 16 GB ) CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9

nobody know what is the correct boot option to disable the ACPI at the boot?

[muxonarization]

I have a similar board (DQ77MK) and also have this poblem.

I already fiddled with every Power Management and Boot Order setting, toggled AHCI, UEFI etc, but it won't get past initializing ACPI.

Also tried 'installer usb key' vs. 'preinstalled usb key' to no avail.

I'm on the latest BIOS 0034 (still on the first release).

Tried 4.1, booted well with the noACPI flag, but won't recognize the onboard SATA devices.

[mskov]

Same error here...

Intel Desktop Board DH77EB

Intel Ivy Bridge i7-3770

Tried disabling SATA controller, power saving etc., but still same ACPI error with ESXi 5.0 u1.

Hope someone discovers a workaround!

[MarBen]

This seems to be a common problem with the new Intel x77 chipset. I think only a 5.0 U2 might be able to fix this issue; is there any way to address this directly at vmware?

I really want to buy this Shuttle SZ77R5 unit, but without ESXi I really don't see the point ...

Cheers

[m0chikun]

I have same board and CPU. Can you use F10 option and select boot device when boot your system?

I can boot ESXi U1 with no hung up. But we need to select boot device every boot...

[MarBen]

Hi m0chikun,

so basically you're saying that your system also got stuck at the ACPI-initialization stage but you managed to avoid this by simply choosing the boot device correctly?

This would be great news for me if this works for all x77 chipsets ... Did anyone else experience the same behaviour?

Cheers

[muxonarization]

didn't work for my Intel DQ77MK, i tried F10ing to boot from an install key, preinstalled key or the install dvd in a local sata drive

[pizzulicchio]

Exact!

Same for me.

The system hangs during the installtion from cd at "initializing ACPI"

I have try to boot an usb stick with an already installed esxi 5 U1 patched to the latest update and it stops always at "Initializing ACPI "

INTEL DQ77KB...

I hope in future vmware update/patch...

[m0chikun]

Hi MarBen,

Yes, I saw the "Initializing ACPI" hung, but I could avoid this issue with F10 function.

Here is my environment and setting.

CPU: Core i7 3770

MB: DH77EB
ESXi: 5.0 U1

I did BIOS update to version 0075.

I changed below BIOS setting.

SATA: AHCI

Boot Option: UEFI boot enabled

When install ESXi 5.0 U1, I hit F10 buttion to select boot device. I selected ESXi 5.0 U1's optical drive to install into USB memory.

(To install ESXi 5.0 U1 from Optical drive, I could boot with Boot Option: Legacy boot. But after install, I couldn't boot USB or SATA HDD with 'no bootable device message...')

When boot ESXi 5.0 U1, I hit F10 button and select USB memory (not selected UEFI'd USB memory). I could boot with no issue.

Best regards

[MarBen]

Thank you for the instructions, m0chikun!

Can anyone try his settings? The BIOS should be on the latest version, of course.

I think I'm gonna buy the Shuttle anyway within the next couple of weeks and give an ESXi alternative a shot if the issue isn't resolved by then ...

Cheers