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gbonny
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

ESXi 5.x on an Intel J1900 board (Q1900-ITX Asrock) issue

Hello everyone!

I have been trying to install ESXi 5.1u1 & 5.1u2 & 5.5u1 on the following configuration to no success so far:

Asrock Q1900-ITX mobo (Intel J1900 Baytrail SoC, BIOS 1.20 with VT-x support)

8GB RAM Kingston

120GB OCZ Vector 150 (tried to connect on both SATA2.0 and SATA3.0)

Intel CT1000 NIC

Bootable 4GB FAT32 USB stick with an extracted installation (using Unetbootin) (tried to connect on both USB2.0 and USB3.0)

ESXi 5.1uX results in/stops at a black window/screen after the "Relocating modules and starting the kernel" message.

ESXi 5.5u1 starts loading the modules and stops/freezes right after the "Relocating modules and starting the kernel" message.

I have tried in the bios:

- Boot USB legacy

- Boot USB UEFI

- Disabled PXE (both NICs)

- Video memory to a minimum (64MB)

- Disabled onboard audio & NIC

- I have tried (unofficial?) inserting drivers into the installation ISO (NIC/microcode/xahci) from v-front.de.

I know that most/all of my hardware is not on the HCL, which doesn't mean it can't work, of course (like my old system).

All to no luck so far. However I successfully installed Proxmox hypervisor on this system. Others successfully installed NAS4Free (FreeBSD) or Ubuntu/Debian.

But I want ESXi 5.x for my home server, like I have on my old Intel D525 with a max of 4GB and OCZ Vertex 2 SSD (ESXi 5.1u2).

Maybe someone has some tips or advice to install ESXi 5.x on my new system?

136 Replies
trans01
Contributor
Contributor

Martin,

I have the same problem and the same questions 😉

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RockThaB
Contributor
Contributor

Anyone with success after all? I guess the Intel Bay-Trail Chipset (also on J1900) is just not compatible with the current esxi version(s), no matter how you turn it around. The images/files provided here did not work either on my side.

The only solution so far is imho just to look out for another board with ESXi compatibility or using xenserver (it works), what is an alternative but only with some trade-offs unfortunately (ram, not really a bare hv type I etc), but of course im open for new testing and suggestions.

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apollomok
Contributor
Contributor

I cannot make the ESXi to work with my AsRock Q2900-ITX motherboard as well.

So, I tried XenServer and it works like a charm.

I can setup a VM to boot up my FreeNAS image on USB flash drive and mount 2 physical drives to run RAID-1 as well.

Sunny

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therealonlyone
Contributor
Contributor

Hey Martin,

hope you are still reading these posts.

If I've got you right you've got a running ESXi6 on an Asrock Q2900-ITX Board, correct?

I've got the exact same board (ASRock Q2900-ITX) and also ordered the same RAM (CMSO16GX3M2A1600C11) that you've got.

Neither this configuration nor the ASRock Q1900-ITX is getting past the "Relocating" line.

I've tried all different configurations:

- Keyboard USB/PS2;

- Installer from USB-Key/CD-Rom; (downloaded from the link you provided)

- with and without the "runweasel ignoreHeadless=TRUE" switch;

- UEFI defaults -> GFX -> onboard 64MB

I'd like to use your running USB key image but thats no longer online.

Is it possible for you to upload this once again?

Could you please let me know how you connected your display (VGA/DVI/HDMI) and what power supply you used?

I know these things should not make any difference but if you've got your board working there needs to be a differenece.

Kind Regards,

Pierre

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RockThaB
Contributor
Contributor

Its not working (see my post before), even not on a 2900. Its a chipset incompatibility you can not get pass through. Martins image is also not working and nobody confirmed it does yet. VMware needs to make it compatible or you need to change your motherboard etc.

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therealonlyone
Contributor
Contributor

Well, I see the point.

I could easily change the board even as easy as the Hypervisor.

I've got XEN 6.5 running on theses boards as well as HyperV without any problems but I'd really like to stick to ESXi as most of my other systems run ESXi and I like the vcenter view.

