can I install ESXi 's ISO for ARM server ?

[SDKWON]

I got a ARM CPU. and I want to install ESXi server on it.

Can I install it on server as below ?

processor : 18
BogoMIPS : 200.00
Features : fp asimd evtstrm aes pmull sha1 sha2 crc32 cpuid
CPU implementer : 0x41
CPU architecture: 8
CPU variant : 0x0
CPU part : 0xd03
CPU revision : 4

root@ubuntu1804:/proc# lscpu
Architecture: aarch64
Byte Order: Little Endian
CPU(s): 24
On-line CPU(s) list: 0-23
Thread(s) per core: 1
Core(s) per socket: 2
Socket(s): 12
NUMA node(s): 1
Vendor ID: ARM
Model: 4
Model name: Cortex-A53
Stepping: r0p4
BogoMIPS: 200.00
NUMA node0 CPU(s): 0-23
Flags: fp asimd evtstrm aes pmull sha1 sha2 crc32 cpuid

[cyprienlaplace · Accepted solution]

Hi, from the Fling documentation:

Supported platforms

The Fling is launched with four platforms across a wide range of foot prints and use cases, spanning from servers and datacenters to single-board
computers and far edge use cases.

• Ampere Computing eMAG 8180-based servers
• NXP LayerScape 2160A-based SolidRun HoneyComb LX2K mini-ITX platform.
• NXP LayerScape 1046A-based FRWY (4GB only)
• Raspberry Pi 4B (4GB and 8GB only)

If your platform is not listed here, it might still work. But you need an UEFI firmware with ACPI tables (sorry, u-boot won't work).

[SDKWON]

Thank you for your reply.

I will have a plan to install openstack with this device. 🙂

and if vmware support ARM like this, I will install ESXi again.

Have a good day. !!

Best Regards,

[SDKWON]

<6>Loading /vmkata.v00
<6>Loading /vmkfcoe.v00
<6>Loading /vmkusb.v00
<6>Loading /vmw_ahci.v00
<6>Loading /elx_esx_.v00
<6>Loading /btldr.v00
<6>Loading /esx_dvfi.v00
<6>Loading /esx_ui.v00
<6>Loading /esxupdt.v00
<6>Loading /tpmesxup.v00
<6>Loading /weaselin.v00
<6>Loading /loadesx.v00
<6>Loading /lsuv2_hp.v00
<6>Loading /lsuv2_in.v00
<6>Loading /lsuv2_ls.v00
<6>Loading /lsuv2_nv.v00
<6>Loading /lsuv2_oe.v00
<6>Loading /lsuv2_oe.v01
<6>Loading /lsuv2_oe.v02
<6>Loading /lsuv2_sm.v00
<6>Loading /native_m.v00
<6>Loading /qlnative.v00
<6>Loading /vmware_e.v00
<6>Loading /vsan.v00
<6>Loading /vsanheal.v00
<6>Loading /vsanmgmt.v00
<6>Loading /tools.t00
<6>Loading /imgdb.tgz
<6>Loading /imgpayld.tgz
<6>UEFI Secure Boot is not enabled
<6>Shutting down firmware services...

When i try to install ESXi on ARM server, I met this message.

How can I change UEFI Secure Boot ?

[cyprienlaplace]

Hi,

I will need more details to help you through booting ESXi Arm Fling on your machine.

1. What machine is this running on? If it's not a supported one, can you detail the board, SoC, Arm cores, UEFI version, and if it has ACPI tables?
2. Can you start ESXi Arm Fling with verbose debug? From the UEFI shell, type: "efi\boot\mboot.efi -S 1 -D -V"
3. Secure Boot is not supported for the Fling.

Cyprien

[SDKWON]

I will talk to the manufacturer of ARM server and check the items you suggested. On the other hand, can you make your company's ARM CPUs compatible with VMware's HCL?