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idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Cannot Install ESXI 5.5 on Server

Hi Guys,

Assistance required. I am trying to instal VMWare ESXI 5.5 on a server running an Intel Motherboard but ESXI cannot find the hard drives.

I have 2 x 1TB HDs on the MB currently running SBS 2011 STD.

This project has now come to an end and I would like to do a Type 1 bare metal install on the server.

Please see atthached photos.

Kind regards

idduke

11 Replies
kunbong
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I think ESXi 5.5 doesn't have driver to control your Storage Controller which your hard disks connected to.

You can read more here: vSphere 5.5 Documentation Center

Or try this: VMware Front Experience: How to make your unsupported SATA AHCI Controller work with ESXi 5.5

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JarryG
Expert
Expert

Pic-1.jpg shows you are using bios- (aka software-/fake-) raid. This is NOT supported in ESXi. Disable "Intel RSTe" and let your drives configured as stand-alone (not member of raid-volume). Then ESXi-installer should find your drives. If you want redundancy, you have to get real raid-controller...

_____________________________________________ If you found my answer useful please do *not* mark it as "correct" or "helpful". It is hard to pretend being noob with all those points! 😉
idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Kunbong, I visited the link as suggested but couldn't follow what the post said to do.

JarryG, I did as you suggested, but it made no difference.

I read a post by Joshua on how to disable Intel(R) Embedded Server Raid. Technology II. I followed his post and deleted the raid.

Please attached photos.

Any ideas on how to proceed would be very much appreciated.

I am new to this but I am very comfortable with following clear precise instructions / guidelines.

Kind regards

idduke

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peetz
Leadership
Leadership

Hi idduke,

please try to install ESXi as before. At the screen where it shows that no hard drives have been found press Alt-F1 on the keyboard and log in as root (with blank password).

Then run the command

lspci -v | grep "Class 0106" -B 1

to find out the PCI ID of your disk controller (be sure that you have configured it for AHCI before doing this!).

Then post the PCI ID here!

Andreas

Twitter: @VFrontDe, @ESXiPatches | https://esxi-patches.v-front.de | https://vibsdepot.v-front.de
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idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Morning Peetz,

When I do Alt+F1, nothing happenned. Then did root, (please see output). Also typed in suggested command - smae thing

Please see atthed photo.

Kind regards

idduke

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peetz
Leadership
Leadership

You are in the UEFI BIOS here, but you need to run the ESXi installation until you get to this picture:

https://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/2387984-122590/20140605_082823.jpg

Twitter: @VFrontDe, @ESXiPatches | https://esxi-patches.v-front.de | https://vibsdepot.v-front.de
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idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Afternoon Peetz,

When you say "ESXi installation", may I thank you for the download link?

King regards

idduke

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idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Peetz,

Please see attached read out.

Regards

idduke

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idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Guys / Ladies,

Did Alt+F1, logged in as root and issued

esxcli software acceptance set --level=CommunitySupported

I get "Connect to localhost failed”

I have disabled Intel Raid Controller in Bios and configured disc controller to AHCI.

Any suggestions on how to proceed?

Kind regards

  idduke

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Browlin
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Please  check the hardware vendor for firmware update .

i had same issue because of  vmfs10   IBM product they have separate firmware for vmfs 10

idduke
Contributor
Contributor

Hi Brownlin,

It is an Intel Server. Please see image Pic 5 of my original posting.

This is my very 1st time with this. I am an MS “Graduate” through and through and I very much know my way around Microsoft platforms. I already installed Hyper –V 2012  R2 on the server.

During installation, Hyper –V couldn’t find the drivers for the Hard Disk controller. I went to Intel’s website, downloaded the drivers onto a USB drive, pointed the OS to it and it installed.

From Pic 5, any ideas what I should be looking for on Intel’s website? For the Hyper –V, I did a Google search for “Intel RSTe hard drive controller”. That was how I located and downloaded the drivers for Hyper –V 2012  R2 to install.

May I also thank you in advance to please include installation instructions – if possible? I’d be most obliged.

Kind regards

idduke

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