And why should Martin tell lies about this?

Cheers

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RockThaB
Contributor
Contributor

Yes, there is no way - in principle - with a J1900 (or J2900) chipset to make it work unless ESXi is getting compatible with the chipset or you change the chipset (therefore: the motherboard) to a compatible one.

You can file a feature request at Vmware and maybe if VM is getting enough request they make it compatible or take a look at it. See: Contact VMware | United States

Nobody said anything about "lies". Its not working with the image on my side nor did anyone else before confirmed that its working. unless proved otherwise, i guess its not working.

Yes, Xen is working fine but comes with some "disadvantages" (as written in my first post on this subject).

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Martin050
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I've got a new Q1900 board last week. Installed ESXi 5.5 on it today.

WP_20150520_22_43_49_Pro.jpg

It works like a charm.

vmware.png

The NIC is a HP Intel Pro 1000 PT PCI Express Gigabit NIC

It hang at Relocating Modules first. After minimizing the consumed graphics memory and installing the NIC, I was able to continue the installation (2nd try).

The onboard NIC is not recognized at first (only one network adapter, the Intel card). I've not installed it yet. This build works, cannot get 6 to work. Perhaps I need to try the image I've used last time (if I can find it). Still ESXi 5.5 should suffice.

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RockThaB
Contributor
Contributor

I have tried that also some weeks ago but i did not had luck in minimizing the consumer graphics memory in the BIOS. so i could not allocate memory for the CPU integrated graphic chip.

what bios are you using? did you upgraded/changed the bios? I have an AMI (american (not-so-mega) tend) BIOS.

bios_sample.jpg

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Martin050
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

My BIOS settings.

WP_20150522_18_02_42_Pro.jpg

WP_20150522_18_03_08_Pro.jpg

Upgraded the memory from 4GB to 8GB today for some better performance. Smiley Happy

The machine will be running Windows 8.1 in a few days (it's a workstation, not a server for me). Got an energy efficient i7 for my VM's. Smiley Wink

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Mikee8080
Contributor
Contributor

Hello,

I have J1900D2Y (BIOS v1.1) with same SoC made by AsrockRack and it has same issue (hang on Relocating modules...) when trying to install ESXi 5.1 U3, 5.5 U2, 6.0. This M/B has option to disable onboard Intel GPU (there is integrated Aspeed 2300 2D 16MB graphics onboard as part of BMC/IPMI), also it is possible to set 64MB for Intel GPU, but none of these changes made installation to continue. I tried all boot options from this thread too. I ended with XenServer 6.5, but I'm not happy with it. I still hope it will be possible to make ESXi working on this M/B in the future.

Cheers

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jiqysina
Contributor
Contributor

    问题的关键在于驱动程序。

    网卡是没有问题的,已经有很多选择。主要在于处理器和SATA控制器。

    英特尔并未提供Windows 7和8以外的驱动,尤其是Linux。有谁在该设备上安装了Liunx的?

    要解决这个问题,有两种方式:

    1、请英特尔提供,可能性很小。

    2、从某些安装ESXi或Liunx成功的个例中,处理器和SATA的驱动提取出来,做成vib及Offline Bundle,提供给大家。这条路的可能性很大。

期待大家共同的努力。

Translated with Google.

The key problem is that drivers.

     NIC is not a problem, there have been a lot of choices. Mainly processors and SATA controllers.

     Intel does not provide drivers for Windows 7 and 8 outside, especially Linux. Who is installed on the device Liunx of?

     To solve this problem, there are two ways:

     1, please Intel, unlikely.

     2, a case from some successful ESXi or Liunx installation, the processor and SATA drivers extracted, made vib and Offline Bundle, available to everyone. This road is a great possibility.

We look forward to our common efforts.

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polo939
Contributor
Contributor

Hello guys,

have you tried to install ESXi 6.0 with last generation Celeron or Pentium processors(N3150 or N3700)?

