Can not install ESXi 4 on IBM System x3550 M2

[LEPA]

I just got a new IBM System x3550 M2 server on which I want to install ESXi 4. But I always get the following error message right after I confirm the License Agreement:

"Unable to find a supported device to write the VMware ESXi 4.0.0 image to"

This server is listed on the compatibility list, as is the used RAID controller (IBM ServeRAID M5015).

I already updated the servers firmware. My guess is that the ESXi Installer doesn't properly load the needed drivers for the RAID controller, so it can not "see" the disks to install to.

Has anybody an idea how to solve this?

Help is very appreciated!

Cheers,

[AntonVZhbankov]

Have you created volume on RAID?

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[LEPA]

I initialized the virtual disk using Raid Management tool. But as far as I can see there is no way to create a Volume with the Raid Manager

Is it that what you meant?

[AntonVZhbankov]

I suppose virtual disk is synonym for volume in IBM servers. Very strange then.

Is it free ESXi or have you bought license?

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[LEPA]

It is the free ESXi 4.0.0...

In the meantime I installed Windows 2008 on this server without any problem. But this is not what I want. I need this server as an ESXi-Host.

[TobiasKracht]

Your BIOS must be D6E121UUS Ver 1.00 3/1/09 or D6E121UUS, Ver 1.0

StarWind Software R&D

http://www.starwindsoftware.com

[LEPA]

I bought this Server with an already newer BIOS Version than the one you mentioned.

Since IBM does not support BIOS downgrade, I fear I have to wait for a ESXi 4.0 update that supports a newer BIOS Version.

Or is there any hope to get ESXi running with this current BIOS Version?

Thanks!

[LEPA]

Just got the newest release of ESXi 4 Update 1 and tried again to install it on this server... and it works!

Thank you all!