ESX will not recognise Raid storage

[ITOSWEB]

Hi,

I have just purchased a HP DL 360 G5 server and have tried to install esx 4.0 but when it gets to the screen about choosing storage LUN it remains blank.

The latest bios on the server is from may 2009. Is there a limit on the size of disk or can someone give guidance on what to check.

The server was listed as compatible so I'm not quite sure why it didn't get picked up first time.

thanks

[a_p_]

Which RAID controller do you have? E200 or P400?

Did you configure logical volumes on the RAID before installing?

André

[ITOSWEB]

Hi André

It has a P400i controller.

The raid array (6x500GB disks) was already configured before I installed, it does show up as one logical Raid 5 drive of 2.3TB

[athlon_crazy · Accepted solution]

try reduce the size of logical drive < 2TB

vcbMC-1.0.6 Beta

vcbMC-1.0.7 Lite

[a_p_]

This might be a disk size issue. I know you will not like what I am recommending now, however that may be a way to make it work.

While booting the server, press F8 when the RAID controller is displayed to configure RAID.

Delete the current logical volume and create a new one. Configure it for RAID5 with 5 disks and set the 6th disk as hot spare.

You will loose some disk space, however the size of the logical volume will be less than 2TB this way (and you have additional security)

André

[ITOSWEB]

Thanks to you both. Did exactly what Andre (just before I saw his post) and disk got recognised.

2TB isn't a whole lot.

Thanks!

[a_p_]

Glad it works.

Two more hints with your hardware, concening performance:

1. Read http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1018206 about Power Management settings

2. If you don't already have it, attach a battery (BBWC) to your P400i for write caching

André