esxi 6.7 doesnt install via usb flash drive

[slam007]

Good day!

I tried installed ESXI on server HP DL360 G7 with flash drive and process stoped on this step "reading /bnxtroce.v00"(look screen) 

when tried install via USB-DVD, ESXI installed without error. Why?

I tested a flash drive, it worked on laptop and vmware.

[jvalentine]

Assuming that all the other variables were the same...

I would assume either the fact that it was removable media or a bad sector on that USB device, or a bad image transfer would be the most likely cause.

I could be issues with BIOS version , Firmware version on controllers, Drivers… etc... but I am less likely to go that far since you were able to load from DVD on the USB bus.. I would simply presume that it was the flash drive alone.

[slam007]

i tried two flash drivers, both worked on another PC.

[NathanosBlightc]

Which App you used for making your bootable USB? Can you try to boot this bootable device on a test VM to check it boot successfully?

I think it can be related to one of following settings on your host:

1. BIOS settings about boot or legacy device / usb device

2. BIOS firmware version (check it)

3. Bad bootable device or wrong application for ESXi bootable drive generation

[slam007]

I used UltraISO and Rufus.

On virtual machine ESXi installed via both usb flash

[NathanosBlightc]

I always use rufus and it works without any problem for ESXi installation media creation.

Then I think it's just related to your physical server (check titles that are mentioned by me on my last reply)

Anyway did you try to setup with an external CD-ROM?

[rlund]

Has to be a bad flash drive. Just installed this method via lio to a usb flash drive to five of the exact same server.

[erikzulu]

Hello slam007,

I have the same problem on a Dell R610.   The loader stops at bnxtroce.v00 (hoping that I would not need this 'driver' for this hardware).   I tried removing this item from the boot.cfg file(s).   This gets you much further, until it installs to disk, then it runs into a fatal error and forces restart of installer - infinite loop.  BTW, this happens under BIOS boot process  (can't get UEFI to see my USB drive)

Will need to continue the search....:   Have you found a way around this yet?

erikzulu

[erikzulu]

hi

.... hours later, here is what I have found with my Dell R610.

- to fix this problem, you need to boot via UEFI ( only the back USB ports are apparently visible to UEFI )

- after restoring the boot.cfg for BIOS and EFI, I was able to install esxi 6.7 with the bnxtroce.v00 loaded without an issue.

To clarify "found", was a lot of searching for the right things and finding helpful posts.

- someone else reported that VMW version worked for them under UEFI

- I proceeded to restore all the files I modified to see if I can bypass the errors somehow (wishful)

- I think this confirms that it is a BIOS incompatibility issue with older servers

- my R610 server issue, also frustrating, since I had esxi 6.5 installed on it before ===  just had to use the back-USB ports for UEFI to see the device

- creating a bootable USB for VMware esxi was also not fun.

- also found out that syslinux 6.x is not supported for esxi 6.7 ( I am running Linux Mint 19.2 ).   Have to download 3.86, "make installer" and then transfer that to USB.  This was for BIOS, which I ended up not needing in the end )

I am now installed and running!  ( took a few days, on/off research )

good luck.