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SlinkingAnt
Contributor
Contributor

Just bought a Asrocl N3150-ITX-board, with the Braswell successor of the J1900 cpu.

After a bit of trying the cmd-line options, I've connected a serial-cable to capture the debug-output:

Chipset initialization failed.

0:00:00:00.348 cpu0:1)Backtrace for current CPU #0, worldID=1, rbp=0x0

0:00:00:00.355 cpu0:1)0x410006418da8:[0x41800a076eea]<no symbols>+0xa076eea stack: 0x410006418e60, 0x0, 0x430000000001, 0

0:00:00:00.366 cpu0:1)0x410006418e38:[0x41800a0772a8]<no symbols>+0xa0772a8 stack: 0x100, 0x41800a083d08, 0x2, 0x417f0000

0:00:00:00.377 cpu0:1)0x410006418e58:[0x41800a083d08]<no symbols>+0xa083d08 stack: 0x410006418eb8, 0x410006418e78, 0x2, 0

0:00:00:00.389 cpu0:1)0x410006418eb8:[0x41800a057263]<no symbols>+0xa057263 stack: 0x410006420000, 0x14, 0x16, 0x41000642

0:00:00:00.400 cpu0:1)0x410006418ef8:[0x41800a000560]<no symbols>+0xa000560 stack: 0x410006422180, 0x410006424180, 0x2000

0:00:00:00.411 cpu0:1)0x410006418fb8:[0x41800a0c9208]<no symbols>+0xa0c9208 stack: 0x428000005000, 0x49bfb0, 0x41800a000e

0:00:00:00.423 cpu0:1)0x410006418fc0:[0x41800a001004]<no symbols>+0xa001004 stack: 0x49bfb0, 0x41800a000e84, 0x7253a9b0,

0:00:00:00.434 cpu0:1)The system has found a problem on your machine and cannot continue.

Chipset initialization failed.

0:00:00:00.446 cpu0:1)

0:00:00:00.448 cpu0:1)vmkernel             0x0 .data 0x0 .bss 0x0

0:00:00:00.455 cpu0:1)Dump system not initialized.

Entered debugger before PRDA or MY_RUNNING_WORLD was initialized.  Faking a world.

$S05#b8

Any suggestions to try? At least I've got a way to see where it goes wrong Smiley Happy

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doctor_frankin
Contributor
Contributor

Martin050, could you please specify in details what Release of ESXi had you used and is it strickly needed to have additional Intel PCI-E NIC on board?

I am trying to install ESXi5.5.0 on Q1900 with limited Graphics (64MB) but It alsways hang at Relocating Modules...

Any suggestions from you?

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kooning
Contributor
Contributor

Hi All,

Since this post could give me the answer, I purchased a board with the Pentium N3700. The ASRock n3700-ITX to be specific.

I am sorry to report that this board also does NOT work with ESXi 5,x, nor 6.0 either.

The issues are identical to what people report for the Q1900 boards. ("freezes right after the "Relocating modules and starting the kernel" message.")

I've tried many things: (disable Speedstep, C7, hyperthreading + decrease video size to 64MB lowest setting, UEFI or normal boot)

Haven't tried to replace NIC or SATA controller

This should be usefull info to some.

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messerchmidt
Contributor
Contributor

n3150m also does not work.

need to borrow an ati card as apparently the onboard video is the culprit

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mrc013
Contributor
Contributor

Has anyone had any success after the F4 BIOS update on the Gigabyte GA-J1900N-D3V board?

I want to try it but the board is currently being used as our primary router.

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sebastianbrandn
Contributor
Contributor

have you found a solution?

i want to buy a Zotac ZBOX nano CI323 (Celeron N3150) for a Router and a Webserver and it would be nice to be able to do it with vSphere Hypervisor.

kr

sebastian

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Mplane
Contributor
Contributor

Hello everybody. I have Asrock d1800b-itx and have some issue. I tried to downgrade and upgrade the BIOS version. Disable all function that is possible. But the problem remained. Someone have you found a solution?

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