HP ML350 G5 - ESXi 5.5 won't boot after install

[JonatasBaldin]

Hello!

I got a HP ML350 G5 and I'm trying to install the VMware ESXi 5.5 (HP Customized Image) from a USB bootable media.

I can get the boot screen, it recognizes the RAID made in the e200i Array Controller and it installs successfully. But after a reboot the machine, it won't boot. I got the screen that there's no operational system installed.

What I already did:

- Check the boot order and the Disk Driver C: its in first place (I don't know why it is listed like this...);

- Check the Array Controller boot order;

- Tried to install with the 'formatwithmbr' in the boot options;

Does anyone had a problem like that?

If you need more information, please ask! Thanks in advanced!

[abhilashhb]

Hi JonatasBaldin,

Welcome to VMware Community,

HP ML350 G5 Does not support ESXi 5.5 according to the Compatibility Guide

VMware Compatibility Guide

The last version that was supported on this server make was 5.1U2. May be that's the reason its failing.

[vlho]

Hi,

I have HP ML350 G5 with HP customized ESXi 5.5U1 and all works several months without any problem.

But I have controller SmartArray P410.

I guess that controller E200 is not supported in ESXi 5.5.

Try install ESXi to any USB flash and after restart check whether ESXi detected controller and array in Configuration - Storage Adapters.

Have you instaled last firmware on controller?

Or maybe this:

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=200694...

[JonatasBaldin]

Well, I'm gonna check the firmware with the HP Service Pack disk. Also, I have a 16GB USB Flash anr try out that too. Once I got the tests, I'll reply here.

Talking about this, I read some articles about ESXi running on a USB Flash but never did that. Is there any performance problem?

Thx!

[JonatasBaldin]

Well, I got that working by boot from USB! I did the firmware update also, but that doesn't work... And I can even see my datastores (made up in RAID Controller) in the ESXi host. It should be some BIOS option (or even problem) that doesn't locate the boot partition created by ESXi.

I found some articles about USB boot, like this: http://www.gabesvirtualworld.com/to-usb-or-not-to-usb-how-do-you-boot-your-esxi-host/ and it has a lot of good points, especially for my home lab!

Thanks guys!

[computron]

I have an ML350 Gen 8 server with all of the latest firmware and 6HDs on a p420i controller in a raid format.

the installation screen regarding partitioning sees 4.55 TB free space on this volume.it also sees the USB drive (2GB) for OS installation..that's fine..

but when you select the 4.55TB partition for the datastore, and click next, the following screen says 'use max partition or custom size' ( I'm paraphrasing here) it  ONLY sees 2TB , it will not allow you to make a partition larger than that..

I went through everything to try to get beyond that point but nothing would allow me to use the full 4.55TB..

when I tried to simply use the 4.55TB partition , the installation program used it for the OS and saw all 4.55TB of free space..I now have the OS and datastore working off of this raid logical volume of 4.55 TB ..

if what I posted doesn't make sense, just know that I could NOT get the ml350 gen 8 server to recognize

a partition larger than 2TB when/if choosing to install OS on a USB stick.

[alephis]

Hi!

If you remember can you share how to fix boot from usb ?

I'm trying to install esxi 5.5u2 to usb flash disk but system always boot to OS located on the one of the raid disks.

server boots fine from zalman virtual usb, and I can install esxi without any problem but I can't make it boot from usb where esxi installed.

update:

problem is fixed. it appear the problem is not with usb booot, but with gpt boot. more details here: "No bootable device" after successful ESXi 5 installation on Intel DG35EC desktop motherboard